Oxford Press pledges to replace textbooks with misplaced Crimea free of charge

Oxford University Press have promised to update their section on Crimea in the 4th edition of the geography textbook Geog.3. They have informed the embassy of Ukraine to the United Kingdom that their team is working on making changes, and that they will appear in the following weeks, a statement of the embassy reads. The geography textbook, intended for ages 10-14, stirred up outrage recently when it referred to Crimea as an "enclave" of Russia, which Russia "took from Ukraine in 2014." Following an official inquiry by the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK and a public campaign, Oxford University Press had agreed to correct the mistake.

Read more: Oxford Press stopped distributing textbook with misplaced Crimea, Larousse silent

Until the textbook is updated, no copies would leave the warehouse, and the teachers’ guide to the series as well as the Oxford University Press site would be updated immediately to notify their customers, especially the schools, about the changes. Oxford University Press has also promised any customers who had already purchased a copy of title with the misplaced and wish to receive an updated version will be able to receive one free of charge. Another publisher, the French Larousse, which released an Atlas where Crimea was pictured as part of Russia, has not provided an official comment on the situation. The Atlases are still being sold in bookshops. Moreover, it has recently been discovered that another French publisher, Rocher, has published an Atlas where Crimea is pictured as part of Russia.

Read more: French attack on Ukrainian sovereignty as Larousse and Rocher support Crimean illegal annexation

In February 2014, unmarked Russian soldiers occupied Ukrainian territory and initiated the takeover of government buildings in the Crimean peninsula. On 16 March 2014, a so-called "referendum" was held in Crimea, following which the territory was attached to Russia. On 24 March 2014, 100 countries, including France and the UK, adopted the UN Resolution 68/262 that affirms the territorial integrity of Ukraine.