[HIGHLIGHTS] Putin congratulated the Crimean authorities on the 10th anniversary of the reunification of the peninsula with Russia

Russian President congratulates Crimea on the 10th anniversary of its reunification with Russia. Putin spoke by phone with the leaders of Crimea and Sevastopol.

Crimea became a Russian region in March 2014 after a referendum was held in the region. The referendum was in favor of reunification of Crimea with Russia, not for independence from the Soviet Union, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The vote was approved by a majority of the residents of Crimea, with the majority of those in favour of independence from Russia.