years ago that russia annexed the crimean peninsula from ukraine over the handful of countries have declared the annexation illegal for president putin though it's a symbol of russian identity and national strength our correspondent nicholas connelly went to crimea to find out how people there feel about reintegration he not only needed permission from kiev but also a filming license from the russian foreign ministry complex assignment in a disputed territory. at forty meters the soldier in salem ornament towers above sebastopol a potent reminder of the city's place in soviet and russian military history. even when sebastopol became part of independent ukraine russia's black sea fleet stayed put. when russia annexed crimea in twenty fourteen not even russia's closest allies recognize the move. but the locals like activist drama all of that doesn't matter.