[313] By 9 August, insurgent commander Igor Girkin said that Donetsk had been "completely encircled" by government forces. [85][116], Demonstrators hoisted the DPR flag over the city administration buildings in Krasnoarmiisk and Novoazovsk on 16 April. [154] Pavel Gubarev, president of Donetsk People's Republic, instituted martial law on 15 May, and vowed for "total annihilation" of Ukrainian forces if they did not pull out of the Donbas by 21:00. [469], According to both parties to the conflict, the fourth truce attempt of 2017 collapsed within a few hours on 24 June 2017. [391] OSCE chairman Didier Burkhalter said that he was "very concerned" about the "resurgence of violence", and stressed the importance of adhering to the Minsk Protocol. 80% of those polled said that Ukraine should remain a unitary country. [448], An anti-war protest took place in Donetsk city on 15 June. Intense fighting left portions of the Donbas region's eastern Luhansk and . [433][434] The plan was put forth in response to American proposals to send armaments to the Ukrainian government, something that Chancellor Merkel said would only result in a worsening of the crisis. Over the next few days, fighting continued around Donetsk International Airport, whilst Donetsk city itself came under heavy shelling. [45][46] During 2021, Ukrainian fatalities rose sharply and Russian forces massed around Ukraine's borders. [92] An entrenched standoff between pro-Russian forces and the Armed Forces of Ukraine ensued, marking the start of combat in the Donbas. It continued until it was subsumed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. [538] There was a sharp increase in artillery shelling by the Russian-led militants in Donbas, which was considered by Ukraine and its allies to be an attempt to provoke the Ukrainian army or create a pretext for invasion. [436] The pro-government Azov Battalion launched an offensive to recapture separatist-controlled areas on the outskirts of Mariupol, centred on the village of Shyrokyne. According to some of the troops who withdrew from Ilovaisk, DPR forces violated the agreement and fired on them whilst they retreated under white flags, killing as many as several dozen. [523][524] By this time, some half a million people in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic had been issued Russian passports since fighting broke out in 2014. [218], After a week-long ceasefire unilaterally declared by Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko ended, the Armed Forces renewed their operations against the insurgents on 1 July. Ad Feedback Video. Keep up with the latest news from the Donbass War here, with Russell "Texas" Bentley! [605] The UN also reported threats against, attacks on, and abductions of journalists and international observers, as well as beatings and attacks on supporters of Ukrainian unity. [513] Zelenskyy also admitted, however, that despite the prisoner exchange and de-mining operations that had taken place, the peace process did not move as fast as he had expected when he signed the 9 December 2019 summit. [604] The UN reported growing lawlessness in the region, documenting cases of targeted killings, torture, and abduction, primarily carried out by the forces of the Donetsk People's Republic. The Russo-Ukrainian war caused tremendous damage to the region in the period 2014-2018, with the total amount of permanent asset loss amounting to over US$84.6 billion in 2013 prices. [483] Ukraine officially ended the "Anti-Terrorist Operation" (ATO), and replaced it with "Joint Forces Operation" (JFO) on 30 April 2018. [364] According to The New York Times, the agreement was an "almost verbatim" replication of Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko's failed June "15-point peace plan". [57] Russian citizens led the separatist movement in Donetsk from April until August 2014, and were supported by volunteers and materiel from Russia. [119] On 22 April pro-Russian demonstrators in Kostiantynivka burned down the offices of a newspaper that had been critical of the DPR. 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[577] These terms were highly favourable to Russia, in that they required Ukraine to grant "special status" to the separatist-held areas, and reintegrate them into Ukraine, similar to the federalisation espoused by pro-Russian protesters in early 2014. [75] On 10 April, President Turchynov offered amnesty to the militants, if they laid down their arms, as well as a status referendum. [122], On 29 April, a city administration building in Pervomaisk was overrun by Luhansk People's Republic insurgents, who then raised their flag over it. The intense combat across Shakhtarsk Raion forced a party of Dutch and Australian policemen to call off an attempt to investigate the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. The forgotten victims of Donbass - DW - 02/16/2018 - dw.com Skirmishes between the troops and local demonstrators caused the city administration building to be set on fire.[who?] Government forces also recaptured the villages of Brusivka and Stary Karavan. An ambush by the insurgents on government forces there resulted in the deaths of ten soldiers. [186], A CNN investigation found clear evidence that the attack came from the air and the pattern of the craters suggested use of standard equipment on the Su-25, a ground-attack fighter, and the Su-27 both combat aircraft operated by Ukraine. US State Department spokesman Jen Psaki said that "these incursions indicate a Russian-directed counteroffensive is likely underway", and Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko said "An invasion of Russian forces has taken place". [499], On 7 March 2019, the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine agreed on a new truce to start on 8 March 2019. Since the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, Ukraine has garnered a . The area around Mariupol, including Shyrokyne, saw no fighting. ", Lessons from Russia's Operations in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, "Russia Moves Artillery Units into Ukraine, NATO Says", "Ukraine Reports Russian Invasion on a New Front", "Ukraine accuses Russia of invasion after aid convoy crosses border", " ()", "Former Ukraine rebel head starts support group for Russian fighters", "Ukraine and pro-Russia rebels sign ceasefire deal", "Go Inside the Frozen Trenches of Eastern Ukraine", "Here's what it's like inside the bunkers Ukrainian troops are living in every day", "Ceasefire brings limited respite for east Ukrainians", "The Daily Vertical: Ukraine's Forgotten War (Transcript)", In Ukraine It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, and a Lot Less Like Russia, "Kyiv says there are about 6,000 Russian soldiers, 40,000 separatists in Donbas", "Anxious Ukraine Risks Escalation In 'Creeping Offensive', "Response to Chief Observer of the Observer Mission at the Russian Border Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk | Statement to the PC", "OSCE catches Russia bringing war to Donbas by night", "Will a deal with Russia bring peace to Ukraine?". [385], Several hundred National Guard troops protested outside the Ukrainian presidential administration building in Kyiv on 13 October. The Russian Defence Ministry said the men had entered Ukraine "by mistake during an exercise". [390], Ukrainian officials denied any offensive and said that they would adhere to the Minsk Protocol. [577] In a press conference on 17 December 2015, Russian president Vladimir Putin acknowledged for the first time that there had been a Russian military presence in the Donbas region, though he said that this did not mean that there were "Russian troops" there. Major combat operations phase ended on 20 February 2015. [387][388] In response to the elections, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko asked parliament to revoke the "special status" that was granted to DPR and LPR-controlled areas as part of the Minsk Protocol. [237] There were also reports of factionalism among the separatists, with some desertions. The. [169] Another separatist leader confirmed four of their fighters were killed, and also said that ten pro-government paramilitaries and two civilians died. [166], A unit of the pro-government Donbas Battalion volunteer paramilitary attempted to advance on a separatist checkpoint near the village of Karlivka, northwest of Donetsk city, on 23 May. The shelling forced OSCE monitors to flee from their office in Luhansk, and move to Starobilsk. [492] Within hours after its start both pro-Russian and Ukrainian sides accused each other of violating this truce. [194] Government officials said that between 15 and 16 insurgents were killed and that five soldiers were injured as well. [27] In response, Russia covertly sent troops, tanks and artillery into the Donbas. [121] Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov said that the insurgents were led by a man with "an extensive beard". [463] The presidential decree referred to "permanent residents of certain areas of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts", without any mention of the self-proclaimed People's Republics. What is Donbas and what does it mean for Russian invasion of Ukraine? According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 6,500 were pro-Russian separatist forces, 4,400 were Ukrainian forces, and 3,404 were civilians. [89] Novaya Gazeta concluded in 2020 that, as long Russia doesn't prosecute these "poorly prepared hooligans turning a whole region into a bloodbath", it is morally and politically responsible for all casualties. Luhansk and Donetsk are key to the latest escalation in the Ukraine He addressed Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying that: "Losing this war on the territory that President Vladimir Putin personally named New Russia would threaten the Kremlin's power and, personally, the power of the president". [336], By 25 August, an insurgent counter-offensive had stalled the government's offensive on Donetsk and Luhansk cities. [391] OSCE monitors reported on 8 November that there were large movements of unmarked heavy equipment in separatist-held territory. [419], A government military operation at the weekend of 1718 January resulted in Ukrainian forces recapturing most of Donetsk International Airport. [306] The Ukrainian government said that all civilians should evacuate from Donetsk, and issued statements asking DPR and LPR forces to help establish "humanitarian corridors" to allow civilians in Donetsk, Luhansk and Horlivka to flee. [341] Heavy fighting took place in the village of Markyne, 7 kilometres (4+14mi) from Novoazovsk. [279], Subsequently, the insurgents withdrew from many areas on the outskirts of the city, including Karlivka, Netailove[uk], Pervomaiske[uk], and the area around Donetsk airport. 1. [90], A group of masked pro-Russian militants under the command of retired FSB officer Igor Girkin took control of the city administration building, police offices, and SBU building in Sloviansk,[91] a city in the northern part of Donetsk Oblast, on 12 April. A representative of the Republic addressed locals outside the occupied police station, but was received negatively and booed. [71] The Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) was declared on 27 April. [428], Separatist forces began an assault on the government-controlled town of Debaltseve in north-eastern Donetsk Oblast, barraging it with artillery fire. [121] The depot housed around 30 tanks. [103] A Horlivka city council deputy, Volodymyr Rybak, was kidnapped by masked men believed to be pro-Russian militants on 17 April. After fighting that lasted throughout the day, the soldiers were forced to retreat. [631], A poll conducted by the same institute in 2017 showed that 80% of Ukrainians nationally and 73% of people from the Ukrainian-controlled areas of Donbas believed the separatist republics should remain as part of Ukraine. [584][585] In September 2021, Kyiv commanded military forces drill in a common exercise with US and NATO partners. [307] Commenting on the situation in Luhansk, mayor Sergei Kravchenko said "As a result of the blockade and ceaseless rocket attacks, the city is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe". [337] The pro-government volunteer Donbas Battalion, trapped in the city for days by the insurgents, accused the Ukrainian government and Armed Forces of "abandoning" them. [284], During the third day of the government's offensive on the insurgent-stronghold of Horlivka, between 20 and 30 civilians were killed on 27 July. | ", "Ukraine accuses Russia of letting rebels bring in tanks", "Russia Has Sent Tanks to Ukraine Rebels, U.S. Says", "Ukraine says 'Russian tank incursion' unacceptable", Ukraine crisis: Kiev forces win back Mariupol, "Ukrainian Forces Seize Crucial Port City From Pro-Russia Separatists", "US accuses Russia of sending rocket launchers to Ukraine rebels", "Ukraine Troops Storm Rebel-Held Buildings", Ukrainian interior minister blames 'militia' for ceasefire talks' failure, " - . [348] He also said that "dozens" of tanks and armoured vehicles had been used by the insurgents in their assault on the town. Izvaryne border post in Luhansk Oblast, which is controlled by the Army of the South-East, was reported to be the main entry point for weapons and reinforcements from Russia. [354] Amidst what The New York Times described as "chaos" in the conflict zone, the insurgents re-captured Savur-Mohyla. They removed the police station's sign and raised the flag of the Donetsk People's Republic over the building. [130] By 11 April Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that he had been against the use of "law enforcement" at the time, but that "there was a limit" to how much the Ukrainian government would tolerate. [70], Two referendums were announced, one on 11 May to determine whether the region should seek some form of autonomy, and a second scheduled for 18 May to determine whether the region should join the Russian Federation, or declare independence. [371] Heavy shelling by the insurgents was reported on the eastern outskirts of Mariupol, and OSCE monitors said that the Ukrainian government had fired rockets from Donetsk International Airport. [363] They were driven back about 20 kilometres (12+12mi) east of the city. This is a timeline of the war in Donbas for the year 2014. [81], The militants gained control of the city's police weapons cache and seized hundreds of firearms, which prompted the Ukrainian government to launch a "counter-terrorism" operation to retake the city. [494][49] On 31 August 2018, DPR leader Alexander Zakharchenko was killed in an explosion at a restaurant. [274] On the same day, DPR prime minister Alexander Borodai said that he wanted to resume ceasefire talks. (+)", "Dozens Killed as Ukrainian Transport Plane Is Shot Down by Rebels in Luhansk", "Terrorists drove two Russian tanks T-72 to Donetsk NSDC representative: UNIAN news", "Ukraine rebels speak of heavy losses in battle against government troops", "Ukrainian army using attack aviation, tanks to seize Yampol village", "Ukraine crisis: EU deal to be signed on 27 June", "As Ukraine Announces Cease-Fire, White House Points Finger at Russia", "7 Ukrainian troops killed, rebels operate tanks The Washington Post", -25 , "Ukrainian military free Yampil in Donetsk Region from terrorists NSDC", "Ukraine declares week-long ceasefire in fight against separatists", , , "Ukraine retakes border crossing from rebels as Poroshenko goes on attack", "Rebels claim control over Luhansk airport", Strange war in Donetsk how DNR battalions fought against DNR militants, "Russia and Ukraine 'agree steps' towards new truce", "Guard killed in attack on border post, Ukraine says", "Ukraine government forces take control of village near Sloviansk Avakov", "Long live the Donetsk People's Republic! The Donbass forgotten in invasion of Ukraine - AsiaNews [394] OSCE monitors observed more munitions convoys in separatist-held territory on 9 November. Separatist rebellion in the East. [514] Despite this, President Zelenskyy stated on 7 November 2020 that since the July 2020 ceasefire was established, deaths of Ukrainian soldiers in combat had decreased tenfold, and the number of attacks on soldiers decreased by five-and-a-half-fold. [427] Particularly heavy fighting broke out along the Siverskyi Donets River, to the north-west of Luhansk city. The term "Donbas" is an acronym, which means "Donets coal basin," Fedyashin said. Despite constant fighting and shelling along the line of contact, no territorial changes occurred. It contrasted with respondents in Kyiv-controlled Donbas, where a vast majority felt the separatist regions should be returned to Ukraine.
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