On 26 February 2014 thousands of Crimeans went to a rally to show their opposition to the Russian occupation, defying Russian narrative that "Crimea was pro-Russian anyway". The march was attacked by Russian titushki (thugs) because Russian GRU troops already present in Crimea ("green little men") were still reluctant to openly attack civilians. To commemorate the events, on 26 February Ukraine celebrates the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol.