Officials take part in a ceremony at the monument to Russian military in Simferopol
Russian governor of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov, former presidential envoy Oleg Belaventsev and chairman of the local parliament Vladimir Konstantinov take part in a ceremony marking the ninth anniversary of the Crimean referendum at the monument to the so-called "Polite People" or the Russian service members, who enhanced security during Russia's annexation of Crimea, in Simferopol, Crimea, March 16, 2023. REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak