Brother at the gate

March 21 Crimea and Sevastopol officially became the 84th and 85th constituent entities of the Russian Federation. On this occasion in Moscow, Simferopol and Sevastopol, festive fireworks thundered. But while some rejoiced, others asked all new questions. How will the attached territories integrate into the rest of Russia and what problems will it turn out? What will happen to those Crimeans who do not want to tear all the connections with the once “fraternal” Ukraine? Will the Russian authorities also want to join Eastern Ukraine now? And why, finally, the “Crimean campaign” has split not only Ukrainian society, but also Russian families?

The New Times correspondents were looking for answers to these questions in Crimea, Donetsk and Moscow

Over the past two weeks, the Crimeans have used to the presence of military equipment on their streets. Perevalnaya village, March 21, 2014

Photo: Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters