Russian-Ukrainian war — is an armed conflict between russia and the self-proclaimed republics of the DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) and LPR (Luhansk People’s Republic) supported by it on the one hand, and Ukraine on the other.
Russian military intervention in Ukraine began in February 2014 after the winning of Euromaidan and the change of government in the country, when russian troops occupied the Crimean Peninsula — the regions of Ukraine of Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol — and annexed them to russia. In April 2014, pro-russian demonstrations in the Donbas (regions of Ukraine: Donetsk and Lugansk Oblast) turned into an armed conflict, where russia supported the DPR and LPR.
Until 2022, the hostilities were localized in the Donbas and Crimea. Russia has repeatedly denied the mobilization of troops in the Donbas until 2022 and stated that the conflict in the Donbass, until that time, was of an intra-Ukrainian nature. Despite on this, international media and political experts of different countries have been writing about what’s happening for many years as the war between russia and Ukraine.
Full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine (2022)
The russian invasion of Ukraine (russian aggression against Ukraine, russian-Ukrainian war, “special military operation” in Ukraine) began on February 24, 2022, at approximately 5:00 a.m. Kyiv time. Russian troops entered the territory of Ukraine from Russia, Crimea, and Belarus sides. The troops of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) were also included into warfare. The troops launched an offensive on four main directions — from the north towards Kyiv, from the northeast towards Kharkiv, from the southeast from occupied Donbass, and from the south from annexed Crimea. The first rocket attacks were launched on Kyiv and Kharkiv at 5 a.m.
On February 21, 2022, russia recognized the independence of the DPR and LPR. On the morning of 24 February, russian president vladimir putin issued an appeal to launch a «special military operation.» As a justification for the invasion, vladimir putin stated the need for the protection of the DPR, LPR, and russia itself, and also used the false statement for Ukraine as a neo-Nazi state. The events were preceded by the high concentration of russian troops near the russian-Ukrainian border.
How does the global community respond to the war?
Russia’s actions were strongly condemned by the vast majority of countries in the world community and international organizations. The resolution of the UN General Assembly ES-11/1, supported by the vast majority of the countries of the world, condemned the actions of russia, recognizing it as an aggressor country, and called on it to withdraw its troops from the territory of Ukraine:
- 141 countries voted in favor of the resolution,
- 5 voted against,
- 35 countries abstained,
- and 12 were absent during the voting.
The International Criminal Court in The Hague has launched an investigation of possible russian war crimes in Ukraine. After the discovery of evidence of massacres in Bucha, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused russia of genocide of Ukrainians.
The second phase of war: “The Battle for Donbas” has begun
- 24 February, 2022 – the first phase of war
- 18 April, 2022 – the second phase of war
On April 18, 2022, the war in Ukraine entered its second phase: battles for the control of the Donbas region. The emphasis is not on the defense of Ukraine against massive attacking forces, but on its offensive actions against the entrenched Russians, stated by the Ukrainian side.
The Kremlin intends to take control (or destroy) the city of Mariupol and thereby eliminate the presence of the Ukrainian military in the land corridor between the Crimean and Donbas regions. Moreover, the Russians are likely to launch an offensive in the south of Ukraine towards the city of Izium, Kharkiv Oblast.
Russia has seriously staked on the second phase of the war (offensive in Donbas), because the outcome of this battle directly affects the positions of the Russian Federation in negotiations with Ukraine.
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