How Ukraine War Begun

The Ukraine war, known also as the Donbass conflict, has caused pain and devastation for many individuals and families. It started in 2014, but the roots of the violence go far back in history.

For years, Ukraine had been seeking closer ties with the European Union, but its president at the time, Viktor Yanukovych, turned his back on the EU and opted for closer relations with Russia. This decision caused widespread protests, which eventually led to Yanukovych's removal from power.

However, this political move deeply angered Russia, which has a long history of influence in Ukraine. In response, Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in March 2014, sparking a full-scale conflict between pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine and the Ukrainian government.

As the conflict continued, tensions between Russia and Ukraine rose further. The two sides have accused each other of various atrocities, including war crimes and the targeting of civilians. The violence has resulted in countless deaths, injuries, and displacement of people.

The war has left many people on both sides feeling hopeless and powerless. The emotional impact of loss and trauma can last a lifetime, affecting not just the individuals involved, but entire communities and even generations.

It's sad to see how a conflict that could have been resolved peacefully has instead propagated so much pain and suffering. One can only hope for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and an end to the cycle of violence and trauma that it perpetuates.

As of now, the war in Ukraine, also known as the Donbass conflict, is ongoing and has been for nearly seven years. The conflict flared up in 2014 after the ousting of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Russia's subsequent annexation of Crimea. The conflict then spread to the Eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where Pro-Russian separatists seized control of a number of cities.

Despite various ceasefire attempts and agreements, the conflict has not yet been resolved, and tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue to escalate. Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russia of supporting the separatists militarily and financially, which Russia denies. Thousands of people have been killed, and millions have been displaced as a result of the ongoing fighting.

In recent months, there has been an uptick in violence and clashes between Ukrainian forces and separatists. In January 2021, four Ukrainian soldiers were killed in a spike in fighting, and in February 2021, at least 13 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in a separatist attack.

The situation is further complicated by the recent mobilization of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border and in Crimea. Ukrainian officials fear that Russia may be planning to escalate the conflict further, while Russia has stated that it is carrying out military exercises and has no intention of invading Ukraine.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is a tragedy, and it's important for the international community to push for a peaceful resolution that prioritizes the safety and well-being of all those involved. It's vital that diplomatic efforts continue, and that all parties involved work towards de-escalating tensions to prevent further loss of life and displacement of civilians.

Russia-Ukraine War, war between Russia and Ukraine that began in February 2014 with the covert invasion of the Ukrainian autonomous republic of Crimea by disguised Russian troops. The conflict expanded in April 2014 when Russians and local proxy forces seized territory in Ukraine’s Donbas region; over the next seven years, more than 14,000 people would be killed in fighting in eastern UkraineEncyclopedia Britannica
Russia-Ukraine War
Home
World History
Wars, Battles & Armed Conflicts
Russia-Ukraine War
[2022]
Also known as: 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Written by
Fact-checked by
Last Updated: Jun 5, 2023 • Article History
Recent News
Jun. 5, 2023, 6:52 AM ET (AP)
Russia claims Ukraine is launching major attacks; Kyiv accuses Moscow of misinformation
Moscow officials claimed that Ukrainian forces were making a major effort to punch through Russian defensive lines in southeast Ukraine for a second day Monday
Jun. 5, 2023, 5:26 AM ET (AP)
Belgium investigating whether arms destined to defend Ukraine ended up in Russia fighting
Belgium is investigating whether weapons it sent to help Ukraine defend its territory were used in fighting just over the border following a news report that said equipment produced by a Belgian company turned up around Russia's Belgorod region
Russia-Ukraine War, war between Russia and Ukraine that began in February 2014 with the covert invasion of the Ukrainian autonomous republic of Crimea by disguised Russian troops. The conflict expanded in April 2014 when Russians and local proxy forces seized territory in Ukraine’s Donbas region; over the next seven years, more than 14,000 people would be killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine.

Russia-Ukraine War
Russia-Ukraine War
See all media
Date: 2022 - present
Location: Ukraine
Participants: Russia Ukraine
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Although Russian forces made significant gains in the first days of combat, Ukrainian defenders rebuffed attempts to seize Kyiv and other major cities and were soon launching counterattacks at Russian positions.


The toppling of the Yanukovych government and the invasion of Crimea
Independence Square in Kyiv
Independence Square in Kyiv
From November 2013 to late February 2014, protesters gathered on Kyiv’s Maidan Nezalezhnosti (“Independence Square”) in a series of demonstrations that came to be known as the Euromaidan. Those protests involved several distinct stages, culminating in the removal of Pres. Viktor Yanukovych, which in turn precipitated a violent separatist movement in the eastern regions of the country.

In late November 2013 Yanukovych had signaled his willingness to sign an association agreement with the European Union. In return, the Europeans demanded that he release opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko from prison and initiate constitutional and legal reforms. After a visit with Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Yanukovych opted not to sign the agreement. It seemed that Ukraine would commit itself to the Eurasian Economic Union, a Russian-led EU analogue that would include Kazakhstan and Belarus as members when it came into existence on January 1, 2015.

D-Day. American soldiers fire rifles, throw grenades and wade ashore on Omaha Beach next to a German bunker during D Day landing. 1 of 5 Allied beachheads est. in Normandy, France. The Normandy Invasion of World War II launched June 6, 1944.
Britannica Quiz
A History of War
Viktor Yanukovych
Viktor Yanukovych
Within hours of Yanukovych’s about-face, protesters took to the streets. They were mainly young people, alerted by social networks and text messages, and they soon established a camp on the Maidan. Although the level of daily participation fluctuated over time, every Sunday masses converged on the Maidan; at the action’s peak, 500,000 gathered in central Kyiv. The authorities initially deployed the Berkut riot police without serious confrontations, but on the night of November 30 the order was given to clear the square by force. Dozens were injured in the ultimately ineffective effort, and the protests were reenergized by the assault.

Maidan protests
Maidan protests
On December 16 Putin offered Ukraine $15 billion in loans and reduced gas prices to offset a shortfall in the country’s finances that had been sparked by the near depletion of its hard currency reserves. The parliament enacted draconian anti-protest laws on January 16, 2014, that limited freedom of speech and assembly, outlawed nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and established a virtual dictatorship under Yanukovych. Though they were repealed only 12 days later, the measures steeled the protesters. In an effort to preserve his rule, Yanukovych removed Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and offered government posts to opposition leaders Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Vitali Klitschko, but both ey burned cars, beat protesters, and kidnapped prominent journalists. On the opposition side, local militias formed, based partly on rightist groups such as Right Sector. The average protesters were no longer the 20-something students but more-hardened 30- and 40-year-olds, many from western Ukraine. Pro-Euromaidan activists took over government buildings in Kyiv and throughout Ukraine.

Ukraine crisis, 2014
Ukraine crisis, 2014
On February 18 more than 20 people were killed in clashes with police, but that was merely a hint of what was to come. Two days later the centre of Kyiv became a battleground. Government snipers fired on protesters from the roofs of buildings, killing at least 80 and wounding hundreds. Amid the chaos the Maidan protesters held their ground. On February 21 a group of EU foreign ministers arrived in Kyiv to broker a deal between Yanukovych and parliamentary opposition leaders. The parties agreed to form a government of “national unity” within 10 days, implement constitutional reforms to reduce the powers of the presidency—reinstating the constitution of 2004—and hold new presidential elections by December 31. Yanukovych would remain president until those elections were held. The opposition leaders agreed to the deal, and Putin, in a telephone conversation with U.S. Pres. Barack Obama, appeared to support it. The following day, however, Yanukovych fled Kyiv. The parliament responded by stripping him of his office, ordering the release of Tymoshenko from prison, and appointing Oleksandr Turchynov acting president. New presidential elections were called for May 25..