Russia sent troops and military equipment into Ukraine in what has been termed a stealth invasion following the events of the February 2014 Ukrainian revolution and Euromaidan movement which led to the flight and subsequent disputed impeachment of President Viktor Yanukovych. FollowingFollowing the ouster of Yanukovych government, a secession crisis erupted in the Ukrainian territory of Crimea. In late February, unmarked soldiers gradually took control of Crimea. London-based military experts said they were likely Russian special forces, airborne units, and possibly commandos from the elite Spetsnaz force.[55] Russia then annexed Crimea following a disputed status referendum.[56] Later, a Russian-backed war against Ukrainian forces escalated in the Donbass region of Ukraine while unmarked troops and military vehicles from Russia crossed into Ukraine.and opened a new front on the coast of the Sea of Azov.
Russia has sought to distance itself from allegations of military involvement in Ukraine, despite evidence to the contrary.During the Crimean crisis, the Russian government insisted that the anti-Ukrainian government forces that took control of the autonomous republic did not include Russian troops stationed in the area.[60] In April however, Russian president Vladimir Putin admitted that Russian troops had been active in Crimea, and said that this had laid the ground for the referendum.
In mid-April, the United States[3] accused Russia of being behind the unrest in eastern and southern Ukraine and the subsequent war in the Donbass region, which the Russian Foreign Ministry also denied.At the beginning of the insurgency, the prime ministers of Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk were Russian citizens who were succeeded by Ukrainian citizens by August.[64]Many of the separatist fighters are from Russian citizens with many claimed to be former military personnel.The SBU claims key commanders of the rebel movement during this time, including Igor Strelkov and Igor Bezler are Russian agents.American and Ukrainian officials said they had evidence of Russian interference in Ukraine, including intercepted communications between Russian officials and Donbass insurgents.Separatist leaders, like Alexei Moskovoy, visited Moscow and were evasive about who was supplying their weapons.There is also evidence that indicates the Buk missile system, widely believed to have been used to shoot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 on the 17 July, came from Russia.
Videos of Russian soldiers captured in Ukraine, comments by rebel leaders such as Zakharchenko and statements such as that of Valentina Melnikova, head of the Russian Union of Committees of Soldiers’ Mothers[73] establish that Russian service personnel are fighting in Ukraine. The Kremlin has tried to systematically intimidate and silence human rights workers who have raised questions about Russian soldiers' deaths in Ukraine, in a war which officially Russia denies being involved in.In late August NATO released satellite images which it said showed evidence of Russian operations inside Ukraine with sophisticated weaponry.After the heavy defeat[76] of Ukrainian forces by early September it was evident Russia had sent soldiers and armour across the border and locals acknowledged the role of Putin and Russian soldiers in effecting a reversal of fortunes.
On September 5 Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels signed a 12-point agreement on a ceasefire.On September 10 Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko said most of the Russian forces had withdrawn from Ukrainian territory, and that this heightened the chances for a lasting cease-fire in the southeast.On September 13 it was reported Russia sent a convoy of aid into eastern Ukraine, without inspection by Ukraine. It is claimed this convoy of aid is part of the ceasefire agreement.NATO said that Russian forces were still operating in Ukraine and that a ceasefire was not working, but precise numbers were unknown. In the assessment by NATO, Russian forces are said to be repositioning to bring great pressure on Mariupol.
Several members of the international community and organizations such as Amnesty International have criticized Russia for its actions in post-revolutionary Ukraine, and condemned Russia, accusing it of breaking international law and violating Ukrainian sovereignty. Many countries implemented economic sanctions against Russia or Russian individuals or companies, to which Russia responded in kind.
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