2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine

Also known as Russian Spring

unrest in Ukraine in the aftermath of the Euromaidan movement

Key facts

Date: 23 February – 2 May 2014 (2 months, 1 week and 2 days)
Location: Crimea , Donetsk , Luhansk , Kharkiv and Odesa
Caused by: Russia's support of separatism, opposition to Euromaidan , success of the Revolution of Dignity and the pro-European outlook of the new government
Goals: Union with Russia Federalization Referendums on status for Eastern Ukraine and Southern Ukraine Establishment of Russian as a second official language in Ukraine Creation of Donetsk , Odesa, Kharkiv and Luhansk People's Republics
Methods: Protests Riots Armed insurgency Occupation of administrative buildings Covert operations by the Russian Federation
Resulted in: Escalation into the war in Donbas 48 people killed during the clashes in Odesa Establishment of Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics

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From the end of February 2014, in the aftermath of the Euromaidan and the Revolution of Dignity, which resulted in the ousting of Russian-leaning Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, demonstrations by Russian-backed, pro-Russian, and anti-government groups (as well as pro-government demonstrations) took place in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Odesa. The unrest, which was supported by the Russian military and intelligence services, belongs to the early stages of the Russo-Ukrainian war.

During its first phase in February–March 2014, the Ukrainian territory of Crimea was invaded and subsequently annexed by Russia following an internationally unrecognized referendum, with the United Nations General Assembly voting in favor of Ukraine's territorial integrity. Concurrently, protests by anti-Maidan and pro-Russian groups took place across other parts of eastern and southern Ukraine. Local separatists, some directed and financed by the Russian security services, took advantage of the situation and occupied government buildings in Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv oblasts in early March 2014. The Ukrainian government was able to quickly quell this unrest and removed the separatists by 10 March.