The conflict in Ukraine is an ongoing war that began in 2014, following the ousting of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. The war has been fought between government forces, supported by the West, and Russian-backed separatist rebels in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The conflict began when pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, who were dissatisfied with the pro-Western government that came to power in Kiev, declared independence from Ukraine and formed the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. In response, the Ukrainian government sent in troops to retake control of the separatist-held areas.
The war has caused significant loss of life and displacement of civilians, with estimates of over 13,000 people killed and more than 1 million people displaced. The violence has also damaged infrastructure, including homes, schools, and hospitals, making it difficult for civilians to access basic services.
The international community has been involved in attempts to resolve the conflict. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has deployed a Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine to monitor the ceasefire, and the Minsk agreements have been signed, which are a set of measures to end hostilities, provide for humanitarian aid and political settlement of the conflict.
However, despite the agreements, the fighting continues, with both sides accusing the other
