Russia's military occupation of Crimea and its president's pronouncements on the crisis have provided a rich satirical vein for humorists to mine, as these cartoons, collages, and captioned photos show.
British satirical magazine "Private Eye" played on the timing of Putin's Crimea foray, noting that it coincided with the run-up to the March 7-16 Paralympic Games.
Putin, looking through binoculars at the "Winter Paramilitary Games," says: "I think Russia is going to win the shooting."
"Paralympic games" coverage by Private Eye #crimea #ukraine pic.twitter.com/jf3LQGuc4F
— Sandra (@LFCSandra) March 6, 2014
This one continues the Olympic theme:
MT @Broelman: CARTOON: The Sochi snowplough moves into the Crimea. #auspol #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/JCYsxq55Kh
— Stan Steam (@StanSteam2) March 7, 2014
Some cartoons, like these two, take aim at Russia's denial that its forces are occupying facilities in Crimea:
Russian cartoonist Sergey Yelkin on Ukraine pic.twitter.com/2QA0Dxczmr
— Yulia Bragina (@YuliaSkyNews) March 5, 2014
@nataliya_myshko @24tvua lol. I think Putin just called the entire world #Ukraine #NATO #UK #UN #USA #RUSSIA stupid. pic.twitter.com/AKBC3nGGpa
— s.alexander (@mptpart) March 4, 2014
Many of Russia's claims about the political upheaval in Kyiv and its takeover of Crimea have been challenged -- and debunked. This cartoon puts it bluntly, casting Putin as Pinocchio, the wooden puppet whose nose grows when he tells a lie....
President #Putin-occhio #Russia #Crimea #Ukraine #CrimeaInvasion #Kremlin #euromaidan @EU_MaidanOttawa @EuroMaydan pic.twitter.com/qruuBWC8uo
— Danylo Korbabicz (@DanKorbs) March 5, 2014
...while this joke suggests Crimea's pro-Russian leaders are acting in lockstep with the Kremlin. It appeared minutes after the Crimean parliament voted on March 6 to join Russia and bring forward a referendum on the issue.
#Crimea authorities have again changed the date for the referendum. It will now take place yesterday
— VykintasPugaÄiauskas (@pugaciauskas) March 6, 2014
It was only a matter of time before someone made the "Cry me a river" pun.
Best Putin/Obama knock knock joke I've ever heard, by far. #Crimea #Russia #Ukraine v @RestlessRani pic.twitter.com/sBxMi58gTf
— Alexandra Hiniker (@alexhiniker) March 6, 2014
This one suggests Putin might have his eye on other former Russian Empire possessions, asking "How's our Alaska doing?"
Как там наша ÐлÑÑка?))) pic.twitter.com/diISV54U9p
— Леди Кац (@lady_Katz) March 6, 2014
Our last two feature sinister depictions of Putin -- as a hungry wolf, and as the turret and gun barrel of a tank:
#Crimea Talks @TheEconomist #KAL's cartoon pic.twitter.com/nXWXfJMSzY
— Jesús Larena (@JMLarena) March 6, 2014
my cartoon about #Putin in #ukraine references Tiananmen 1989 #ukrainewebchat #crimea pic.twitter.com/cqGr8oK4CL
— Andy Davey (@DaveyCartoons) March 5, 2014
-- Kathleen Moore