Crimea Research Articles

CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING THE PEOCESS OF OPERATIONALIZATION WITH AERONAUTICAL PERSONNEL OF THE FIRST AVIATION STRUCTURE EQUIPPED WITH MULTIROLE AIRCRAFT

Romania's membership to the North Atlantic Alliance, the need to ensure interoperability with the aeronautical combat systems of the partners, the reality of equipping the Romanian Air Force with east technology , which could no longer carry out the planned peace service enforcement missions and air defense to crisis and war, imposed on the responsible factors the decision of purchasing the first aviation structure endowed with multirole aircraft. The process was also amplified by the evolutions that took place at the eastern border of NATO, including the borders of Romania, especially after the annexation, in 2014, of the Crimean Peninsula by the Russian Federation. Of absolute complexity and novelty, the acquisition, the training of the aeronautical personnel for the operation of new combat equipment and related activities have imposed on the structures and personnel involved in this process responsibility, innovation, devotion, the first and most important and consistent program of endowment of the Romanian Army being a recognized success of the Romanian Air Force and inspirational, for the subsequent acquisition programs of the national defense.

Ichthyoplankton in the northern part of the Black Sea under prolongation of summer hydrological season in 2020

The species diversity and spatial distribution of ichthyoplankton in the shelf and deep-sea waters of the northern half of the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula and the shores of the Caucasus under the conditions of prolongation of the summer hydrological season 2020 for September–October are presented. The high temperatures of the upper layer of the sea, peculiar of the summer spawning season, caused a continuation of productive spawning of warm-water fish. Eggs and larvae of 19 species from 12 families were identified in the ichthyoplankton. The maximum number of eggs was 302 ind./m2, and larvae — 58 ind./m2. Eggs and larvae of the mass commercial species Engraulis encrasicolus (L., 1758) dominated, whose share in the total population was 92.9 and 84.2% respectively. The highest abundance of ichthyoplankton corresponded to areas with minimal dynamic activity and maximum warming within the limits of coastal-shelf quasi-stationary anticyclonic vortices characteristic of the summer hydrological season.

The impact of the war in Ukraine on the common security and defense policy of the European Union

The emergence of the war in Ukraine, conditioned by the occupation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and the invasion of the Russian Federation in 2022, is, since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the event that will have the greatest geopolitical implications on the international arena, including on the European Union, especially on politics of common security and defence. The ongoing war have a number of long-term implications for the security and stability of the European continent. The degree of possibility of some of the consequences of the Russo-Ukrainian war will be negligible and will be a subject of debate for academics and Western political leaders for many years to come. The purpose of this article is to highlight the main aspects that intervened in the Common Security and Defense Policy of the European Union as a result of the outbreak of a Ucranian war. Thus, the steps taken by the EU to ensure peace on the European continent will be analyzed. Also, some aspects of EU-NATO cooperation in the context of the war in Ukraine will be highlighted.

Impact of Geopolitical Risk on G7 Financial Markets: A Comparative Wavelet Analysis between 2014 and 2022

This study investigates co-movements between the GPR generated by the Crimean Peninsula’s annexation in 2014, the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022, and the volatility of stock markets in the G7 states. Using wavelet analysis, concentrated co-movement was found for all indices in both periods. Contrary to the general perception, we find that the G7 financial market response in 2014 was robust. Using a time-varying parameter vector autoregression (TVP-VAR) test, we found a larger reaction in the amplitude of the G7 financial markets in 2022 than in 2014. The financial markets in France, Germany, and the UK showed a similar reaction in 2022. We have identified some common aspects, even if the political and military contexts of the two studied events were completely different. Our findings offer new and interesting implications for understanding how geopolitical risk affects financial assets for market participants with multiple investment horizons and strategies.

Bacterial community and culturable actinomycetes of Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens rhizosphere.

During the course of development plants form tight interactions with microorganisms inhabiting their root zone. In turn, rhizosphere bacteria, in particular members of the phylum Actinomycetota, positively influence the host plant by increasing access to essential nutrients and controlling the pathogenic microorganism's population. Herein, we report the characterisation of the rhizosphere associated actinobacteria community of Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens growing in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden (Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine). The overall composition of the bacterial community was elucidated by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing followed by isolation of culturable microorganisms with the focus on actinomycetes. The metagenomic approach revealed that the representatives of phylum Actinomycetota (57.1%), Pseudomonadota (20.0%), and Acidobacteriota (12.2%) were dominating in the studied microbiome with Ilumatobacter (phylum Actinomycetota) (13.1%) being the dominant genus. Furthermore, a total of 159 actinomycete isolates, belonging to eight genera of Streptomyces, Micromonospora, Nonomuraea, Arthrobacter, Actinomadura, Kribbella, Cellulosimicrobium, and Mumia, were recovered from P. viridiglaucescens rhizosphere. The isolated species were tested for antimicrobial activity. 64% of isolates were active against at least one bacterial test-culture and 7.5% against fungal test culture. In overall, the rhizosphere bacterial communities act as a great source of actinobacterial diversity with the high potential for production of new bioactive compounds.

Karaites in the Ulus Jochi era and in the Crimean Kha­nate: The question of the origin of Karaite communities on the Crimean peninsula

Research objectives: An analysis and generalization of materials on the history of the emergence of Karaite communities on the territory of the Crimean peninsula in the era of the Ulus of Jochi and the Crimean Khanate. Research materials: As a result of comparing published materials on the history of the Crimean Karaites, data from archaeological and epigraphic studies, as well as in the process of studying the funds of the Russian State Historical Archive (RSHA, St. Petersburg) and the State Archive of the Republic of Crimea (SARC, Simferopol), information was analyzed related to the problem of the emergence of Karaite communities on the territory of Crimea in the era of Ulus Jochi and the Crimean Khanate. Results and scientific novelty: Many episodes in the history of the Crimean Karaites still remain outside the field of view of researchers. There is also the problem of interpretation of sources. In particular, this concerns the controversy about the origin of the Crimean Karaites and the time of their appearance on the territory of the Crimean peninsula, a process that had been going on for more than 100 years with the discussion sometimes going beyond scientific argumentation. The stages of the scientific study of the past of the Crimean Karaites are characterized by different levels of intensity, as well as large variety of methods and approaches used. Interest in this problem first arose among representatives of Russian academic circles in the first half of the 19th century. The Russian administration became interested in the history of the Karaites in part because the ideas of the European Enlightenment, which largely determined the policy of the Russian government in a number of key areas, implied the spread of Russian culture and education to the “Asian peoples.” In relation to the Karaites, Krymchaks, and Ashkenazi Jews, the Russian government adopted laws and regulations, in accordance with which the Karaites were able to legislatively strengthen their legal status. The Russian government, however, used restrictive measures by pursuing a discriminatory anti-Jewish policy against the Jewish population. The Karaites managed to get the authorities to recognize them as a community that differed from the Rabbanites while they received various legal and economic preferences. The same time period marked the onset of the large-scale activity of the famous collector of Jewish antiquities, Abraham Firkowicz, who initiated the creation of an extensive collection of manuscripts related to the history of Jewish communities, including in the Crimean peninsula. Based on the materials presented, it was concluded that the Karaite community could have appeared in the Crimea not earlier than the second half of the 13th century. Active resettlement of Karaites to the Crimea from the territories of the Middle East, Byzantium, and subsequently from the Ottoman Empire had been taking place since the middle of the 14th century. These chronological periods are also supported by material evidence of the stay of the Karaites in this region (archaeological and epigraphic studies of medieval Solkhat, Mangup-Kale, and Chufut-Kale).

The influence of additives on the characteristics of earth-based mortar on the example of ancient stone structures in the Black Sea Basin

The article describes the possible ways to modify the parameters of earth-based mortar used for the reconstruction of masonry structures on excavations located in the Black Sea area - archaeological site in Tyritake in Kerch on the Crimean Peninsula and Tanais near Rostov-on-Don in Russia. The structures we meet during these archaeological missions are irregular walls made of lime rock on earth-based mortar, which show a significant degree of disintegration due to the poor properties of the mortar and destructive atmospheric impacts. To carry out their reconstruction, it is necessary to select a mortar with appropriate parameters following conservation principles. Since earth-based mortar does not have sufficient characteristics, various possibilities for modification of its composition were considered, such as the addition of hydrated and hydraulic lime or cement. The compressive strength, adhesion, and durability parameters for unmodified and modified mortars were compared. Also, the issue of compatibility of the new reconstruction mortar with the existing stone material will be highlighted, which is crucial in the selection of material for the reconstruction of historic buildings.

Crimean realities in F.'s travelogue Remy "Crimea in ethnographic, geographical and historical terms" (1872)

The article is devoted to identifying and structuring realities in the travelogue of the German-speaking traveler Franz Remy, who visited the Crimean peninsula in the 19th century. The features of the realities mentioned in the work of a traveler who visited Crimea in the 19th century are considered. The purpose of the work is to identify, characterize, and establish the features of the realities of Crimea based on the travelogue F. Remy. The relevance of the work is due to both the increased interest in travelogue as a genre, and to the linguocultural aspect of the study of German-speaking travelogues. Of particular interest is how exactly the German-speaking traveler saw Crimea in the 19th century. The methodological basis was the works of S.I. Vlahov, S.P. Florin, L.N. Soboleva, E.R. Ponomareva, A.A. Kretova, N.A. Fenenko. The article clarifies the concepts of “reality” and “travelogue” based on a critical analysis of theoretical sources. A classification of realities is presented. The practical research was based on the material of Franz Remy’s travelogue “Die Krim in ethnographischer, landschaftlicher und hygienischer Beziehung”, published in the 19th century. Particular attention is paid to primary and secondary nominations of the realities of Crimea. The article provides examples of realities from the categories of astyonyms, comonyms, hydronyms, oronyms, urbanonyms, horonyms, highlights personalities, characters for the Crimea of the 19th century, as well as ethnographic realities. The article also discusses the traveler’s use of doublet names of Crimean cities. A conclusion is drawn about which categories of realities were characteristic of the Crimean Peninsula of the 19th century. This article may be of interest to specialists in the field of philology and history.

Development of virtual hunting tourism as the basis for the conservation of pristine wildlife

Many people in today's society still enjoy hunting as a hobby to relax and disconnect from their busy daily lives. The Crimean Peninsula, located on the Black Sea coast, is not only famous for its history, natural landscapes and resorts, but is also one of the most popular places for hunting tourism. Magnificent natural conditions, a variety of wildlife and seasonal migrations make the peninsula an ideal place for hunting and adventure, surrounded by spectacular scenery. Crimean hunting tourism offers a unique opportunity not only to plunge into the world of hunting passions, but also to enjoy all the delights of the peninsula. The relevance of studying the development of a tourist and recreational hunting tourism project is due to the actively developing market for the provision of services in the field of hunting in our country. But the hunting resources of the Crimean forests are not limitless. The possibility of replacing real hunting tourism with virtual tourism with the help of modern IT technologies (VR, AR) is the goal of our research. Thanks to this approach, a potential hunter can feel like he is in a real wild environment, but at the same time know that his life is not in serious danger. In addition, the important task of preserving endangered animal species in the wild is being solved.

DIARY OF GRAND DUCHESS XENIA ALEXANDROVNA IN THE WINTER OF 1917-1918

For the first time, the entire diary entries of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna from November 23 / December 6, 1917 to February 27 / March 11, 1918, made by her under house arrest in the Crimea on the estates of Ai-Todor and Dulber, are published. Since 2017 these Documents have been stored in the State Archive of the Russian Federation. Xenia Alexandrovna's notes from this period contain details of the daily life of representatives of the former imperial family during the establishment of Soviet power on the Crimean Peninsula, describe their attitude to the events taking place around them, reveal previously unknown facts and clarify the tragic pages of the post-revolutionary history of the House of Romanov.

Cyclicity in ontogeny and age determination of Flexopecten glaber (Bivalvia, Pectinidae) in the Black Sea

Flexopecten glaber is an actively fished species in the Mediterranean Sea and a promising candidate for mariculture in the Black Sea. Flexopecten glaber is included in the Red Data Books of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol city as a species declining in number (Category 2). In this study, over 1500 specimens sampled near the Crimean Peninsula between 2017 and 2023 were analysed to investigate the ontogeny of F. glaber and develop a method for determining individual age, based on the relationship between stages of gonadal development and changes in shell surface morphology. The cyclicity of development was assessed by comparing the cycles of gonad formation with the features of the surface morphology of the shell. A correlation was found between the morphology of the surface of shell valves and the stages of the annual cycle of gonad development. On this basis, a scheme for determining the developmental stages and individual age of F. glaber specimens from the morphology of shell valves has been developed. The most prominent mark on the shell surface is formed mainly in winter as a result of the physiological restructuring of the organism before the beginning of the annual cycle of gonad formation. However, to determine the age of F. glaber, the spawning marks formed mainly in summer need to be considered. The proposed scheme for determining the developmental stages and age of F. glaber individuals is a valuable tool for studying the species and can help resolve a variety of ecological and conservation issues.

STUDY ON EXOGENOUS PROCESSES ALONG THE WESTERN COAST OF THE CRIMEAN PENINSULA USING DEEP LEARNING METHODS

Background. Monitoring changes in coastline contours is an actual topic in the field of environmental, geological and information research. However, tasks of this kind are complex and require using modern methods of data processing and analysis, including Earth remote sensing data. One of the modern approaches to solving this class of problems is using machine learning methods, which is the focus of the research in this article. The object of the authors' research is the western coast of the Crimean Peninsula, the study of which by traditional methods has become impossible due to the temporary occupation of the Crimean Peninsula since 2014. In the last decade, the Crimean coastline could have undergone significant changes as a result of anthropogenic activities (including those related to military operations) and landslide-abrasive processes. In this study, the authors limit the study to changes in the coastline of the western part of the Crimean Peninsula over the last decade. Methods. Authors used CNN models (U-Net model) to effectively recognize the coastline and its boundaries in satellite images without the need for manual vectorization. Results. The research involved developing Python code to automatically generate reports including network accuracy (0.95) and loss function (0.19), facilitating the evaluation of different approaches and methods. Additionally, the study created scripts for using the trained network in the task of semantic segmentation and translating the result of the segmentation model into a vectorized result of the coastline contours of the Crimean Peninsula, which was represented as a probability raster. Conclusions. The use of this approach is useful for monitoring changes in the coastline of rivers, seas and lakes throughout Ukraine.

Pohľad na problematiku hybridnej vojny po anexii Krymského polostrova

The term "hybrid war" first emerged in the late 20th century, and the concept is now being discussed across a number of fields, including academic, military, and political domains. A fundamental change in the understanding of the concept occurred in 2014, in the context of the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula (Crimea), when a significant number of authors, as well as institutions, began to address the issue of hybrid warfare. Currently, the issue is also characterized in the strategic documents of various states, including the Visegrad Group (hereinafter referred to as V4). Since its discovery, the issue has not had a unified definition, and its constant expansion and confusion of terms deepens its ambiguity.

ИХТИОПЛАНКТОН ПРИБРЕЖНЫХ АКВАТОРИЙ ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНОГО КРЫМА В ЛЕТНИЙ НЕРЕСТОВЫЙ СЕЗОН 2023 г.

Background. The last systematic studies of ichthyoplankton in the coastal waters of Southeastern Crimea were carried out 30 years ago. However, despite the high importance of this aquatic area for fish reproduction, the current data on it remain extremely scarce. Relevance. Monitoring surveys of ichthyoplankton carried out by the Karadag Biological Station make it possible to analyze the current state of ichthyoplankton complexes and predict the success of recruitment to the natural fish populations. The aim of this article is to analyze the data obtained during monitoring studies of ichthyoplankton in the coastal waters of Southeastern Crimea during the summer spawning season of 2023. Methods. Ichthyoplankton samples were collected in May–September 2023 in the coastal waters along the south- eastern part of the Crimean Peninsula over a depth of 3 to 20 m. Fifteen expeditions were carried out in the aquatic area of the Karadag Nature Reserve, in Tikhaya (Quiet) Bay and Lisya (Fox) Bay. Results. Eggs and larvae of 30 fish species belonging to 20 families have been identified. The average number of eggs was 145.9 pcs./100 m3, and for larvae it was 15.1 ind./100 m3. Species similarity index for the summer ichthyoplankton in 2020 and 2023 was 0.79. Diversity indices in 2023 decreased by an average of 1.2 times compared to 2020 due to the pronounced dominance of anchovy, which had not been previously observed. Conclusion. The highest number of species (28) was recorded in the coastal waters of the Karadag Nature Reserve: the abundance of eggs was 153.2 pcs./100 m3, and the abundance of larvae was 12.0 ind./100 m3. The lowest number of species (14) was observed in Tikhaya (Quiet) Bay: the abundance of eggs was 113.0 pcs./100 m3, and the abundance of larvae was 7.7 ind./100 m3. In the samples, the eggs of Engraulis encrasicolus (52.0 %) and Mullus barbatus (20.6 %) prevailed. Among larvae, the most prevalent were those of anchovy (46.4 %) and hatched from demersal eggs of Chromis chromis, as well as the fish species belonging to the families Gobiidae, Blenniidae, and Labridae (40.2 %).

Legal Regulation of Religious Relations as a Factor in the Reintegration of the Crimean Peninsula into Russia

The entry in March 2014 of the Crimean Peninsula into Russia has significantly changed the lives of the population of this territory, and also influenced international relations with the participation of the Russian Federation. However, so far the processes related to the complete transition of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol into the domestic legal field have not been completed. In some sectors of the economy, the deadlines for the completion of such “transitional” measures are constantly being extended. At the same time, the religious sphere did not require significant changes. The changes that began in Ukraine after 2014, scandals and harassment against religious organizations, unthinkable in Russia, only strengthen believers in the correctness of their choice. The significance of this study is actualized by the prospect of passing through similar stages of adaptation of regulatory regulation and the practice of its application in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions. The purpose of the work is to compare the normative legal regulation of religious relations in Russia and Ukraine, as well as in the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol in order to formulate a conclusion about the degree of completion of the reintegration of the Crimean Peninsula into Russia. Research objectives: to study the Ukrainian legal regulation of these public relations in order to identify deviations unacceptable by the population of the territory in question; to search for similar norms in Russian legislation; to identify positive foreign experience; to determine the degree of activity of regional authorities in terms of support for confessional and interfaith relations. The main method of research, in addition to general philosophical and general scientific ones, was comparative law. The method of modeling and expert assessments was also used in the formulation of the main author's conclusions. According to the results of the study, it is stated that the reintegration of the Crimean Peninsula into Russia in terms of the legal regulation of religious relations has not begun, but rather continues, strengthened by measures taken by the law-making bodies of the neighboring state.

ПИТАННЯ КРИМУ В БРИТАНСЬКО-УКРАЇНСЬКИХ ВІДНОСИНАХ (ЛЮТИЙ 2014 – ЛЮТИЙ 2022 РОКУ)

The article analyses the issue of Crimea in bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and Ukraine in 2014–2022. It is noted that, on the one hand, the relevance, importance and interest in the issue are caused by the UK’s leadership in supporting Ukraine in the context of russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. Thus, there is active economic, investment, political and other cooperation between the UK and Ukraine on a systematic and consistent basis. The United Kingdom, along with promoting and further strengthening its own brand, actively supports and lobbies for Ukraine’s position among the countries of the world. On the other hand, the issue of Crimea is important, complex, and one of the cross-cutting issues in international relations in the context of the turbulence of the international order, on which the security and geopolitical situation in Europe and the world depends. Moreover, the article argues that, in addition to its geopolitical, security and strategic importance, Crimea has significant potential in tourism, energy and other sectors. The paper comprehensively examines the United Kingdom’s relations and cooperation with Ukraine, the state and development of bilateral relations on the eve of the annexation of the Crimean peninsula, the investment climate in Crimea before the annexation by the russian federation, the UK’s response to the occupation of the Crimean peninsula, the UK’s position on systemic human rights violations and persecution of activists by the Russian authorities in Crimea, the UK’s participation in the Crimean Platform, etc. It is analysed that British-Ukrainian relations, despite their ambiguity and inconsistency of quality cooperation since the restoration of Ukraine’s independence in 1991, have reached a fundamentally new level of close, multidimensional cooperation after the events in Crimea in February 2014 and, especially, after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Ukrainian and foreign researchers have been and continue to be actively engaged in research on the United Kingdom’s foreign policy. Still, the issue of Crimea in British-Ukrainian relations has not been accentuated and deeply explored from a historical perspective.

Influence of Cyber Dimension on Air Force Activities Case Study: The Conflict in Ukraine

The cyber dimension has played an important part during the conflict in Ukraine, but the cyber activities have not had the span many military experts expected. Nevertheless, it is obvious this dimension is highly used by both sides of the conflict, and, moreover, this dimension has been active not only during the entire length of the conflict begun in 2014, but also before the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. The increase in such activities before the start of the invasion in 2022 has done nothing else but to underline the importance of the cyber domain for future conflicts, air force security being a continuous challenge, considering that these forces are among the first ones to have been used in conflict by both Russia and Ukraine. The conflict in Ukraine has shown once more that the cyber dimension is and must be taken into consideration in each and every stage to ensure national security, before, during and after the conventional conflict, but it must not be overestimated in respect to the desired effects and those that can be achieved.

Influența dimensiunii cibernetice asupra activității forțelor aeriene. Studiu de caz: conflictul din Ucraina

The cyber dimension has played an important part during the conflict in Ukraine, but the cyber activities have not had the span many military experts expected. Nevertheless, it is obvious this dimension is highly used by both sides of the conflict, and, moreover, this dimension has been active not only during the entire length of the conflict begun in 2014, but also before the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. The increase in such activities before the start of the invasion in 2022 has done nothing else but to underline the importance of the cyber domain for future conflicts, air force security being a continuous challenge, considering that these forces are among the first ones to have been used in conflict by both Russia and Ukraine. The conflict in Ukraine has shown once more that the cyber dimension is and must be taken into consideration in each and every stage to ensure national security, before, during and after the conventional conflict, but it must not be overestimated in respect to the desired effects and those that can be achieved.

CLIMATIC FACTORS CHARACTERIZING THE MOISTURE SUPPLY OF THE TERRITORY AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE QUALITY INDICATORS OF GRAPES

The study of scientific problem, to which this research is devoted, is due to planetary climate change, manifested in an increase in the average annual air temperature, rapid changes in winter and summer temperatures, and a lack of precipitation.
 For today, there is a serious problem of adapting plants to climate change due to an increase in water deficiency in many regions of the world. Climate change creates significant uncertainty in the potential adaptability of grape plants, as well as in the prospects for viticulture development in general.
 The study and generalization of territorial distribution of climatic factors that characterize a particular region, as well as their effect on the quality characteristics of raw materials and finished products, are attractive from the point of better understanding and forecasting the potential impact on agricultural systems. The obtained data consumption will allow improving the forecast of climate change consequences in the medium term, and in relation to particular terroirs.
 The goal is to study the effect of climatic factors that characterize the moisture supply of the territory on the quality indicators of grapes.
 Materials and methods. The objects of the study were grapes of white and red cultivars, different in agroecological aspect, and growing in micro regions of Crimea. To identify the effect of factors characterizing the moisture supply of the territory on the quality indicators of raw materials for winemaking products, the amount of precipitation from the beginning of growing season to the harvesting, the amount of precipitation for the last month before harvest, and hydrothermal coefficient of Selyaninov were selected. The assessment of grapes was carried out according to the indicators of carbohydrate-acid complex (mass concentration of sugars, titratable acids, pH value, profile of organic acids), as well as the glucoacidimetric indicator revealing the degree of grape ripeness.
 Results and conclusion. Climatic factors characterizing the moisture supply of viticultural and winemaking regions of Crimea were assessed. The studies carried out made it possible to reveal variations in the concentration of carbohydrate-acid complex components depending on the changing ability of environmental factors. A significant precipitation deficiency was observed on the Peninsula. According to the value of hydrothermal coefficient of Selyaninov (did not exceed 1), most of the territory was classified as an arid or very arid zone. A correlation between the hydrothermal coefficient and mass concentration of grape sugars (r=-0.63) was established for red grapevine cultivars. The data obtained indicate that an increase in the amount of precipitation during growing season contributes to a moderation of sugar accumulation in grapes. Similar pattern was not established for white grapevine cultivars. There was a direct correlation of the mass concentration of malic acid on the amount of precipitation in the last month before harvest (r=0.78).

THE CRIMEAN KHANATE BEFORE AND AFTER THE ANNEXATION IN THE RUSSIAN-OTTOMAN DIPLOMATIC CONFRONTATION

The Crimean Khanate on the eve and after the annexation in the Russian-Ottoman diplomatic confrontation is a key factor in the further expansion of the Russian Empire in the Balkans. Understanding the possible loss of influence on the Crimean Khanate, the Russian government is resorting to the complete annexation of Crimea and the liquidation of the Crimean Khanate. All subsequent actions of the Russian government concerned only issues of preparation for the occupation of the Crimean Peninsula. During the period of interwar relations – from 1774 to 1787, Russian-Ottoman relations continued to remain tense. The Ottoman state did not give up the fight for Crimea after concluding the Kyuchyuk-Kainardzhii Treaty, which it was forced to ratify due to internal difficulties. The Russian Empire intervened in the Crimean affairs, destabilizing the internal state of the Crimean Khanate. In 1779, the Ainaly-Kavak Convention was concluded, which obliged the Russian Empire not to interfere in the internal affairs of the Crimea. But even after that, the Russian Empire continued to take actions aimed at the complete annexation of Crimea. This fact, as well as the occupation of Georgia by the Russian Empire and the favorable foreign policy position of the Ottoman state, became the reason for the breakdown of diplomatic relations between the Ottoman government and the Russian Empire and the development of further Russian-Ottoman confrontation.