Russo-Ukrainian war

The Russo-Ukrainian war is a major armed conflict that began in February 2014. It is an ongoing struggle between Russia and Ukraine. This war has significantly impacted the stability of Europe. It has caused a massive refugee crisis for millions of people. It has also resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths.

The conflict involves both national and international dimensions. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has classified it as an international armed conflict. This classification stems from Russia's direct involvement in the fighting.

The conflict began following the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine. In late 2013, the Euromaidan protests started in the capital, Kyiv. These protests were sparked when President Viktor Yanukovych withdrew from an association agreement with the European Union. Protesters opposed government corruption and Russian interference. By February 2014, the government resigned and Yanukovych fled to Russia.

Shortly after this political change, Russia occupied the Crimean Peninsula. Russia then annexed Crimea after a highly disputed referendum. This move was internationally condemned by many nations.

Following the takeover of Crimea, fighting spread to eastern Ukraine. This area is known as the Donbas region. In April 2014, Russian-backed militants seized several towns and cities. They proclaimed the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). These groups fought against the Ukrainian military.

Russia provided covert support to these separatists. This support included troops, tanks, and artillery. The European Court of Human Rights later judged that Russia controlled these two republics. In 2018, Ukraine officially declared the Donbas to be occupied territory.

For several years, the Donbas war was a static conflict. This means the frontlines did not move much over time. The fighting was often compared to trench warfare. In February 2015, leaders signed the Minsk II agreements to try to stop the fighting. However, these agreements were never fully implemented. Ceasefires were repeatedly broken by the combatants. The conflict also involved cyberwarfare and various naval incidents.

The war entered a much larger phase in February 2022. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of the entire country. President Vladimir Putin called this a "special military operation." He claimed the goal was to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine.

This invasion is the largest conflict in Europe since World War II. Many countries responded by imposing sanctions against Russia. These sanctions are economic penalties designed to limit trade. Many nations also sent military and humanitarian aid to help Ukraine.

Since the full-scale invasion, the fighting has changed many times. In early 2022, Russia attempted to seize the capital, Kyiv. However, Ukrainian resistance forced Russian troops to abandon that attempt. By August 2022, Ukrainian forces began liberating territory in the south and northeast. In September 2022, Russia declared it had annexed four more partially occupied provinces. This move was also condemned internationally.

More recently, in August 2024, Ukrainian forces launched a cross-border offensive into Russia's Kursk region.

The war has had severe legal and humanitarian consequences. The UN Human Rights Office reported severe human rights violations in occupied areas. Russia has also been accused of conducting indiscriminate attacks on civilians.

Because of these actions, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and other officials. The court is investigating potential war crimes. This conflict is deeply tied to the history of the former Soviet Union. Since 1991, Ukraine and Russia have maintained complex ties regarding sovereignty and security alliances like NATO.