Reasoning
- The core event is real: Russia invaded, occupied, and annexed Crimea in February–March 2014, incorporating it on 18 March 2014.
- Many outlets have described the takeover as "bloodless" or "nearly bloodless," which is likely where the "without firing a single shot" framing comes from.
- However, the specific claim of no shots fired is inaccurate: the operation's documented casualties include two Ukrainian soldiers killed and one Crimean "self-defense" trooper killed, plus 60–80 soldiers detained.
- On 18 March 2014, Ukrainian warrant officer Serhiy Kokurin was shot dead by Russian forces/sniper assaulting the Simferopol base — the same day the annexation treaty was signed. A second man (a pro-Russian militiaman) was killed in the same incident; the Telegraph noted the "two foes to die in Russia's Crimea takeover" were mourned together.
- Weapons were used and people injured in later seizures of Ukrainian bases, and Ukrainian troops were authorized to use deadly force in response to shooting.
- Fact-check/anti-disinformation work explicitly labels the "without firing a single shot / not a drop of blood" framing a Russian myth.
So the annexation itself happened as stated, but the "not a single shot" qualifier is contradicted by documented gunfire and at least two–three deaths during the takeover.
Overall validity: 20%