Russian-occupied territories

Map showing the Russian Federation in light red with Russian-occupied territories in Europe in dark red, as follows:
1. Transnistria (since 1992)
2. Abkhazia (since 2008)
3. South Ossetia (since 2008)
4. Crimea (since 2014)
5. Luhansk People's Republic (since 2014)
6. Donetsk People's Republic (since 2014
The map does not include the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia in 2022 nor the Kuril Islands disputed with Japan.

Russian-occupied territories are the lands outside of Russia's internationally recognized borders which have been designated by the United Nations and most of the international community as under a Russian military occupation. They consist of the territories of Transnistria (taken from Moldova); Abkhazia and South Ossetia (taken from Georgia); and some part of the territory of Ukraine. There are also territories occupied outside of the former Soviet borders in Japan and Syria.

Occupied territories of Moldova

Transnistria (1992–present)

Main articles: Transnistria conflict and Transnistria War

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many Moldovans all over the former Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic started demanding unification with Romania, that "Moldovan" (which was asked to be referred to as Romanian) be written in the Latin alphabet and not in the Cyrillic one and that it become the only official language of Moldova. This was not well received in modern Gagauzia, an ethnically Turkic region in Moldova, and in most of the left bank of the Dniester river. Here, Russian-speakers who formed the majority in the region advocated Russian be kept as the official language of Moldova alongside Moldovan (which was still to be written in Cyrillic and not to be referred to as Romanian), and that Moldova not unify with Romania. Differences erupted into the Transnistria War in 1992, which following the bloody 1992 battle of Tighina resulted in victory of the separatists, who had earlier declared the independence of Transnistria, following a Russian military intervention in Transnistria which is still present today in the area and which still defends the Transnistrian regime today despite Moldovan requests to withdraw from what still legally is its internationally recognized land.

Occupied territories of Georgia

Abkhazia and South Ossetia (2008–present)

Main article: Occupied territories of Georgia

After the Russo-Georgian War, President Medvedev signed decrees on 26 August 2008 recognising the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as sovereign states. Russia established diplomatic relations with these partially recognised states and placed Russian troops in both. Russian security forces were deployed along the demarcation lines with Georgia.

Many international journalists and media companies, such as Fox News, Al Jazeera and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, as well as non-governmental organizations, have referred to Abkhazia and South Ossetia as Russian-occupied territories.

The Georgian parliament passed a resolution unanimously on 28 August 2008 formally declaring Abkhazia and South Ossetia as Russian-occupied territories and Russian troops as occupying forces. The law forbids entry into the regions from Russia and subjects violators to a fine or imprisonment. Abkhazia may only be entered from Zugdidi Municipality, via the Enguri Bridge. South Ossetia, however, does not allow entry of foreigners from Georgian-controlled territory. The crossing points into South Ossetia have been effectively closed for locals as well since September 2019, while a special permit regime is in place by South Ossetian de facto authorities for two crossing points: Akhalgori - Odzisi (Mtskheta Municipality) and Karzmani (Sachkhere Municipality).

In April 2010, the Georgian parliament's foreign affairs committee asked the legislative bodies of 31 countries to declare Abkhazia and South Ossetia as territories under Russian occupation and to recognize the massive displacement of civilians from those regions by Russia as amounting to ethnic cleansing. The Russian Foreign Ministry retaliated, asking Georgia to abolish the law.

Occupied territories of Ukraine

Main article: Occupied territories of Ukraine

Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk (2014–present)

Main articles: War in Donbas and Occupation of Crimea

After the Russian military invasion that resulted in Ukrainian control over the Crimean peninsula and parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts being lost, the situation regarding the Crimean peninsula is more complex since Russia annexed the territory in March 2014 and now administers it as two federal subjects - the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol. Ukraine continues to claim Crimea as an integral part of its territory, supported by most foreign governments and United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262, although Russia and some other UN member states recognize Crimea as part of the Russian Federation or have expressed support for the 2014 Crimean referendum.

In 2015, the Ukrainian parliament officially set 20 February 2014 as the date of "the beginning of the temporary occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia.", with 7% of Ukraine's territory under occupation.

Invasion of mainland Ukraine (2022–present)

Main article: 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine after recognizing the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic as independent states.

Kuril Islands dispute

Main article: Kuril Islands dispute

Disputed islands in question: Habomai Islands, Shikotan, Kunashiri (Kunashir) and Etorofu (Iturup).

The Kuril Islands dispute is a territorial dispute between Japan and the Russian Federation over the ownership of the four southernmost Kuril Islands. The four disputed islands, like other islands in the Kuril chain that are not in dispute, were annexed by the Soviet Union following the Kuril Islands landing operation at the end of World War II (WWII). The disputed islands are under Russian administration as the South Kuril District of the Sakhalin Oblast (Сахалинская область, Sakhalinskaya oblast). They are claimed by Japan, which refers to them as its Northern Territories or Southern Chishima, and considers them part of the Nemuro Subprefecture of Hokkaido Prefecture.

Japan and the US maintain that until a WWII peace treaty between Japan and Russia is concluded, the disputed Northern Territories remain occupied territory under Russian control via General Order No. 1. The European Parliament, in the resolution "Relations between EU, the Chinese Republic and the People's Republic and Security in the Far East", adopted on July 7, 2005, called on Russia to return to Japan the "occupied" South Kuril Islands.

Russia maintains that all the Kuril Islands, including those that Japan calls the Northern Territories, are legally a part of Russia as a result of World War II, and the acquisition was as proper as any other change of international boundaries following the war.

Syrian Civil War

Main article: Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war

The Russian Federation has intervened in Syria since September 2015 to support the Bashar Al-Assad government with some opponents considered an "invasion" or "occupation" of the country.

See also

• Abkhaz–Georgian conflict
• Georgian–Ossetian conflict
• Russo-Georgian War
• International reaction to the Russia–Georgia war
• International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
• Controversy over Abkhazian and South Ossetian independence
• Transnistria conflict
• Transnistria War
• Russian military presence in Transnistria
• Russo-Ukrainian War
• Cold War II
• Ukraine–European Union relations
• Ukraine–NATO relations
• Kuril Islands dispute
• German-occupied Europe
• Soviet Empire