Following the Russian annexation of Crimea in March 2014, the eyes of the world turned to Ukraine’s easternmost part. Just a month after Crimea broke away from Ukraine, activists in Donetsk unofficially founded the Donetsk People’s Republic.
Unlike in Crimea, no Russian army bases had previously been based in the region. Instead, civilians were engaged to drive a process of annexation. Armed militia groups from the local area set up roadblocks and put up banners containing anti-Western and anti-European slogans. They stormed administration buildings, police stations and army bases.
The Ukrainian army launched its anti-terror operation in an attempt to crackdown the opposition. The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic went ahead with a referendum on 11 May to determine independence from Ukraine. The vote was deemed illegal by both Kyiv and Western governments and unrest in the region remained.
