In February 1954, a major administrative change took place as the Soviet Politburo issued an order to transfer the Crimean Oblast from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR). The decision was primarily motivated by the belief that the transfer would enhance economic coordination and streamline administration due to the region's close geographic and economic ties with Ukraine. Notably, Crimea had been a part of Russia since the late 18th century and the decision reflected the shifting dynamics within Soviet governance. The actual order was signed by Nikita Khrushchev, then First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Ukraine, alongside other key Politburo members.

The transfer of Crimea was not merely logistical; it was symbolic of a broader de-Stalinization process underway, and Khrushchev's efforts to promote a sense of national autonomy within the USSR’s republics. The freshly designated Ukrainian territory was presented to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Ukraine’s unification with Russia, further embedding the importance of this allegiance in Soviet mythology. Despite the implications of this move, it was initially met with little public controversy at the time.

As a result of the transfer, the demographics of Crimea and national identity of the region evolved. Ukrainians, Russians, and Crimean Tatars all coexisted, yet this administrative shift sowed the seeds for future political complexities. The consequences of the transfer led to a great degree of upheaval following the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991, as the issue of Crimea's status re-emerged as a point of contention between Russia and Ukraine.