Sevastopol
White City with special status
on the coast of the peninsula Crimea and Black Sea Riviera
The Black Sea coast, and thus Crimea, has been explored by the Greeks
in antiquity. Near the
place where
Sevastopol lies
now
,the Dorian's
from Heraclea Pontica,
have
founded the city Chersoneses
early in the fifth century BC .
In 1783 the current city was
officially founded when Russia annexed the Crimea.
In
Sevastopol (the Russian B is a Latin V) has quickly built a
naval base. In
the Crimean War (1854-1856) Sevastopol
was prolonged siege by France, Britain, Italy
and Turkey. Finally
the city fell in September 1855, but was freed with great
heroism again in 1856.
During the Second World War the city
was for two hundred fifty
days under siege by the Germans, who, however, only managed
to take the city when it was completely destroyed. Only nine
buildings were left intact. In
May 1944 the town was retaken by the Red Army. For
the heroic defense of the city Sevastopol received the status
"hero city of
the Soviet Union" that only thirteen places
was given.
In 1954 the Crimean peninsula was attached
to the Russian Republic of Ukraine. This
was done by a decision of Khrushchev (Ukrainian by birth)
during a banquet in Lvov. Of
this event was never
drawn up
an official document and given
the special status of Sevastopol, the city didn't belong to
this challenged ruling. Because
of the presence of the Sevastopol's naval base was she in a
separate administrative unit assigned from the Crimea and
the city is still formally under the direct authority of
Kiev and Moscow and has nothing to do with the capital of
Crimea, Simferopol.
After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the efforts of Ukraine to
make the Black Sea Fleet of the former USSR (SSSR) to Ukrainian
state
property,
led to tensions between Russia and Ukraine (although
Russia had the same done with respect to the parts of the old
Soviet Fleet on the territory of Russia were stationed and
Ukraine felt therefore free to the Russian example to act. Also,
the separate status
of Sevastopol and the historical sentiment that many Russians
harbor toward the city there played a major role. After
in 1991
the population of
Crimea proclaimed the "Autonomous Republic
of Crimea" the independent state harshly
was called to order
by Ukraine in 1992, was in the Russian parliament, the Duma, even
passed a law
and declared
Sevastopol to a part of Russian territory.
In
1997
the situation was
resolved when was decided to split the Black Sea
Fleet in a Ukrainian and Russian part. Up
to 2017 the Russians may
rent
a naval base in the city and it looks like this will be extended. This seems
that Russia
considers
that Sevastopol provisionally is Ukrainian
territory now. However, if the lease is terminated or renewal of
this contract proves impossible,
Sevastopol
will automatically another contentious issue, and added to Russia. The
population of Sevastopol was never consulted in the above. 99.8
% of the population speaks Russian and feels Russian. If
one asks them to their nationality, the answer is always with pride and
sincere "Russian" and this at a time when almost everyone
received
a Ukrainian passport
in 1996. This
is shown by the fact
that
Moscow New Year is celebrated at 23.00
and only a few celebrate the Ukrainian at 24.00.
See what one of our
students wrote about her private course and her experiences during her
stay in Sevastopol
click here
Dear Tonya and Robin,
I like to thank you very much for the service you rendered. The
apartment was very good, just like the teacher and lessons you
arranged for me. Sevastopol and the surrounding area is very
interesting. I had a very good and pleasant stay. I hope to come
back and visit Sebastopol once more in a few years. Thank you
and all the best. Rob Janssen
