Summary
Both of these regions are supported by Moscow. Since 2014, fighting between the Ukrainian military and Moscow-backed separatists has killed more than 14,000 people.
Russia has declared Ukraine’s two provinces, Donetsk and Luhansk, as independent countries. With this announcement, Putin has also started the deployment of the army in Luhansk-Donetsk and separatist-held areas. It is only after Putin’s move that the United Nations Security Council has called an emergency meeting. The Donbass region has been a turning point in the escalating crisis between Russia and Ukraine, and Putin’s decision has fueled tensions.
how are these areas
Donetsk is the main city of the Donbass state, the two provinces of Ukraine that Putin has declared independent. It is an industrial center dominated by several major mining deposits. It is one of the main steel producing centers of Ukraine. The population here is about two million. Similarly, Luhansk, formerly known as Voroshilovgrad, is an important coal reserve for Ukraine. The city is also part of the Donbass region and shares a border with Russia.
Since when have the separatists been in possession?
Russia-backed separatists also occupied Donetsk and Luhansk, days after Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014. Since then it has been occupied by Russian-backed rebels. They are considered pro-Russian separatists and have waged a constant war against the Ukrainian government. The rebels have also declared these two cities republics and have been demanding separation from Ukraine for a long time. Russia believes that the Russian workers who returned from the world during the Second World War settled in Donetsk and Luhansk, that is, they are originally from Russia.
How does Russia help the multidisciplinary sector?
Russia has been fueling the ambition of these two provinces to become independent states from Ukraine. Ukraine and several Western countries have accused Russia of supporting separatists with troops and weapons, but Moscow has always denied, saying there were Russian volunteers fighting there. However, according to international media reports, Russia has been supporting the separatists in many ways. Including steps such as covert military aid, financial aid, the supply of corona vaccines and the issuance of Russian passports to about eight million residents here. It is believed that this move of Putin can be popular in Russia. Russian state media released images of people in Donetsk setting off fireworks, waving large Russian flags and playing Russia’s national anthem.
referendum has also been held
In March 2014, a referendum was held in Ukraine, in which 97 percent of the people voted in favor of joining Russia. On 18 March 2014, Crimea officially joined Russia. On the same lines, in 2014 the demand for holding referendums in Donetsk and Luhansk also kept rising, but Ukraine flatly refused this. In view of this, the separatists started occupying government buildings, so in May of the same year a plebiscite was held there.
The separatists claimed that 89 percent of Donetsk people and 96 percent of Luhansk people voted for their own separate regime. After the referendum, the separatists of both the regions declared themselves independent countries. According to international media reports, all this happened at the behest of Russia.
What does this recognition of Russia mean?
Putin has also started deploying the army in areas occupied by separatists like Luhansk- Donetsk. This has made it easier for Russia to encircle Ukraine through these two provinces. Russia has said for the first time that it does not consider the Donbass to be part of Ukraine. The move pits Russia against Ukraine as their main defense ally to defend the two provinces.
Alexander Borodai, a Russian parliament member and former Donestk political leader, told a news agency last month that if Russia helps control parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, it could lead to an open military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. It is possible.
In 2015, Russia and Ukraine agreed to the Minsk Peace Accord which was mediated by France and Germany. This peace agreement was to end the conflict between Kiev and Russian-backed separatists in the Donbass region. Under the agreement, Ukraine would give the two regions a special status and significant autonomy in exchange for regaining control of its border with Russia. However, this agreement has not yet been implemented. After the recognition of these areas by Russia, the Minsk peace agreement is believed to be almost over.
Expansion
Russia has declared Ukraine’s two provinces, Donetsk and Luhansk, as independent countries. With this announcement, Putin has also started the deployment of the army in Luhansk-Donetsk and separatist-held areas. It is only after Putin’s move that the United Nations Security Council has called an emergency meeting. The Donbass region has been a turning point in the escalating crisis between Russia and Ukraine, and Putin’s decision has fueled tensions.
how are these areas
Donetsk is the main city of the Donbass state, the two provinces of Ukraine that Putin has declared independent. It is an industrial center dominated by several major mining deposits. It is one of the main steel producing centers of Ukraine. The population here is about two million. Similarly, Luhansk, formerly known as Voroshilovgrad, is an important coal reserve for Ukraine. The city is also part of the Donbass region and shares a border with Russia.
Since when have the separatists been in possession?
Russia-backed separatists also occupied Donetsk and Luhansk, days after Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014. Since then it has been occupied by Russian-backed rebels. They are considered pro-Russian separatists and have waged a constant war against the Ukrainian government. The rebels have also declared these two cities republics and have been demanding separation from Ukraine for a long time. Russia believes that the Russian workers who returned from the world during the Second World War settled in Donetsk and Luhansk, that is, they are originally from Russia.