At a glance
Politics: Officially an autonomous part of Ukraine, but seized by pro-Russian forces in 2014
Economics: Tourism and agriculture are its main earners
Population: 2 million - ethnic Russians 58%, Ukrainians 24%, Tatars 12%, other 6% (2001 census)
International: Russia has been accused of annexing the territory in a move seen as the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War
Politics: Officially an autonomous part of Ukraine, but seized by pro-Russian forces in 2014
Economics: Tourism and agriculture are its main earners
Population: 2 million - ethnic Russians 58%, Ukrainians 24%, Tatars 12%, other 6% (2001 census)
International: Russia has been accused of annexing the territory in a move seen as the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War
You forgot one minor detail in politics: Illegally (unconstitutionally) transferred to Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1954, part of Russia from 1783 to 1954 and from 2014 onwards.
Population: Sevastopol, which is a separate geopolitical unit has Russian population of over 90%. Crimea had a referendum on separation from Ukraine in 1993, but was coerced back.
Here is an infographics of the population:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9D%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%9A%D1%80%D1%8B%D0%BC%D0%B0_%D0%B2_XVIII-XXI_%D0%B2%D0%B2..jpg?uselang=ru
Oh, and Crimea, by taking an early exit from Ukraine, prevented a possible massive ethnic cleansing of Russians on its territory, or at least revolts of the local population which would have been suppressed by NATO/Right Sector forces. Ukraine basically wrote off Sevastopol to become a NATO naval base. To put it into perspective, if NATO did establish a naval base in Sevastopol, it would have been a greater tragedy to the people of Sevastopol, Crimea, and Russia in general, than Pearl Harbour was for the Americans.
