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Articles on Ukraine separatists

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Residents of Donetsk have been evacuated in recent days. Arkady Budnitsky / EPA-EFE

‘The hope is finished’: life in the Ukrainian separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk

Vladimir Putin has sent troops into the eastern Ukraine regions known as the Donbas. Here’s what life has been like for people living in the separatist territories.
Vladimir Putin at a concert in March 2021 marking the seventh anniversary of its annexation of Crimea. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Image

Why Putin has such a hard time accepting Ukrainian sovereignty

As Ukraine wrestles with the latest threat from its larger neighbor, two scholars explain how the independent country is often viewed as part of a greater Russia – and why that inflames tensions.
What’s on the table during Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Washington visit? Drew Angerer/Getty Images

What’s on the agenda when Ukraine president meets Biden?

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to seek commitments from his US counterpart, pledging support in his country’s ongoing battle with the Russian Federation.
A flag with a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin waves over the Moscow crowd during the Vesna (Spring) festival in March commemorating the Crimean annexation. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

How Putin used propaganda to deftly turn Russians against Ukrainians

Vladimir Putin fomented so-called Ukrainophobia leading up to his annexation of Crimea. Ukrainians, on the other hand, held positive views of their neighbours prior to annexation.
The Hryvna: a vulnerable currency Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Forecast for Ukraine: stormy with rays of sunshine

A year after the Maidan revolution of 2014, Ukraine is at a critical juncture. The conflict with Russia has been escalating. Estimates of casualties exceed 5,000, with some reports putting the number at…
Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) leader, Alexander Zakharchenko. EPA/Alexander Ermochenko

Ukraine sliding towards all-out war despite mediation efforts

Over the past few days, Ukraine has taken a significant turn for the worse. Fighting between rebels and government forces has intensified, the civilian death toll has increased, and the war of words between…
Celtic Manor welcomes careful drivers and diplomatic debaters. Joe Giddens/PA Wire/Press Association Images

An old threat calls for a radical new approach from NATO

World leaders are beginning to converge on Newport in Wales for two days to reflect on NATO’s aims and objectives, ahead of the organisation’s main summit on Thursday and Friday. While in Wales, they’ll…
The evidence is out there, waiting to be found. Igor Kovalenko

Here’s how you find out who shot down MH17

More than a month has passed since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed with the loss of all 298 lives on board. But despite the disturbances at the crash site near the small town of Grabovo, near Donetsk…
Pavel Gubarev: self-proclaimed ‘People’s Governor’ of Donetsk region. EPA/Photomig

Self-styled people’s governor of Donetsk tells us: these areas have always been Russian

There are two competing and irreconcilable narratives about the crisis in eastern Ukraine that divide public opinion and media coverage in the region and the country – as much as they divide Russia and…
A train carrying the remains of crash victims is guarded by pro-Russian separatists. EPA/Robert Ghement

Russia must co-operate with investigation of MH17 or risk wearing the blame

US Secretary of State John Kerry has left the rest of the world in no doubt as to who America blames for the downing of MH17, appearing on several Sunday talkshows to point the finger at pro-Russian separatists…

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