High hopes in Crimea as residents ring in the New Year as part of Russia.<br/> <br />As crowds gather in the port city of Sevastopol a man shouts 'Thank God we are Russians.'<br/> <br />A woman hollers 'we will endure everything.'<br/> <br />The port city, home to an ethnic Russian majority, was an easy takeover for Moscow although Ukraine still claims it as its own.<br/> <br />With local residents showing support for the Russian take over and hopes of watching Russian President Vladimir Putin's New Years address<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SEVASTOPOL RESIDENT, NATALYA ABRAMENKO, SAYING: "We came today to the square to celebrate the New Year together with the town, with the people and to see Putin's address. So that's why we came: to feel the unity and the mood of the tow. And to celebrate the New Year."<br/> <br />While the mood may be festive, Crimea has faced water and electricity shortages after its split from Ukraine.
