In Crimea’s regional capital Simferopol thousands of people gathered to watch fireworks and celebrate Moscow’s annexation of the Black Sea peninsula.<br /><br /> The annexation was formalised earlier on Friday March 21, when Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty absorbing Crimea and Sevastopol into the Russian Federation.<br /><br /> In Sevastopol, pensioner Vladimir Luzhpayev likened his feelings to those he had when Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to enter outer space: “Now I have the same happiness in my soul. That’s what I can compare it to.<br /><br /> Crimea is breaking away from Ukraine to join Russia following a referendum held on the peninsula on March 16. The vote has been rejected by Ukraine and the West.<br /><br /> In the Russian capital, fireworks filled the sky over Red Square and crowds gathered to celebrate.<br /><br /> Moscow resident Viktoria said it was “very nice – unbelievable that this event has happened. We thank Putin who organised this for us.”
