It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
The separatist paramilitaries were formed during the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine. The Donbas People's Militia was formed in March 2014 by Pavel Gubarev, who proclaimed himself "People's Governor" of Donetsk Oblast,[9] while the Army of the South-East was formed in Luhansk Oblast. The Donbas war began in April 2014 after these groups seized Ukrainian government buildings in the Donbas, leading the Ukrainian military to launch its Anti-Terrorist Operation against them.
During the Donbas war, Russian far-right groups were heavily involved in recruiting for the separatists, and many far-right activists joined them and formed volunteer units.[10][11] The Russian separatists have been held responsible for war crimes, among them the shootdown of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17[12] and the Mariupol rocket attacks, which they have denied.[13] The militias were also responsible for illegal abductions, detention, and torture of civilians of the Donbas.[14]
In the 1991 referendum on Ukrainian independence, 83.9% of voters in Donetsk Oblast and 83.6% in Luhansk Oblast supported independence from the Soviet Union. Turnout was 76.7% in Donetsk Oblast and 80.7% in Luhansk Oblast. In October 1991, a congress of South-Eastern deputies from all levels of government took place in Donetsk, where delegates demanded federalisation.
A brief attempt at gaining autonomy by pro-Viktor Yanukovych politicians and officials was made in 2004 during the Orange Revolution. The so-called South East Ukranian Autonomous Republic was intended to consist out of nine South-Eastern regions of Ukraine. The project was initiated on 26 November 2004 by the Luhansk Oblast Council, and was discontinued the next month by the Donetsk Oblast Council. On 28 November 2004, in Sievierodonetsk, the so-called First All-Ukraine Congress of Peoples’ Deputies And Local-Council Deputies took place, organised by the supporters of Viktor Yanukovych.
Donetsk Mayor Oleksandr Lukyanchenko, however, stated that no one wanted autonomy, but rather sought to stop the Orange Revolution demonstrations going on at the time in Kyiv and negotiate a compromise. After the Orange Revolution's victory, some of the organisers of the congress were charged with "encroachment upon the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine", but no convictions were made.
In other parts of Ukraine during the 2000s, the Donbas was often perceived as having a "thug culture", as being a "Soviet cesspool", and as "backward". Writing in the Narodne slovo newspaper in 2005, commentator Viktor Tkachenko said that the Donbas was home to "fifth columns", and that speaking Ukrainian in the region was "not safe for one's health and life". It was also portrayed as being home to pro-Russian separatism. The Donbas is home to a significantly higher number of cities and villages that were named after Communist figures compared to the rest of Ukraine. Despite this portrayal, surveys taken across that decade and during the 1990s showed strong support for remaining within Ukraine and insignificant support for separatism.
originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: Solvedit
The crazy part about the entire debacle.
Is that Putin's failed land grab in Ukraine did nothing more than to drive Finland and Sweden into the arms of NATO.
Essentially this means Russia will have doubled the borders she shares with NATO nations.
No matter the outcome of her cowardly war against Ukraine.
Simply put Russia is going to have a hard time policing and defending that kind of geographical area with any sort of proficiency.
originally posted by: Kurokage
a reply to: Imhere
NATO’s land grab with sovereign Kosovo/Serbia within the past years is also in effect
I don't think thats on topic??
This thread is about the illegal and criminal Russian land grab in the Ukraine.
Russia is by far the biggest borrower from China, racking up a total debt of $169.3 billion (£134bn) over the last 20 years. However, AidData's figures only account for borrowing that took place between 2000 and 2021 and, realistically, this figure is likely to be even higher following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
originally posted by: Kurokage
a reply to: RussianTroll
“With your husband” and “with your husband”
Im not judging you RT. If you and your husband are happy, then good for you.
Serbia doesn’t want NATO nor Russia in or around Kosovo.
Like Israel doesn’t want UN or anybody ceasefire or otherwise.
Kosovo is Serbia.
Not anyone else’s. You’d have to pick up ur jock straps up before going head to toe with one of Europe’s great ones. And pounded in stone.