How the War in Donbas Began

The war in Donbas began in April 2014, following the events of the Euromaidan and the subsequent annexation of Crimea by Russia. Here is a brief overview of the key events leading to the conflict:

Background:

Euromaidan and Change of Power in Ukraine: In 2014, after the protests on Maidan, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted, leading to the establishment of a more pro-Western government. This sparked discontent in some regions, particularly in eastern Ukraine, where the population had strong cultural and linguistic ties to Russia.

Start of Military Action:

Seizure of Sloviansk: On April 12, 2014, a group of armed men led by Igor Girkin (Strelkov), a Russian citizen, captured the city of Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast. This event is often seen as the start of combat operations in Donbas.

Declaration of Independence: The next significant step was the declaration of independence by the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" (DPR) and "Luhansk People's Republic" (LPR) following referendums held on May 11, 2014. These actions were supported by Russia, although Moscow officially denied any involvement.

Escalation of the Conflict:

Anti-Terrorist Operation: In response to separatist actions, Kyiv launched an anti-terrorist operation to reclaim control over the eastern regions. However, from June 2014, the situation escalated with active involvement by Russian military and equipment, which was substantiated by numerous pieces of evidence, including the capture of Russian soldiers by Ukrainian forces.

Minsk Agreements: Efforts to resolve the conflict led to the signing of the first Minsk agreements in September 2014 and the second in February 2015, but the ceasefire was unstable, and fighting continued.

Socio-Political Aspects:

Language Issues and Fears of Discrimination: Part of the Donbas population expressed concern over potential discrimination against Russian speakers after Euromaidan, although studies show widespread discrimination did not exist. Some saw this as a reason for secession from Ukraine.

Russian Involvement: Despite official denials from Russia about participation, there is ample evidence of Russian military presence in Donbas, including testimonies from Russia itself and international organizations.

Consequences:

Human and Material Losses: From 2014 to 2021, the war has claimed between 13,200 and 13,400 lives, including both military personnel and civilians. The region's economy was severely undermined, leading to mass exodus and infrastructure destruction.

The war in Donbas has become part of a broader Russian-Ukrainian conflict, continuing to impact international relations and politics in the region.