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Major Events of March 2014: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from March 2014 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of March 2014: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Mar 2014 Russian Military Intervention in Ukraine: Russian President Vladimir Putin requested and received unanimous approval from the Federation Council to use armed forces in Ukraine, simultaneously demanding the recall of the Russian ambassador to the United States.
  • 02 Mar 2014 2014 Crimean Crisis: Ukrainian Navy Commander Defects: During the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution, Denis Berezovsky, Ukraine's Navy commander-in-chief, defected to the Russia-backed Crimean government. Simultaneously, Ukraine's acting president Oleksandr Turchynov declared the country's airspace closed to non-civilian aircraft, signaling escalating tensions.
  • 03 Mar 2014 NATO Invokes Article 4 Over Russian Military Maneuvers: Polish and Lithuanian presidents request NATO Treaty Article 4 Consultations due to Russian military exercises near the Kaliningrad border, raising regional security concerns.
  • 04 Mar 2014 Putin Press Conference on Crimean Troop Deployment: Russian President Vladimir Putin held a press conference addressing the deployment of approximately 16,000 troops in Crimea, asserting that the use of force was not necessary at that moment.
  • 05 Mar 2014 2014 Crimean Crisis: UN Envoy Forced to Flee: UN Envoy Robert Serry was ordered to flee Crimea under gunpoint by 10 armed men. Simultaneously, Washington-based anchor Liz Wahl resigned from RT, a Russian-backed news channel, claiming she could not be part of a network 'whitewashing Vladimir Putin's actions'.
  • 06 Mar 2014 Crimean Parliament Votes to Join Russia: The Crimean parliament votes unanimously to make Crimea part of Russia, a pivotal moment in the geopolitical tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
  • 07 Mar 2014 2014 Crimean Crisis: Russian Military Intervention in Ukraine: Russian-trained armed men attempted to seize a Ukrainian military base in Sevastopol, Crimea. The incident was part of the broader Russian intervention in Ukraine, with tensions escalating in the region. Simultaneously, Turkey responded by scrambling fighter planes after a Russian surveillance aircraft flew along its Black Sea coast.
  • 08 Mar 2014 Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Disappearance: In one of aviation's most profound mysteries, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, a Boeing 777-200ER carrying 239 passengers and crew, vanished while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Despite extensive international search efforts, the aircraft's fate remains unknown, making it one of the most significant aviation mysteries in modern history.
  • 09 Mar 2014 Vietnam Increases Airport Security After MH370 Disappearance: Following the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, Vietnam's Ministry of Transport ordered local airports to increase security, implementing the first level of a three-tier security alert system.
  • 10 Mar 2014 Merkel Warns Putin About Crimea Annexation: German Chancellor Angela Merkel directly warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that incorporating Crimea into Russia would be illegal and violate Ukraine's constitution.
  • 11 Mar 2014 Maoist Rebel Attack in India: Maoist rebels launched a deadly ambush against an Indian paramilitary force in Chhattisgarh, resulting in the deaths of 18 soldiers, demonstrating the persistent insurgency in the region.
  • 12 Mar 2014 Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Search Begins: An unprecedented international search was initiated for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 after China requested activation of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters. Crowdsourcing efforts and satellite imagery revealed potential debris, marking the beginning of a complex and prolonged search operation.
  • 13 Mar 2014 Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Mystery: According to a U.S. newspaper report, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 continued to fly for hours after disappearing from radar on Saturday, deepening the mystery of its disappearance.
  • 14 Mar 2014 Diplomatic Talks on Crimean Crisis: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Relations Minister Sergey Lavrov met in London to discuss the escalating Crimean crisis, highlighting international diplomatic efforts to address the tense geopolitical situation.
  • 15 Mar 2014 US-Russia Crimea Talks Fail: Diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Russia regarding the Crimean crisis were unsuccessful. Despite Western concerns about Russian troop movements, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov maintained that Crimea has a right to self-determination.
  • 16 Mar 2014 Crimean Referendum to Join Russia: On March 16, 2014, Crimea held a highly controversial referendum to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. The referendum was conducted under disputed circumstances, with international observers and Western governments arguing that the vote was neither free nor fair. Despite widespread international condemnation, the referendum resulted in an overwhelming majority voting to separate from Ukraine and become part of Russia.
  • 17 Mar 2014 Crimean Status Referendum: A controversial referendum was held in Crimea to determine its political status, which would ultimately lead to the region's annexation by Russia, causing significant international tension.
  • 18 Mar 2014 Russia-Crimea Accession Treaty Signed: The parliaments of Russia and Crimea formally signed an accession treaty, marking a significant moment in the 2014 Crimean crisis and Russia's annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine.
  • 19 Mar 2014 Russian Forces Seize Ukrainian Navy Headquarters in Crimea: During the 2014 Crimean crisis, Russian military forces took control of the Ukrainian Navy Headquarters in Sevastopol and an additional naval base, marking a significant escalation in the territorial dispute between Russia and Ukraine.
  • 20 Mar 2014 Crimean Crisis International Response: In response to Russia's invasion and annexation of Crimea, both the European Union and the United States announced potential additional sanctions. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Barack Obama emphasized diplomatic and economic pressure against Russian actions.
  • 21 Mar 2014 Russia Annexes Crimea: The Russian Federation Council approved the annexation of Crimea, with President Vladimir Putin signing legislation to complete the process. This action marked a significant geopolitical crisis and heightened tensions between Russia and the international community.
  • 22 Mar 2014 US and EU Impose Sanctions on Russia: In response to Russia's actions in Ukraine, the United States and European Union jointly imposed diplomatic and economic sanctions against Russia.
  • 23 Mar 2014 Largest Ebola Outbreak Begins: The World Health Organization (WHO) reported Ebola cases in the forested rural region of southeastern Guinea, marking the beginning of the largest Ebola outbreak in history.
  • 24 Mar 2014 Crimean Crisis Escalation: Ukraine's interim President Olexander Turchynov orders Ukrainian forces to withdraw from Crimea. In response to Russia's actions, UK Prime Minister David Cameron announces the cancellation of the 40th G8 Summit planned in Sochi, Russia.
  • 25 Mar 2014 Ukrainian Revolution: Political Turmoil and Leadership Changes: During the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, Oleksandr Muzychko was murdered under mysterious circumstances. Simultaneously, Ihor Tenyukh resigned as Minister of Defence following the loss of Crimea, to be replaced by General Mykhaylo Koloval.
  • 26 Mar 2014 Egyptian Field Marshal Announces Presidential Candidacy: Egyptian Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi resigned as Minister of Defense and announced his intention to run for President in the upcoming election.
  • 27 Mar 2014 UN Condemns Crimea Annexation: The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning Russia's annexation of Crimea, with 100 countries voting in favor, 11 voting against, and 58 abstaining. The resolution declared the Crimean referendum invalid and challenged Russia's territorial claims.
  • 28 Mar 2014 Russia Increases Gas Prices for Ukraine: Russia announced a significant 80% price increase for natural gas sales to Ukraine, escalating economic tensions between the two countries during a period of geopolitical conflict.
  • 29 Mar 2014 Russia Denies Invasion Plans in Ukraine: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov publicly states that Russia does not intend to invade Ukraine, amid rising tensions during the Crimean crisis.
  • 30 Mar 2014 Sunflower Student Movement in Taiwan: Large-scale protests erupted in Taiwan, with between 116,000 and 500,000 demonstrators occupying the legislative chamber and marching to the Presidential Office. Protesters opposed the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement, arguing it would increase China's economic influence in Taiwan.
  • 31 Mar 2014 IPCC Climate Change Report: Following a week-long meeting in Yokohama, Japan, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a comprehensive report detailing the global impacts of climate change.