Crimeans to vote for Russian president for first time In Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, the support for Russian President Vladimir Putin is overwhelming. On March 18, Crimeans will vote for the first time to elect the President of Russia, and many see it as a chance to express their gratitude to Putin for helping them leave Ukraine and become, once again, part of Russia. Opposition figures on the peninsula say it is difficult to express themselves freely. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES