MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. Crimea and Sevastopol have come a long way since their reunification with Russia in 2014, and more has been accomplished in these regions during the past decade than during the entire time they were under Ukrainian jurisdiction, Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament, or "senate") Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said during a solemn event dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Republic of Crimea and City of Sevastopol’s reunification with Russia.

The event was held at the Federation Council. It began with an honor guard presenting the flags of Russia, Crimea and Sevastopol.

"We have come a long way in the past 10 years. Enormous efforts from all over the country were made to develop Crimea and Sevastopol. We can see these regions changing <…>. In the most recent years, much more has been done in Crimea and Sevastopol than was done when they were part of Ukraine," Matviyenko said.

She emphasized that the regional economy and tourism are developing, home construction is expanding, and roads and civilian infrastructure like kindergartens, schools and hospitals are being built. "But the main part is that all of that is being done by people and for people. I know that the citizens of Crimea and Sevastopol are feeling these massive changes towards a better [future]," the Federation Council speaker said.

She also noted that the experience gained by Crimea and Sevastopol is currently very useful for the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), Zaporozhye Region and Kherson Region. She thanked the respective leaders of Crimea and Sevastopol for their extensive assistance for the reunified regions, also noting the heroism demonstrated by local citizens in carrying out combat missions in the special military operation zone.

Before the start of the event, Matviyenko, alongside with other senators, viewed an exhibition dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Crimean Spring. "When you look at these photos, at people’s true emotions, at their tears of joy, you feel like all these events took place just yesterday," she pointed out. "We have a lot of new important tasks ahead of us. Let this anniversary give you power, inspiration and luck for new successes on this long way, which we will overcome together," Matviyenko concluded, adding that these regions can rely on the Federation Council in resolving any issue.