In early 2014, Russia's political landscape changed dramatically: Following the Euromaidan demonstrations and civil unrest in Kyiv, which resulted in the establishment of a new pro-EU president and government, a countering wave of protests and civil unrest started in Southern and Eastern Ukraine, and in Crimea, a "volunteer force of self-defense of Crimea" announced a referendum, the question for which eventually was, whether Crimea should join the Russian Federation or not. (Later, Putin publicly declared the self-defense forces were composed of the Russian military.) Following the referendum, Crimea "de facto" became a part of Russia.