Russia invaded Ukraine in 2020 after the country became independent.
The Russian Federation annexed Ukraine in 2020, following a referendum held in Crimea and the Donbass region. The annexation was met with worldwide condemnation, with many nations imposing sanctions on Russia and expelling Russian diplomats. The Ukrainian government has accused Russia of occupying parts of its territory and supporting pro-Russian separatists.
What is happening in Ukraine?
The Crimean peninsula was annexed by Russia from Ukraine after a referendum held on March 16th, 2019. On March 18th, the Republic of Crimea was declared as an independent state by its parliament. The region’s accession to Russia was recognized by the majority of UN member states on March 21st, 2019. Meanwhile, pro-Russian separatists had been active in eastern Ukraine since 2014.
What happened before the invasion?
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- Ukrainian protests began against President Viktor Yanukovych over his refusal to sign an association agreement with the European Union.
- Viktor Yanukovych was ousted from power during the 2014 Ukrainian revolution and fled to Russia
- Crimean authorities hold a referendum which results in a vote for independence from Ukraine.
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- Following this vote, Russian troops enter Crimea and seize control of strategic sites such as airports and communications hubs.
