The Crimean peninsula is located in the southernmost part of Ukraine, situated between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Throughout history, various peoples have settled on the peninsula and it has been the center of numerous wars and conflicts. The Euromaidan protests across Ukraine paved the way for Russian intervention, leading to Ukraine losing the Crimean peninsula. Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 shocked the international community and increased tensions in the region, irreversibly changing the relationship between the Russian Federation and the West. The fundamental insights into the geopolitical role and significance of the Crimean peninsula are derived from several books, scientific articles and official publications that closely adsress this issue. This thesis is divided into several sections, aiming to answer the previously posed research questions in the context of examining the historical, geographical and social features of the Crimean peninsula, as well as its geopolitical position. The thesis also analyzes the events that preceded the annexation of the Crimean peninsula by the Russian Federation in 2014, as well as the consequences that followed. Additionally, the thesis attempts to determine the current role and significance of the Crimean peninsula following the Russian military operation in Ukraine that began in 2022, which makes the research topic of this thesis highly relevant.