In occupied Crimea, Russian security forces are facing mounting pressure from local opposition groups and Ukrainian special services. According to a report from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for Crimea in 2024, Moscow’s security apparatus is struggling to maintain control as resistance activities intensify. The report, presented by the acting Minister of Internal Affairs for Crimea, Alexey Dmitriev, acknowledges increasing security risks that demand an urgent response.
The Russian-installed authorities in Crimea have designated a “medium response level” and maintain a yellow-level terrorist threat in several municipalities. The yellow alert, which has been in effect indefinitely since February 2023, reflects Russia’s ongoing concerns over attacks on its military infrastructure on the peninsula. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly struck Russian positions, exposing vulnerabilities in Moscow’s occupation.
The security measures include heightened surveillance, increased vehicle inspections, and reinforced police patrols in urban areas. Russian security forces are tasked with maintaining order near critical infrastructure, government buildings, and educational institutions. Additionally, two joint police units have been deployed along Crimea’s border with the Kherson region to address growing security threats. Despite these measures, the Kremlin-controlled authorities insist that Crimea remains safe and fully under Russian control.
The Russian head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, continues to publicly downplay security concerns, claiming that defensive lines will protect the peninsula from Ukrainian attacks. Aksyonov reports directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin and insists that coordinated efforts between law enforcement, the military, and government officials are ensuring Crimea’s security.
However, the need for intensified security measures and the ongoing threat posed by Ukrainian special forces and local resistance movements suggest that Russia’s grip on Crimea is weakening. The Kremlin is being forced to divert increasing resources to secure a region it illegally annexed in 2014. Ukrainian intelligence operations and local opposition efforts continue to undermine Russian control, exposing the occupation’s deep-seated instability.
