Leaving Crimea after an extremely interesting stay.

I had a lot of questions, thoughts and the journey was beyond my expectations.

The conflict is real. The situation is a mess. And the victims of all these political tensions are… the local people.

What do they want? Simple rights!

The right to travel: all flight connections were cancelled due to international boycott

The right to see their family members living in Ukraine: Males aged between 18 and 60 are massively being refused entrance to their ex-nation

The SIMPLE RIGHT of getting access to their own deposited money: As all deposits and savings were under Ukrainian banks. After the annexation, all banks closed and were replaced by Russian ones. The problem? People are no longer able to manage their saved money, unable to use their credit and cash cards. Result, long queues every day in front of banks to protest and show the anger. But no clear issue yet…

The situation is really awful. People telling me that they are considered by their motherland Ukraine as traitors. And at the same time “potential danger” by their new nation.

The change of local currency caused an average 15% raise in all prices.

The most memorable testimony was from a 35 years old woman working as travel agent, she said: “People are being blinded. Everyone says Russia! Russia! Oh Great Russia! As if we became part of an Eldorado. If you have doubts, fears, the unique answer is: Putin Said ! Putin said all pensions will be covered by Russia! Putin said people no longer have to pay any contracted loan!… But where are we now from all promises…? Blocked banking system, price inflation, tourism disaster… They ruined our life”