Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 23:11, 21 April 2014

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (April 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Donetsk People's RepublicДоне́цкая наро́дная респу́блика
Flag
Districts with government buildings under pro-Russian control or attempted control as of 14 April 2014
Capitaland largest city	Donetsk
Government
• People's Governor	Pavel Gubarev (in absentia)
• Chairman of the Council	Denis Pushilin
• Commander of the People's Army	Igor Kakidzyanov
Legislature	Provisional People's Government Donetsk People's Council
Independence from Ukraine
• Declared	7 April 2014
• Referendum	11 May 2014

The Donetsk People's Republic (Template:Lang-ru, Donetskaya narodnaya respublika) is a self-proclaimed state, declared on 7 April 2014 by several hundred activists who currently occupy the Regional Administration Building and the City Hall buildings in Donetsk, as well as other cities in the region. Separatists vowed to fan out and take control of strategic infrastructure across the province, and demanded public officials who wished to continue their work to switch allegiance. In addition to Donetsk city, as of 14 April, pro-Russian separatists have taken control of government buildings in other cities within the oblast, including Mariupol, Horlivka, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Yenakiieve, Makiivka, Druzhkivka, and Zhdanivka.

The Donetsk People's Republic has not been recognized by any other state. There is little evidence that the separatists enjoy any public support. On the other hand, the separatists do not really want an independent country. Their stated goal is either the federalization of Ukraine, or to join Russia.

Separatists retain control of the capital's administrative building, but have been cut off of electricity as of 10 April. According to the Kyiv Post, most of the protesters are 50 years or older, while inside the building, many of the occupiers are younger but from other cities like Mariupol, Kherson and Mykolaiv. Women are also inside the building. Numerous Russian citizens, including leaders of various far-right militant groups, have also taken part in the events. The OSCE reported that all the main institutions of the city observed by the Monitoring Team seemed to be working normally as of 16 April.

The pro-Russian is headed by the Donetsk Republic organization, a group banned in Ukraine since 2007. The group's leader, Andrei Purgin, was arrested weeks prior on charges of separatism. The political leader of the state in absentia is the self-declared People's Governor Pavel Gubarev, a former member of the neo-Nazi Russian National Unity paramilitary group and former Communist Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, who is also currently arrested on charges of separatism and illegal seizure of power. Denis Pushilin is the chairman of the government, while Igor Kakidzyanov has been named as the commander of the "People's Army".

On 15 April, the interim government in Kiev announced a military counteroffensive to confront the pro-Russian militants, and on 17 April, tensions de-escalated as Russia, the US, and the EU agreed on a roadmap to defuse the Ukraine crisis. However, officials of the People's Republic ignored the agreement and vowed to continue their occupations until a referendum is accepted or the interim government in Kiev resigns. Since the agreement, the Security Service of Ukraine continues to detain Russians entering the country with large amounts of money and military gear.

Background

Similar attempts to seize the Regional State Administration (RSA) building have been occurring since pro-Russian protests began in the Eastern and Southern regions of Ukraine in the wake of the 2014 Ukrainian revolution. Pro-Russian protesters previously occupied the Donetsk RSA from 1 March to 6 March, before being removed by the Security Service of Ukraine. According to Ukrainian authorities the seizure of RSA's are part of "a script which has been written in the Russian Federation" to destabilize Ukraine and bring in Russian troops executed by "about 1,500 radicals in each region who spoke with clear Russian accents".

Public opinion

In a poll conducted by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in the first half of February 2014, 33.2% of polled in Donetsk Oblast believed "Ukraine and Russia must unite into a single state".

According to a poll conducted by the Institute of Social Research and Policy Analysis, 66% of Donetsk residents view their future in a united Ukraine, 4.7% support separatism, while 18.2% support joining Russia. A second poll conducted 26–29 March showed that 77% of residents condemned the takeover of administrative buildings, while 16% support such actions. Furthermore, 40.8% of Donetsk citizens support rallies for Ukraine's unity, while 26.5% support rallies which are pro-Russia.

While support for regional independence is low, only a third of polled Donetsk inhabitants identified themselves as "citizens of Ukraine", preferring instead "Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine" or "residents of Donbass".

The New York Times stated on 11 April 2014 that many locals consider it a 'crackpot project'.

The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology released a second study with polling data taken from 8-16 April. 18.1% of Donetsk oblast residents support the recent armed seizures of administrative buildings in the region, while 72% disapprove of the current actions. Roughly 25% in the Donbas region said they would attend secessionist rallies in favor of joining Russia. Most in Donetsk believe that the disarmament and disbanding of illegal radical groups is crucial to preserving national unity. 12.4% are in favor of Ukraine and Russia uniting into a single state, with the majority preferring Ukraine to remain and independent state; 27.5% in Donetsk were in favor of regional secession from Ukraine to join Russia. 51.7% of Donetsk respondents favor Ukraine remaining a unitary state over 38.4% who support federalization.

Demands

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to itadding to it or making an edit request. (April 2014)

According to the Kyiv Post, a number of militants in standoff with police in Mariupol demand the abolition of biometric passports and an end to vaccinations.

History

On Sunday, 6 April 2014, between 1,000 and 2,000 pro-Russia protesters attended a rally in Donetsk pushing for a Crimea-style referendum on independence from Ukraine. The proposed referendum has no status-quo option. After which, 200 separatists (according to Igor Dyomin, a spokesman for Donetsk local police, about 1,000) pro-Russian protesters stormed and took control of the first two floors of the building, breaking down doors and smashing windows. The administration headquarters were empty, with only guards inside, as government officials would not work there on Sundays. The separatists demanded that if an extraordinary session was not held by officials, announcing a referendum to join Russia, they would declare unilateral control by forming a "People's Mandate" at noon on 7 April, and dismiss all elected council members and MPs. The people who voted within the RSA were not elected to the positions they assumed. According to the Russian ITAR-TASS the declaration was voted by some regional legislators, however there are claims that neither the Donetsk city council nor district councils of the city delegated any representatives to the session.

On 6 April, the group's leaders announced that a referendum, on whether Donetsk Oblast should "join the Russian Federation", would take place "no later than 11 May 2014." Additionally, the group's leaders have appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to send Russian peacekeeping forces to the region.

On the morning of 8 April, the 'Patriotic Forces of Donbass', a pro-Kiev group unrelated to Donetsk Republic organization who proclaimed independence and seized the council, issued a statement on its Facebook page against the other group's declaration of independence, citing complaints from locals. Their announcement stated that they would quash the potential state's establishment, cancel the referendum, and, on their part, stated that the declaration is illegal. Protesters reportedly gave up some weapons too. Despite this, the Donetsk Republic organization continued to occupy the RSA and declared themselves the legitimate authority, and upheld all previous calls for a referendum and the release of their leader Pavel Gubarev. In the afternoon of 8 April, about a thousand people rallied in front of the RSA listening to speeches about the Donetsk People's Republic and to Soviet and Russian music.

On the second day of the Republic, organizers decided to pour all of their alcohol out and announce a prohibition law after issues arose due to excess drinking in the building.

Alleged ethnic prejudice

Anti-semitic leaflets that may have been a hoax

On Passover eve, Ukrainian and Israeli media claimed that alleged members of the Donetsk Republic, carrying the flag of the Russian Federation, passed out a leaflet to Jews that informed all Jews over the age of 16 that they would have to report to the Commissioner for Nationalities in the Donetsk Regional Administration building and register their property and religion. It also claimed that Jews would be charged a $50 'registration fee'. If they did not comply, they would have their citizenship revoked, face 'forceful expulsion' and see their assets confiscated. The leaflet stated the purpose of registration was because "Jewish community of Ukraine supported Bendera Junta," and "oppose the pro-Slavic People's Republic of Donetsk." Security at the synagogue confirmed that the men returned on 16 April to further press their point. The authenticity of the leaflet could not be independently verified.

Donetsk People's Republic chairman Denis Pushilin denied at a press conference that the DPR had anything to do with the flyer, calling it an unprofessionally provocation and a "complete lie". Pinchas Vishedski, Donetsk city chief rabbi, stated that the pamphlet was fake, claiming it is meant to discredit pro-Russian protesters or the Jewish community. The Jewish community in Donetsk issued a statement saying the leaflet distribution "smells like a provocation.".

According to Michael Salberg, director of the international affairs at the New York City-based Anti-Defamation League, it is currently unclear if the leaflets were issued by the pro-Russian leadership or a splinter group operating within the pro-Russian camp or someone else. According to Efraim Zuroff of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the leaflets looked like some sort of provocation, and an attempt to paint the pro-Russian forces as anti-semitic.

Ukraine's Security Service announced it had launched an investigation on the matter.

According to Rabbi Vyshedski, the press secretary of the self-proclaimed republic, Aleksander Kriakov, is “the most famous anti-Semite in the region.”

Attacks on Romani

The News of Donbass reported that members of the Donbass People's Militia engaged in assaults and robbery on the Romani population of Sloviansk. The armed separatists allegedly beat women and children, looted homes, and carried off the stolen goods in trucks, according to eyewitnesses. The militants claimed they were acting on orders from 'People's Mayor' and militant leader Vyacheslav Ponomarev. Reports of the attacks were confirmed by Prime Minister Yatsenyuk, as well as a heightened level of xenophobic rhetoric at separatist rallies. Ponomarev confirmed the attacks and said that they were only against Romani he alleged were involved in drug trafficking, and that he was 'cleaning the city from drugs.'

Other instances

Ponomarev announced on 18 April a "hunt" on the Ukrainian speaking population of Donetsk region, telling militants to report suspicious activity, especially if they overheard use of the Ukrainian language. Material inciting ethnic hatred towards Ukrainians was also found near the Regional State Administration (including posters about the "horrors and atrocities of Euromaidan and Bandera").

Yatsenyuk said that the government will not tolerate incitement of ethnic hatred and will take all legal measures to prevent the import into Ukraine of anti-Semitism and xenophobia. The Prime Minister has instructed law enforcement agencies to identify those distributing hateful material and bring them to justice, as well as those involved in the attacks on Romani.

Standoff

In response to the actions, acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov vowed to launch a major counter-terrorism operation against separatist movements in the country's eastern regions. Later that day on 7 April, the SBU office in Donetsk was retaken by SBU Alpha Group. Russian media claims that, Alfa Special unit from Donetsk refused orders from Kiev, explaining it by the fact that their duties are counter-terrorism actions.

Ukrainian acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov announced on 9 April that the separatist protests in Ukraine's eastern region would be resolved within 48 hours – either through negotiations or the use of force. "There are two opposite ways for resolving this conflict -- a political dialogue and the heavy-handed approach. We are ready for both," he said, according to official news agency Ukrinform. Acting President Olexander Turchynov has already signed a decree to take the Donetsk Regional State Administration "under state protection," and has offered amnesty to the separatists if they lay down their arms and surrender. On the 11th, Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said he was against the use of law enforcement scenarios, "but there is a limit."

Expansion of territorial control

On 12 April, unmarked pro-Russian soldiers seized the Interior Ministry office in Donetsk without resistance. Following negotiations with those in the building, the head of the Donetsk Ministry of Internal Affairs resigned. The police later denied that the building had been taken, but rather that the building had only been surrounded by pro-Russian protesters. Former Berkut officers, who had been dissolved by the government following their actions during the February revolution, took part in the raid and sided with the separatists in Donetsk and spoke to the crowd outside the police department.

Armed separatists attempted to capture a chemical plant housing a significant amount of explosives, but were repelled by the Ukrainian National Guard. Two of the attackers were arrested and a police officer was injured.

On 16 April, pro-Russian gunmen stormed the Donetsk City Hall. The gunmen allowed the municipal employees to leave the building without harm. Mayor Alexander Lukyanchenko was said to be inside negotiating with the separatists, who are demanding a referendum on the status of the Donbass region.

Sloviansk

On 12 April masked men in army fatigues and bulletproof vests, armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles captured the executive committee building, the police department and SBU office in Sloviansk, a city in the northern part of the Donetsk Oblast. According to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry the militant supporters of the Donetsk Republic fired indiscriminately on the building. In raiding the police armory, the militants seized at least 400 handguns and 20 automatic weapons. "The aim of the takeover was the guns," a Ukrainian police statement said. "They are giving these guns to participants in the protest in Sloviansk." The following morning after the events in Sloviansk, the Ukrainian government announced a counter-terrorism operation would take place in the city.

The counter-terrorism operation began the following morning on 13 April where police cleared a highway checkpoint controlled by separatists. A group of insurgents exited their vehicle and began opening fire on Ukrainian police, where 2 SBU officers were killed and several Ukrainian military were injured; 1 separatist was also killed in the shootout while the remainder fled into the woods. The car the gunmen were in had a Poltava Oblast license plate, which was traced to the private security firm Yavir. In an unrelated shootout in the city itself, two people were shot dead by an assailant in plain clothes, and another wounded.

Kramatorsk

On 12 April, in Kramatorsk of the Donetsk region the local police station was attacked by unknown militia who has arrived there on buses and used the fire weapon to sneak in. Police has returned the fire with automatic weapons, but after several minutes of shooting the militia took over the police station. The inhabitants of Kramatorsk have informed that the invaders announced that they are not the Ukrainian military. On 16 April, the takeover of the military airport close to the Kramatorsk was attempted, but the Ukrainian special forces have drove attackers away and took several prisoners. The airport is guarded by special forces that have seen hundred civilians and armed men (one with a sniper rifle) among them outside the military zone.

Other cities

On 12 April, in Horlivka, men attempted to seize the police department but were stopped. The purpose of the raid was an attempt to seize weapons, police said. Police stated they would use firearms to defend against "criminals and terrorists." However, on 14 April, after a tense standoff, the police headquarters was successfully stormed by activists. Some members of the local police unit defected to the People's Republic earlier in the day, while the remaining officers eventually retreated, allowing the pro-Russian forces to take control and raise the flag of the People's Republic over the building. The chief of police was captured, beaten, and hospitalized. 13 April, police chief of Horlivka along with police officers stand on the people side and refused to accept orders from Kiev. Pro-Russian extremists also reportedly tried to take the police station in Shakhtarsk, and seize the police station in Krasnyi Lyman.

In Kramatorsk, northern Donetsk region, a shootout with police occurred as the separatists attacked the police station before capturing it. Donbass Militia members tore off the sign of the station and raised the flag of the Donetsk Republic. The gunmen then gave an ultimatum that if by Monday the city's mayor and his subordinates did not side with the Republic, then they would "take the executive committee;" a crowd of separatists rallied around the executive committee building and flew the Republican flag from the top of the building. Other activists had already entered the city council building. A Donetsk Republic representative addressed locals outside the police station, and was received negatively with booing. Outside the city, separatists set up a road checkpoint near a local military airfield.

On 13 April, activists and supporters of federalization took administration in Mariupol. In Druzhkivka, pro-Russian militants reportedly seized the district administration.

On 12 April, Ukraine's Interior Ministry denied that Krasnyi Lyman, Kramatorsk, and Krasnoarmiisk's government buildings had fallen to separatists.

On 13 April, activists occupied local administration and the police station in the city of Mariupol, the second largest city in the oblast.

In Artemivsk, separatists failed to capture the police station but entered the city council building and raised the flag of the Donetsk Republic from the roof of the building.

Donbass People's Militia members took the regional council building in Khartsyzk.

On 14 April, pro-Russia activists seized the local council building in Zhdanovka and declared loyalty to the People's Republic.

On 18 April, pro-Russian activists took over the local administration and police buildings in the city of Seversk. Local law-enforcement authorities subsequently announced that they would cooperate with the pro-Russian activists.

On 20 April, separatists in Yenakiieve, who had occupied the city council since 13 April 13, left.

Kiev interim government counteroffensive

On 15 April, Kiev announced to launch a counteroffensive against Pro-Russian Protesters. The correspondents did not hear or see any fights in the morning. Ukrainian troops re-took the airfield in Kramatorsk after a gunfight with the people’s militia which resulted in at least four deaths.

After the Ukrainian army re-took the airfield, the commanding general of the unit, Vasily Krutov, was surrounded by hostile protesters, who demanded to know why the Ukrainian troops had fired upon locals earlier. Krutov was eventually dragged back to the airbase and, along with his unit, were blockaded by protesters who vowed not to let the troops leave their base. Krutov later told reporters that "if they (separatists) do not lay down their arms, they will be destroyed."

The people's militia entered Sloviansk on April 16 with six armored personnel carriers they claimed to have obtained from part's of the 25th Airborne Brigade who had switched allegiance in the city of Kramatorsk. Reports say the occupants were disarmed after the vehicles were blockaded by locals. In another incident, several hundred residents of Pchyolkino, south of Sloviansk, surrounded another column of 14 Ukrainian armoured vehicles. After negotiations, the troops were allowed to drive their vehicles away, but only after agreeing to surrender the magazines from their assault rifles. Three members of the people's militia were killed, eleven were wounded, and 63 arrested after an attempted storming of the National Guard base in Mariupol was repulsed.

According to BBC's David Stern, "Ukraine's 'anti-terrorist' operation is looking more and more a non-event, or worse, an outright fiasco." Some Ukrainian soldiers refused "to shoot at their own people" and the offensive is losing its momentum.

In the early morning hours of April 20, during what was supposed to be an "Easter truce", a People's Militia checkpoint outside of Sloviansk was attacked by unknown gunmen. The People's Militia killed two of the attackers and suffered three dead before they managed to repulse the attack. The mayor of Sloviansk and the Russian Foreign Ministry blamed the group Right Sector for the attack, while a spokesman for the group claimed that Russian special forces were responsible for the incident.

Provisional government

• Chairman of the government: Denis Pushilin
• Minister of Foreign Affairs: Ekaterina Gubareva
• Commander-in-Chief of Popular Army: Igor Kakidzyanov
• Head of the Central Executive Committee: Sergei Ivanov

Identity of militants

The well-organized and well-armed pro-Russian militants have been described by Ukrainian media as resembling those which occupied regions of Crimea during the 2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine. Former Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Admiral Ihor Kabanenko, claims the militants are Russian military reconnaissance and sabotage units. Interior Minister Avakov stated the militants in Krasnyi Lyman used Russian-made AK-100 series assault rifles fitted with grenade launchers, and that such weapons are only in issue in the Russian Federation. "The Government of Ukraine is considering the facts of today as a manifestation of external aggression by Russia," said Avakov. Militants in Sloviansk arrived in military trucks without license plates.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said the militants "were equipped with specialized Russian weapons and the same uniforms as those worn by the Russian forces that invaded Crimea." The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said the attacks in Sloviansk were "professional," "coordinated," and that there was 'nothing grass-roots seeming about it'. UK foreign minister William Hague stated “I don’t think denials of Russian involvement have a shred of credibility, The forces involved are well armed, well trained, well equipped, well co-ordinated, behaving in exactly the same way as what turned out to be Russian forces behaved in Crimea.”

Militants in Sloviansk appeared to include professional soldiers as well as retired veterans, civilian and volunteers, while those in Donetsk have been confirmed to include former Berkut riot police officers. When asked by The Sunday Telegraph where the weapons had come from, one armed Afghanistan war veteran nodded at the Russian flag flying from the police station and said: "Look at that flag. You know which country that represents." A rebel commander in Donetsk, Pavel Paramonov, has openly told journalists he is from Tula, Russia. In Horlivka, police who defected were commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel of the Russian Army. NATO Commander Philip Mark Breedlove assessed that soldiers appeared to be highly trained and not a spontaneously formed local militia, and that "what is happening in eastern Ukraine is a military operation that is well planned and organized and we assess that it is being carried out at the direction of Russia."

Klaus Zillikens, head of the OSCE mission in Donetsk, said that the mission has detected signs of "foreign agents" operating in Ukraine, but thus far there is no evidence to confirm that. According to Georgij Alafuzoff, the Director of Intelligence at the European Union Military Staff, even if there is presence of the Russian military in Ukraine, it is not as large as it was in Crimea. He suggests the militants are mostly local citizens, disappointed by the situation in the country. Nick Paton Walsh, reporting from Donetsk for CNN, stated that the physical appearance of the militants is different from that of the unidentified troops, spotted throughout Crimea while it was in the process of secession.

David Patrikarakos, a correspondent for the New Statesman said the following: "While at the other protests/occupations there were armed men and lots of ordinary people, here it almost universally armed and masked men in full military dress. Automatic weapons are everywhere. Clearly a professional military is here. There’s the usual smattering of local militia with bats and sticks but also a military presence. Of that there is no doubt."

According to a spokesman for the Donetsk People's Republic, the militants in Sloviansk are "an independent group who are supporting the Donetsk protest," while militants in Sloviansk and Kramatorsk and have identified themselves as members of Pavel Gubarev's Donbass People's Militia.

Leadership

Donetsk People's Council was formed out of protesters who occupied the building of the Donetsk Regional Council on 6 April 2014.

Ukrainian presidential candidate Oleg Tsarov, who had recently been kicked out of the Party of Regions, traveled to Donetsk and said he was ready to become a leader of what he called the "South-east movement". Tsarov also assured separatists in Donetsk that will do everything to disrupt the presidential elections, which are scheduled for May 25. "I'm sure that will be no elections," he said. He then promised that he would create a "central authority" within the center of Donetsk. Despite his stance towards the elections, he also insists on running in them, which has been met by a negative response by protesters who demand a referendum and boycott of the elections. On 14 April, police searched Tsarov's vehicle and found assault rifle ammunition.

Reactions

Domestic

• Donetsk City Council (and nine district councils of the city) distanced itself from the RSA occupiers and they stated (on 7 April): "The Donetsk city council and district councils continue working in the legal field. We see as ensuring the vital functions of the city as our main task".
• The Independent Trade Union of Miners in Donetsk announced it would not support the pro-Russian separatist movement.

Foreign

•  Canada - Prime Minister Harper charged that the events are "strictly the work of Russian provocateurs sent by the Putin regime." Canadian foreign affairs minister Baird described events in Ukraine as "brazen and co-ordinated actions" by Russia. He said: "I don't know who the Russian Federation thinks it's kidding when it tries to pretend that it has nothing to do with them," and that there are "very clear and disconcerting parallels" between the developments in eastern Ukraine and those that took place before Russia moved to annex Crimea." He told reporters "there's no doubt, for a good number of weeks, provocateurs and frankly thugs have been crossing the border" into Ukraine.
•  Russia – On 7 April Russia's foreign ministry accused Ukrainian authorities of "blaming" the Russian government for all its troubles and stated "Ukrainian people want to get a clear answer from Kiev to all their questions. It's time to listen to these legal claims". It also stated it was "carefully observing" events in the east and south of Ukraine, and again called for "real constitutional reform" that would turn Ukraine into a federation. In an 7 April opinion piece in The Guardian Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov wrote that it was the west, and not Russia, that was guilty of destabilising Ukraine and that "Russia is doing all it can to promote early stabilisation in Ukraine". The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a stern condemnation "criminal order" by Kiev for armed aggression against Donetsk, "The Kiev authorities, who self-proclaimed themselves as a result of a coup, have embarked on the violent military suppression of the protests,", demanding that "the Maidan henchmen, who overthrew the legitimate president, to immediately stop the war against their own people, to fulfill all the obligations under the Agreement of 21 February,"
  •  Republic of Crimea - Crimean Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Temirgaliyev expressed the hope that the Donetsk Republic (as well as other south-eastern Ukrainian regions) would form a 'Ukrainian Federation' and join the Union State.
•  United Kingdom – British Foreign Secretary William Hague has said there is no doubt that Moscow is behind the destabilization of eastern Ukraine. "There can't really be any real doubt that this is something that has been planned and brought about by Russia," he said, adding that Russia was deliberately "violating the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine, and that "I don't think denials of Russian involvement have a shred of credibility."
•  United States – US Secretary of State John Kerry said on 7 April 2014 that the events "did not appear to be spontaneous" and called on Russia to "publicly disavow the activities of separatists, saboteurs and provocateurs" in a phone call to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. A spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council has noted that the separatists appeared to be supported by Russia. "We saw similar so-called protest activities in Crimea before Russia's purported annexation," she said in a statement, adding: "We call on President (Vladimir) Putin and his government to cease all efforts to destabilize Ukraine, and we caution against further military intervention." US-Ukraine ambassador Geoffrey R. Pyatt characterized the pro-Russian militants as terrorists.

Political experts

• Alexander J. Motyl, professor of political science at Rutgers University argues that Russia’s direct and indirect involvement in the violence in eastern Ukraine qualifies as a state-sponsored terrorism, and that those involved qualify as “terrorist groups." Motyl also said in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on February 20 that Ukraine would be "better off" without "those three problematic provinces -- the two in the Donbas , Luhansk, and Donetsk and arguably even the Crimea".

See also

• Kharkov People's Republic
• 2014 pro-Russian protests in Ukraine
• Pavel Gubarev
• Donetsk–Krivoy Rog Soviet Republic
• List of active separatist movements in Europe
• 2014 Crimean crisis

Notes

1. Gubarev was arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine on 6 March for "advocating separatism" and "illegal seizure of power" and is being held in Kiev. He faces up to ten years in prison.
2. The group stated they:
   1) do not recognize the Ukrainian authorities;
   2) consider themselves the legitimate authority;
   3) "sent into retirement" of all law enforcement officials appointed by the central government and Governor Serhiy Taruta;
   4) "prescribed" in the May 11 referendum on self-determination Donetsk;
   5) require the issuance of its leader Pavel Gubarev and others are detained separatists;
   6) require Ukraine to withdrawal its troops and paramilitary forces;
   7) start the process of finding mechanisms of cooperation with the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia and other separatist groups (in Kharkiv and Luhansk).

References

1. ^ "Pro-Russian Gubarev, a symbol of east Ukraine separatism". GlobalPost. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
2. "Pro-Russian Protest Leader In Eastern Ukraine Said Taken To Kyiv". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
3. ^ "Donetsk's pro-Russian activists prepare referendum for 'new republic'". The Guardian. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
4. ^ "Donetsk separatists hold oblast government headquarters". Kyiv Post. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
5. ^ "Demonstrators in Donetsk plan to create 'people's army'". ITAR-TASS. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
6. "Сепаратисты в Донецкой ОГА готовятся к штурму и формируют "новое временное правительство" ФОТО". novosti.dn.ua (in Russian). 8 April 2014.
7. Rachkevych, Mark (10 April 2014). "Donetsk separatists hold oblast government headquarters". Kyiv Post. Donetsk. Archived from the original on 10 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014. home to the self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
8. "Ukraine activists declare Donetsk sovereignty". Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera Media Network. 7 April 2014. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014. Pro-Russian activists who seized the main administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk have proclaimed the creation of a sovereign "people's republic" independent of Kiev rule. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
9. "Ukraine Push Against Rebels Grinds to Halt". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 April 2014. pro-Russian separatists reportedly seized the City Hall building in the provincial capital of Donetsk; they had already controlled the regional administration building.
10. In Donetsk, several hundred protesters who had occupied a regional administration building declared a “People’s Republic of Donetsk”, Washington Post, April 7, 2014
11. ^ "Ukraine: Pro-Russians storm offices in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv". BBC News. 6 April 2014.
12. ^ Rachkevych, Mark (12 April 2014). "Armed pro-Russian extremists launch coordinated attacks in Donetsk Oblast, seize buildings and set up checkpoints". Kyiv Post.
13. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/14/us-ukraine-crisis-donetsk-idUSBREA3D1A320140414
14. "Live - East Ukraine crisis". BBC News. 13 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014. 11:19:Pro-Russian forces have now also taken control of the town council building in Mariupol in the Donetsk region, according to a Ukrainian news website. This would mean five towns or cities in eastern Ukraine have now had government buildings taken over by pro-Russians: Mariupol, Yenakiyeve, Kramatorsk, Druzhkovka and Sloviansk.
15. "Ukraine: Fatal Clashes As Protests Spread". Sky News. 13 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
16. ^ "Another government building in eastern Ukraine attacked by pro-Russia militants". Fox News. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
17. ^ "Activists easily seize local council building in Donetsk region's Zhdanovka". Kyiv Post. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
18. ^ Higgins, Andrew (11 April 2014). "In Eastern Ukraine, a One-Building, Pro-Russia Realm Persists Despite Criticism". New York Times. an imaginary new nation that nobody, not even Russia, recognizes.
19. ^ "Total of 77 percent of citizens in Donetsk condemn administrative buildings takeover". www.kyivpost.com. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
20. ^ "How relations between Ukraine and Russia should look like? Public opinion polls' results". Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. 4 March 2014.
21. Lally, Kathy; Englund, Will (7 April 2014). "Uptick in eastern Ukraine tension prompts worries about Russia's next move". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
22. BBC, What is Russia's vision of a federal Ukraine?, by Bridget Kendall, 1 April 2014.
23. "US Mercenaries and Right Sector Fighters Move Into Donetsk – Militia Leader". RIA Novosti. 10 April 2014.
24. ^ "Pro-Russians fortify barricade of gubernatorial building in Donetsk". Kyiv Post. 10 April 2014.
25. Novosti, Граждане России продолжают митинговать в Донецке за отделение Донбасса , 8 March 2014.
26. OSCE, Latest from the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine - Monday, 14 April 2014, 14 April 2014.
27. SBU detained the leader of Donetsk Republic. Espreso. 19 March 2014
28. ""Donetsk Republic" while there is still and wants the Customs Union". Ukrayinska Pravda. 8 April 2014. require the release of its leader Paul Gubarev and other detained separatists;
29. Coynash, Halya (18 March 2014). "Far-Right Recruited as Crimea Poll Observers". Institute for War and Peace Reporting. Pavel Gubarev, a former member of the neo-Nazi, Russian chauvinist Russian National Unity movement
30. Snyder, Timothy (17 March 2014). "Far-Right Forces are Influencing Russia's Actions in Crimea". The New Republic. In Donetsk Gubarov was known as a neo-Nazi and as a member of the fascist organization Russian National Unity.
31. "Russia's deep ties to Donetsk's Kremlin collaborators". Kyiv Post. 10 April 2014. In Donetsk, Pavel Gubarev, a Ukrainian citizen and former member of the Russian National Unity movement, attempted to head the protest.
32. "Kremlin turns a blind eye to the rampant Nazism in the country". TSN.ua. 10 April 2014. It is worth noting that Gubarev was recently an activist of the Russian radical nationalist organization - Russian National Unity, which is included in the International Union of National Socialists.
33. http://digitaljournal.com/news/world/pro-russian-gubarev-a-symbol-of-east-ukraine-separatism/article/375337
34. http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140309/pro-russian-gubarev-symbol-east-ukraine-separatism
35. BBC, Ukraine crisis: Deal to 'de-escalate' agreed in Geneva, 17 April 2014.
36. New York Times, U.S. and Russia Agree on Pact to Defuse Ukraine Crisis, by Michael R Gordon, 17 April 2014.
37. "Eastern Ukraine's Pro-Russian Activists Stand Fast". The Wall Street Journal. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
38. ^ Kyiv Post, Anti-terrorist campaign takes a different tack, by Evan Ostryzniuk, 18 April 2014.
39. "Ukrainian city of Donetsk epitomizes country's crisis". CBS News. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
40. "Oligarch tries to stamp Kiev authority on restive east". The Financial Times. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
41. "Protests in eastern Ukraine aimed at bringing in Russian troops, warns PM". Reuters. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
42. "66% дончан видят будущее в единой Украине". Donbass News. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
43. "In Eastern Ukraine, a One-Building, Pro-Russia Realm Persists Despite Criticism". The New York Times. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
44. Babiak, Mat (19 April 2014). "Southeast Statistics". Ukrainian Policy.
45. ^ "Pro-Russian protesters seize govt buildings in Ukraine's Donetsk, Lugansk and Kharkov". Russia Today. 7 April 2014.
46. ^ "Воскресный штурм ДонОГА в фотографиях". novosti.dn.ua (in Russian). 6 April 2014.
47. ^ "Донецькі сепаратисти готуються сформувати "народну облраду" та приєднатися до РФ" (in Ukrainian). Ukrayinska Pravda. 6 April 2014.
48. "Сепаратисты выставили ультиматум: референдум о вхождении Донецкой области в состав РФ". novosti.dn.ua (in Russian). 6 April 2014.
49. ^ Ukraine crisis: Protesters declare Donetsk 'republic', BBC News (7 April 2014)
50. "The Donetsk city council asks citizens not to participate in unlawful actions". NGO.Donetsk. 7 April 2014.
51. ^ Donetsk City Council urges leaders of protests held in city to hold talks, lay down arms immediately – statement, Interfax-Ukraine (7 April 2014)
52. ^ "Activists declare Donetsk republic after capturing regional administration in Eastern Ukraine". RT News. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
53. ^ "Regional legislators proclaim industrial center Donetsk People's Republic". ITAR-TASS. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
54. "обращение народа Донбасса к Путину В.В." YouTube.
55. Bigmir, В Донецке отменили создание "Донецкой республики" , 8 April 2014.
56. ^ (8 April 2014). Ukrayinska Pravda, Донецкая республика не продержалась и дня?] ("Donestk Republic did not last a day?"), 8 April 2014.
57. (8 April 2014). Решение о создании «Донецкой народной республики» отменено (Decision to establish a "people's republic of Donetsk" canceled), Gazeta.ru
58. ^ Ukraine forces retake Kharkiv building, pro-Russians hold out elsewhere, Euronews (2 April 2014)
59. ^ Template:Uk icon "Donetsk Republic" while there is still and wants the Customs Union, Ukrayinska Pravda (8 April 2014)
60. Pro-Russian protesters build barricades at Donetsk city hall, BBC News (8 April 2014)
61. Ostrovsky, Simon (12 April 2014). "Russian Roulette: The Invasion of Ukraine (Dispatch Twenty Three)". VICE News. It's day 2 of the People's Republic of Donetsk, and it smells like there was a huge frat party here, because earlier today they decided to pour all their alcohol out onto the barricades out front because apparently there's been a problem with a little bit too much drinking inside the building.
62. "Updated-Donetsk Pro-Russians Order Jews to 'Register or be Deported' for Supporting Kiev Rule". International Business Times. Retrieved 17 April 2014. UPDATE: Pushilin has denied the Novosti Donbassa's report and assured reporters that the flyer is not from his organisation
63. ^ "Jews ordered to register in east Ukraine". USA Today. Retrieved 17 April 2014. Michael Salberg, director of the international affairs at the New York City-based Anti-Defamation League, said it's unclear if the leaflets were issued by the pro-Russian leadership or a splinter group operating within the pro-Russian camp.
64. Margalit, Michal. "Donetsk leaflet: Jews must register or face deportation". Yedioth Internet. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
65. http://www.interpretermag.com/russian-separatists-in-donetsk-reportedly-order-jews-to-register-or-face-expulsion/
66. Carroll, Oliver (18 April 2014). "Welcome to the People's Republic of Donetsk". The Daily Beast.
67. International Business Times, Donetsk Pro-Russians Order Jews to 'Register or be Deported' for Supporting Kiev Rule, by Gianluca Mezzofiore, 16 April 2014.
68. "'Complete lie': Pro-Russian official denies role in mysterious leaflets to Ukrainian Jews". Fox News. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
69. "Antisemitic flyer 'by Donetsk People's Republic' in Ukraine a hoax". The Guardian. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
70. "Ukraine Leaflets Calling for Jewish Registration 'Were Faked'". International Bussiness Times. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
71. Ukrainska Pravda, СБУ розслідує справу антисемітських листівок у Донецьку , 19 April 2014.
72. Nemtsova, Anna (17 April 2014). "Jews in East Ukraine Are Being Threatened, But By Whom?". The Daily Beast.
73. ^ "Pro-Russian Separatists Loot, Assault Romani in Sloviansk". Ukrainian Policy. 19 April 2014.
74. ^ Unian, Яценюк поручил привлекать к ответственности за распространение антисемитизма и ксенофобии , 19 April 2014.
75. Novosti, Сепаратисты объяснили погромы ромов в Славянске , 20 April 2014.
76. http://www.unian.net/politics/909679-separatistyi-v-slavyanske-obyyavili-ohotu-na-ukrainoyazyichnyih-smi.html
77. "Pro-Russian Group in Donetsk declare independence from Ukraine". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
78. "В Донецке в результате спецоперации освобождено здание СБУ" (in Russian). Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. 7 April 2014.
79. "Спецназ вигнав сепаратистів з будівлі СБУ в Донецьку – Сюмар" (in Ukrainian). Ukrinform. 7 April 2014.
80. http://www.voicesevas.ru/news/yugo-vostok/-alfa-otkazalas-shturmovat-zdanija-v-don.html
81. http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/09/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/index.html
82. Ukrainska Pravda, Турчинов наказав взяти під держохорону будівлю Донецької ОДА 9 April 2014.
83. Novosti, Турчинов готов освободить сепаратистов без криминала, если они сложат оружие , 10 April 2014.
84. Novosti, "Я против силовых сценариев, но всему есть предел", - Яценюк , 11 April 2014.
85. "Сепаратисти змусили керівника Донецької облміліції піти у відставку". Ukrainska Pravda. 12 April 2014.
86. Ukrainska Pravda, Донецька міліція: управління МВС не захоплене , 12 April 2014.
87. http://lifenews.ru/news/131113
88. ^ Oliphant, Roland (12 April 2014). "Fears of full-scale Russian invasion as eastern Ukraine cities toppled". Telegraph.
89. ZN.UA, В Донецке сепаратисты пытались захватить химзавод , 12 April 2014.
90. ^ "Ukrainian troop defections escalate tensions in eastern Ukraine". The Washington Post. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
91. "Аваков: В Славянске неизвестные захватили здания милиции". Komsomolskaya Pravda. 12 April 2014.
92. "У М. СЛОВ'ЯНСЬКУ ЗАХОПЛЕНО БУДІВЛЮ СБУ" (in Ukrainian). Ukrainian Interior Ministry. 12 April 2014.
93. Babiak, Mat (13 April 2014). "Counter-terrorism Operation Announced in Sloviansk". Euromaidan PR.
94. "Counter-Terror Operation in Donetsk". Ukrainian Policy. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
95. "Separatists and local police started shooting in the Donetsk area" (in Ukrainian). Ukrainska pravda. 12 April 2014.
96. "Військові розповіли про подробиці зачистки краматорського аеродрому [Ukrainian special force representative gives details on the operation in the airport close to Kramatorsk]" (in Ukrainian). Ukrainska pravda. 12 April 2014.
97. Ukrainska Pravda, У Горлівці міліція відбила атаку сепаратистів на "зброю МВС" , 12 April 2014
98. Novosti, Горловские милиционеры во всеоружии и готовы обороняться , 12 April 2014.
99. ^ "Live Ukraine: Pro-Russian attack police HQ in Horlivka as Kyiv's deadline expires". Euronews. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
100. ^ "Ukraine turmoil LIVE UPDATES". RT. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
101. http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/04/14/7022432/
102. Kyiv Post, Shootout in Donetsk Oblast's Kramatorsk as armed men take over police department (VIDEO), by Mark Rachkevych, 12 April 2014.
103. ^ "На Донбасі сепаратисти і міліція влаштували перестрілку". Ukrainska Pravda. 12 April 2014.
104. ^ Polityuk, Pavel (12 April 2014). "http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/13/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA3A1B520140413". Reuters. {{cite news}}: External link in |title= (help)
105. ^ "Приїжджі загарбники в Краматорську назвалися "народним ополченням"". Ukrainska Pravda. 12 April 2014.
106. Unian, В Краматорске сепаратисты установили флаг "Донецкой республики" , 12 April 2014.
107. Цензор (Censor), Пророссийские боевики установили блок-пост около военного аэродрома в Краматорске,- СМИ , 13 April 2014.
108. ^ Голос Севастополя (Voice of Sevastopol), Мариуполь поднялся против хунты. Захвачен городской совет, возводятся баррикады , 13 April 2014.
109. РБК, Пророссийские активисты захватили райадминистрацию в Дружковке , 12 April 2014.
110. BBC, Ukraine crisis: Casualties in Sloviansk gun battles, 13 April 2014.
111. Interfax, МВД Украины опровергает захват райотделов милиции в Красном Лимане, Красноармейске и Краматорске .
112. Unian, Сепаратисты подняли свой флаг над горсоветом Артемовска , 13 April 2014.
113. Ukrainska Pravda, У Харцизьку "зелені чоловічки" захопили міськраду. "Регіонал" з ними , 13 April 2014.
114. ^ "Pro-Russian activists seize Ukraine's Seversk". PressTV. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
115. "Pro-Russian separatists defiant as Ukraine peace moves flounder". The Guardian. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
116. Ukrainska Pravda, З Єнакієва зникли сепаратисти, які блокували міськраду , 20 April 2014.
117. "Ukraine announces start to "counteroffensive" while Russia warns of civil war". hotair.com. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
118. "Russia Objects to Ukraine's Plan to Crackdown on Protesters". voanews.com. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
119. "Military storm airfield, town in eastern Ukraine, wounded reported - protesters". RT.com. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
120. ^ "Troops fire as locals in Kramatorsk confront Ukraine general Vasily Krutov". The Guardian. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
121. "Ukraine counter attack as troops storm separatist positions". The Daily Mirror. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
122. "Pro-Russian troops enter Ukraine city". Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 April. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
123. http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-crisis-combat-vehicles-with-pro-russian-troops-enter-town-1.2611783
124. http://en.ria.ru/world/20140416/189245553/Six-Ukrainian-Army-Vehicles-Join-Pro-Federalist-Protesters-in.html
125. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukrainian-troop-defections-escalate-tensions-in-eastern-ukraine/2014/04/16/4d36b1b6-c532-11e3-b574-f8748871856a_story.html?hpid=z3
126. ^ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27053500
127. "Russia and Ukraine will reach 'mutual understanding'". Irish Times. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
128. http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/3-russian-backed-militants-killed-in-attack-on-ukrainian-base-in-mariupol-343894.html
129. "Ukraine crisis: Military column 'seized' in Kramatorsk". BBC. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
130. http://rt.com/news/ukraine-troops-withdraw-slavyansk-940/
131. "Calm in Slaviansk after some Ukrainian troops side with separatists". Reuters. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
132. "Ukraine military push appears to lose momentum in the east". CNN. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
133. "Ukraine Push Against Rebels Grinds to Halt". New York Times. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
134. "Kiev's grip on eastern Ukraine weakens as pro-Russians seize army vehicles". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
135. "Ukraine crisis: Kiev calls Easter truce in east". BBC News. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
136. "Ukraine observes Easter truce". Deutsch Welle. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
137. "Ukraine crisis: Bodies on display in Ukraine". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
138. "Deadly gun attack in eastern Ukraine shakes fragile Easter truce". Reuters. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
139. "Ukraine unrest: Russian outrage at fatal Sloviansk shooting". BBC News. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
140. Лидер митингующих в Донецке заявил, что власти готовы к референдуму , RIA News, 10 April 2014
141. Екатерина Губарева: юго-восток не отступит от своих требований , Vesti, 11 April 2014
142. New York Times, 11 April 2014, Pro-Russia Ukrainians Are Promised More Power, but Remain Dubious, by Andrew Higgins and Andrew E Kramer.
143. Главнокомандующий народной армии Донецкой республики Какидзянов назначает штаб и формирует офицерский состав , Mir i Politika, 11 April 2014
144. "Донецкая республика" "отправила в отставку" Сергея Таруту , Hotsport, 8 April 2014.
145. "ПІД СЛОВ'ЯНСЬКОМ З'ЯВИЛИСЯ "ЗЕЛЕНІ ЧОЛОВІЧКИ"". Ukrainska Pravda. 12 April 2014.
146. http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/04/12/7022207/
147. http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/04/14/7022383/
148. http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-kerry-ukraine-20140412,0,473770.story
149. http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/13/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
150. http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/89e2c664-c3a1-11e3-a8e0-00144feabdc0.html?siteedition=intl#axzz2yrbWBVvM
151. Shynkarenko, Oleg (14 April 2014). "Russia Tells 'Tourists' How to Go Fight in Ukraine". The Daily Beast.
152. http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/04/14/7022375/
153. Breedlove, Philip (20 April 2014). "NATO COMMANDER: Ukraine 'Activists' Are Clearly A Professional Military Force Under Russian Control". Business Insider.
154. "Миссия ОБСЕ в Донецке не располагает доказательствами присутствия российских военных на Украине" (in Russian). Interfax. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
155. Sundqvist, Vesa (14 April 2014). "EU:n tiedustelujohtaja: Venäjä ei ole asemoitunut sotilaallisesti Ukrainaan" (in Finnish). Yle. Retrieved 16 April 2014.Template:Fi icon
156. "CNN не нашел связи между донецкими активистами и Кремлем" (in Russian). RT. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
157. "Ukraine Liveblog Day 54: Russian Invasion Underway?". The Interpreter. 13 April 2014.
158. "Ukraine gunmen seize two buildings in Sloviansk". BBC News. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
159. "Сторонники федерализации захватили здание горадминистрации Славянска". Life News. 12 April 2014.
160. "Сепаратисты выставили ультиматум: референдум о вхождении Донецкой области в состав РФ". novosti.dn.ua (in Russian). 6 April 2014.
161. http://www.unian.net/politics/906960-tsarev-zayavil-chto-gotov-stat-liderom-separatistov-i-sorvat-prezidentskie-vyiboryi.html
162. Kyiv Post, Pro-Kremlin lawmaker Tsariov backs separatists, goes looking for support in Luhansk, 12 April 2014.
163. Ukrainska Pravda, В авто Царьова мітингувальники знайшли набої до автомату і всю ніч його ловили , 15 April 2014.
164. Insider, Самооборона знайшла в авто Царьова незареєстровані автомати , 15 April 2014.
165. "Шахтеры Донбасса выступили против сепаратизма" (in Russian). Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. 7 April 2014.
166. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ukraine-crisis-stephen-harper-blames-russian-provocateurs-for-escalation-1.2609504
167. Russia trying to 'dismember' Ukraine through protests, Kiev says, CNN (7 April 2014)
168. ^ Ukraine crisis escalates as pro-Russia activists declare independence in Donetsk, The Guardian (7 April 2014)
169. Sergei Lavrov: It's not Russia that is destabilising Ukraine, The Guardian (7 April 2014)
170. http://rt.com/news/ukraine-russia-operation-criminal-288/
171. http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/04/12/7022211/
172. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/200643.html
173. http://www.voanews.com/content/q-and-a-with-us-amb-geoffrey-pyatt-ukraine-crisis-escalates-as-war-fears-grow/1893136.html
174. Motyl, Alexander (14 April 2014). "Putin's Russia as a State Sponsor of Terrorism". World Affairs Journal.
175. "Interview: The Benefits Of A Partitioned Ukraine". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 20 February 2014. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 1 December 2008 suggested (help)

Template:2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine

• History of Donetsk Oblast
• 2014 establishments in Ukraine
• Russian-speaking countries and territories
• 2014 pro-Russian protests in Ukraine
• Secession in Ukraine
• Ukrainian rebellions
• Unrecognized or largely unrecognized states
• Irredentism