". Is it safe to say NCM is in an uptrend?"
Depends on how Generous Mr Putin is feeling.
I somehow doubt he is going to give back that lovely bit of land on the warm sunny side of the Black Sea.
Yalta is very nice place to holiday all year around. Crispy sand beaches with plenty of young bikini clad tourists plus friendly Dolphins in the water.
It Sure beats the miserable cold in Moscow so you can't blame him for wanting to hang onto it.
