In April 2014, less than a month after Russia annexed Crimea and after several weeks of protests, pro-Russian activists seized control of government buildings in towns and cities across the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. They demanded the return of former President Viktor Yanukovych, who had fled to Russia after the Euromaidan revolution. They also called for a referendum on the status of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, similar to the one that took place in Crimea.
A month later, separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk declared independence after unrecognized referendums were held. The situation quickly escalated into a deadly conflict between the pro-Russian separatist forces of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics and the Ukrainian government.
Nearly 10,000 people were killed and more than 20,000 wounded since the eastern Ukraine conflict began in April 2014. About 2 million people had to leave their homes.
Pro-Russian protesters go to attack pro-Ukrainian supporters during their rally for a Single Ukraine in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, 28 April 2014.
Ukrainians hold national flags during their demonstration in support of the Single Ukraine in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, 23 April 2014.
Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally calling former President Viktor Yanukovych to return to Ukraine and to hold a referendum on the status of the Donetsk region in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, 29 March 2014.
Pro-Russian protesters clash with police as they try to occupy a regional administration building in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, 06 April 2014.
A Pro-Russian protester sits on a barricade as he guards the entrance to the occupied regional administration building in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, 08 April 2014.
Pro-Russian protesters stand next to a barricade inside an occupied regional administration building in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, 06 April 2014.
A man walks past an armed pro-Russian rebel standing guard near a checkpoint in Slaviansk, eastern Ukraine, 10 May 2014.
Local people attend a referendum organized by the so-called Donetsk People's Republic members, at a polling station in Slaviansk, eastern Ukraine, 11 May 2014.
A Ukrainian voter fills in a ballot inside a booth at a polling station during the Ukrainian presidential election in Dobropillia town, eastern Ukraine, 25 May 2014.
A Communist party supporter attends a rally to mark International Labour Day in Slaviansk, eastern Ukraine, 01 May 2014.
Armed pro-Russian rebel sits with a young boy on an Armoured Personnel Carrier, during the Victory Day celebrations in Slaviansk, eastern Ukraine, 09 May 2014.
Pro-Russian rebels sit on an armored military vehicle in Slaviansk, eastern Ukraine, 16 April 2014.
A woman attends with children a ceremony sending volunteers of the 'Azov' battalion to eastern Ukraine in Kiev, Ukraine, 23 June 2014.
A Ukrainian soldier rests as he patrols the territory close to a Ukrainian checkpoint near Gorlovka town, eastern Ukraine, 28 August 2014.
A Ukrainian soldier takes cover after firing a mortar during fighting against pro-Russian rebels, close to Ilovaysk town, near Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, 10 August 2014.
Destroyed houses after fighting between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian forces, in Semenovka village, near Slaviansk, eastern Ukraine, 07 August 2014.
Women pray during a service for peace in front of the administration building occupied by pro-Russian rebels in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, 21 May 2014.
A pro-Russian rebel crouches near the body of a killed comrade, which was loaded onto a truck, after fierce fighting between pro-Russian rebels and the Ukrainian army near Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, 23 May 2014.
Children look through a car's back windscreen with a paper reading 'Children', as they drive in Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, 09 August 2014.
A local man examines a burnt Ukrainian military vehicle in Oktyabrskoe village, eastern Ukraine, 14 May 2014.
Ukrainian soldiers rescue an injured comrade during fighting against pro-Russian rebels, close to Ilovaysk town, near Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, 10 August 2014.
A girl stands next to flowers in front of a burnt police station during a memorial for victims who were killed during the 09 May deadly clashes, in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, 18 May 2014.
Pro-Russian activists extinguish and remove burning tires on their barricade seized by them close to Slaviansk, eastern Ukraine, 04 May 2014.
A Ukrainian soldier sleeps in a trench at the military camp close to Ilovaysk town, near Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, 10 August 2014.
A Ukrainian soldier patrols the territory close to a military camp near Rassypnoe town, eastern Ukraine, 25 August 2014.
Alexey Danilenko (23) with his neighbor show a damaged car after fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels in Seleznevka village, near Slaviansk, eastern Ukraine, 17 August 2014.
A Ukrainian volunteer from the "Donbass" battalion has his hair cut by a comrade at their camp based in a school in Popasnaya town, eastern Ukraine, 18 August 2014.
A Ukrainian soldier stands guard at a checkpoint near Debalcevo town, eastern Ukraine, 16 August 2014.
A woman walks on an empty road close to Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, 21 August 2014.
A woman cooks food outside on a fire after the electricity service stopped working because of fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels in Avdeevka town, near Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, 27 August 2014.
Ukrainian soldiers rest in a military camp based on a front line near Pervomaysk town, eastern Ukraine, 12 September 2014.
Ukrainian soldiers stand on a road with track marks left by tanks at a checkpoint in Avdeevka town, near Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, 22 August 2014.
A Ukrainian volunteer from the "Donbass" battalion is reflected in a car's mirror as he holds his belongings during the relocation from their camp, which is based in a school, in Popasnaya town, eastern Ukraine, 04 August 2014.
Relatives and friends attend a funeral ceremony for Fedor Lipchak, a serviceman of Ukrainian battalion "Aidar" who was killed in eastern Ukraine, in Gurovschina village, near Kiev, Ukraine, 31 October 2014.
Women react as soldiers carry a coffin with Fedor Lipchak, a serviceman of Ukrainian battalion "Aidar" who was killed in eastern Ukraine, during a funeral ceremony in Gurovschina village, near Kiev, Ukraine, 31 October 2014.
A Ukrainian armored military vehicle drives to take up position during fighting against pro-Russian rebels, close to Ilovaysk town, near Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, 10 August 2014.
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