The histories of the modern states of Ukraine and Russia are closely intertwined. Their territories were part of the Soviet Union (80 years), the Russian Empire (300 years), Ancient Russia. Many significant events connect the peoples of these countries. Ukrainians and Russians have common Slavic roots, the beginning of the joint history of the formation of these peoples goes back to the mists of time.
The history of relations between the Ukrainian and Russian peoples has a lot of both positive and negative events, to which volumes of research are devoted. The tragic events that unfolded in 2022, of course, have a long prehistory, but the reasons for the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine are laid down in the events of the early 21st century and their brief description is given below.
By the beginning of the 21st century, Ukraine and Russia are independent states that have seceded from the Soviet Union. Their secession, territorial boundaries, material heritage and sovereignty, like those of other republics from the USSR, are stipulated by the Belovezhskaya Accords of 1992, certified by the leaders of these republics. From that moment on, each country chooses its own path of development.
In 2012, the ruling "Party of Regions" of Ukraine strengthened its position by winning the elections (it should be noted that many independent analysts had reason to doubt the transparency of these elections). The ideology of the "Party of Regions" was aimed at rapprochement with Russia and integration with the CIS (Union of Independent States), which ran counter to Ukraine's long-term course towards association with the European Union. Unexpectedly, the "Party of Regions" announced a reversal of the economic course towards Russia The rejection of European integration caused a sharp protest in Ukrainian society.
The year 2013 was marked by a number of public protests against the policy of the "Party of Regions" and demands to adhere to the course of integration with the European Union. The opposition grew.By the end of the year, protesters set up a tent city on the central square of the Ukrainian capital (Independence Square) and erected barricades to stop the dispersion of an ongoing protest rally.
In January 2014, the government, led by Viktor Yanukovych, put forward conditions for the protesters to end the confrontation. The government's proposals do not suit the protesters. There are clashes between police and protesters. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passes a law on criminal liability for protest activities. By the end of the month, after negotiations, the laws are repealed under the pressure of the protest movement. But the main issue of European integration has not been resolved.
In February 2014, the protests continue. Russia accuses the US and the West of inciting the protesters and attempting to create a sphere of influence in Ukraine. On February 18-20, clashes occur between the police and protesters, with dozens of people killed by the protesters. Ukrainian President Yanukovych is fleeing the country. A government of national unity is being formed in Ukraine, special presidential election is being called. These events in the history of Ukraine were called "Revolution of Gidnosti" (Revolution of Dignity). Troops, whose country of allegiance is unknown (unmarked troops), appear in Crimea, seizing government buildings and airports. The new Ukrainian government accuses Russia of an armed invasion of Crimea.
In March 2014, unmarked troops continue to seize Crimea. Facts and expert assessment show that these troops belong to Russia and they are supplied from the base of the Russian Navy in Sevastopol. Pro-Russian rallies are taking place in the Eastern regions of Ukraine and Crimea. Rallies against the deployment of Russian troops into Crimea are held throughout Ukraine. The split in Ukrainian society is growing. A referendum on independence and reunification to Russia is being prepared in Crimea. The international community calls on Russia to withdraw its troops from Crimea. The government and the Russian president claim that the unknown soldiers in Crimea are not from Russia. Representatives of the Crimean Tatar people spoke out against the annexation of Crimea and a referendum in favor of joining Russia. The self-proclaimed Supreme Council of Crimea declares the legitimacy of the referendum.
On March 18, the new government of Crimea proclaims independence following the results of a referendum that was not coordinated with the central government of Ukraine. The UN General Assembly and the G7 countries did not recognize the referendum on the independence of Crimea. The Crimean government is asking Russia to join. Ukraine protests. Ukraine signs an agreement with the EU, while Russia - documents on the annexation of Crimea.
April 2014. At the beginning of the month, a Russian flag was hoisted in Donetsk on the building of the regional administration. There are riots in the eastern regions of Ukraine due to rallies for and against joining Russia. Pro-Russian activists proclaim the Donetsk Republic. There are riots in Kharkov, Luhansk, Mariupol. In Lugansk, supporters of Russian reunification seize the building of the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine). The Ukrainian government invites the separatists to lay down their arms. Russian troops advanced to the eastern borders of Ukraine. The EU countries, together with the United States, are calling on Russia to back down. Pro-Russian activists seize administrative buildings in Lugansk, Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and other cities in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), on the orders of the government, are launching a "special operation" against the separatists. The talks in Geneva on settling the confrontation in Ukraine did not lead to an end to the armed clashes between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the separatists. Lugansk and Donetsk separatists refuse to comply with the Geneva agreements. Ukraine accuses Russia of sponsoring separatists. Clashes between the forces of law and order, border guards, and the armed forces of Ukraine with separatists continue in the Lugansk and Donetsk regions. Russia conducts military exercises near the borders of Ukraine and does not withdraw troops.
May 2014. Ukraine announces military conscription. On May 1-3, bloody clashes were provoked in Odessa between opponents and supporters of integration with Russia, which led to human casualties. There are riots in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. Separatists capture the OSCE mission in the Donetsk region, there are battles in Slavyansk between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the separatists. The Ukrainian government refuses to negotiate with militant separatists and calls on them to lay down their arms. The separatists are preparing a referendum on independence. Ukraine continues the anti-terrorist operation. Illegal referendums are being held in the Lugansk and Donetsk regions, the heads of the self-proclaimed republics are asking Russia to join. Fighting near Donetsk. On May 25, presidential elections are held in Ukraine, in which parts of the regions under the control of the separatists do not participate. Intense fighting is under way near Donetsk.
June 2014. Activists for reforms remain on Nezalezhnosti Square in Kyiv, demanding that the government does not delay steps towards European integration. The new president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, proposes a program to resolve the crisis. Brussels meeting of Ukraine and Russia. Fighting in eastern Ukraine does not stop. Equipment of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine, facts in the form of Russian tanks and armored personnel carriers destroyed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Temporary truce in eastern Ukraine, until the end of June.
July 2014. The government of Ukraine resumes military actions in eastern Ukraine, since it is unable to find an opportunity to come to agreements with the separatists. Ukraine approves a "special status" for the Russian language, anchoring the Ukrainian language as a united official language. The President of Ukraine accused Russia of providing heavy weapons to the separatists and sending Russian officers to participate in the conflict in the east of the country. The number of Russian troops near the eastern borders of Ukraine is increasing.
Boeing 777 "Malaysian Airlines" was shot down by a rocket in the Donetsk region, killing 295 people. Russia and Ukraine are pressing charges against each other in the Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 (MH-17) crash. The investigation is hampered by the separatists due to the lack of access of OSCE representatives to the crash site. By the end of the month, investigators received a corridor to the crash site on the territory of the self-proclaimed republics of the LPR and DPR.
August 2014. An international team works at the crash site of flight MH17. Fighting in the east continues, the Ukrainian army is moving towards Donetsk. NATO experts report that Russia has pulled 45,000 troops to the border, there is a “high probability” of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The facts of crossing the Ukrainian border of Russian armored vehicles are recorded. Shelling of humanitarian convoys, mutual accusations of Ukraine and Russia. Russian paratroopers were detained on the territory of Ukraine. The confrontation between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the separatist forces of the LPR and DPR is moving into the format of a full-scale war.
In late August - early September 2014, a series of bloody battles took place: for Lisichansk, the Ilovaisky cauldron, battles for Donetsk, the battle for Mariupol, etc. Neither side received a clear advantage, but both suffered heavy losses, as among the combatants as well as the civilian population.
Conditionally, this moment can be considered a turning point, since this was followed by the Minsk talks between Russia and Ukraine with the participation of Germany and France, and the parties to the conflict gradually switched to a positional war. Having dug in and entrenched themselves in held positions, for 8 years the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the forces of the LPR and DPR were on alert, periodically exchanging pinpoint strikes without a significant change in positions.
After 8 years, the parties could not agree on the conditions for ending the confrontation, and Russia recognized the independence of the LPR and the DPR. Based on the fact of recognition of the LPR and DPR, Russia started a war against Ukraine under the pretext:
- “liberate the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine from the oppression of the government that came to power illegally” as a result of the Revolution of Dignity in 2014;
- expand the territories of the LPR and DPR to the borders of these regions within Ukraine.
The Ukrainian people expressed their disagreement with the "liberation" and took the path to defend the right to decide the fate and internal issues of the country, without military intervention from outside