High hopes in Crimea as residents ring in the New Year as part of Russia.

As crowds gather in the port city of Sevastopol a man shouts 'Thank God we are Russians.'

A woman hollers 'we will endure everything.'

The port city, home to an ethnic Russian majority, was an easy takeover for Moscow although Ukraine still claims it as its own.

With local residents showing support for the Russian take over and hopes of watching Russian President Vladimir Putin's New Years address

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SEVASTOPOL RESIDENT, NATALYA ABRAMENKO, SAYING: "We came today to the square to celebrate the New Year together with the town, with the people and to see Putin's address. So that's why we came: to feel the unity and the mood of the tow. And to celebrate the New Year."

While the mood may be festive, Crimea has faced water and electricity shortages after its split from Ukraine.