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The Story of Luhansk and Donetsk

Publish Date: 22 Feb 2022

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The Story of Luhansk and Donetsk

Luhansk and Donetsk are two breakaway areas controlled by pro-Russia separatists

The conflict between Ukraine and the separatists in Luhansk and Donetsk is 8 years old.What do you know about Luhansk and Donetsk who President Putin declared as independent states? What about the history or geography of either? Join us while we explore the issue.

 

The geography of Luhansk and Donetsk

 

Luhansk and Donetsk are two breakaway areas controlled by pro-Russia separatists. They are located in the Donbas region on eastern Ukraine. The Donbas basin is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea. The Donbas basin is famous for its coal reserves.

 

A bit of information on the 2 regions

 

  • Donetsk (formerly Stalino) is an industrial city in the Donbas coal basin. It is one of the major centers for steel production with a population of 2,000,000 people.
  • The President of Donetsk People’s Republic is Denis Pushilin.
  • Luhansk (formerly Voroshilovgrad) is an industrial city with a population of 1,500,000 people.
  • The President of Luhansk People’s Republic is Leonid Pasechnik. 
  • The conflict has been ongoing since 2014 when the 2 regions broke off from Ukraine and has led to the death of 14,000 people so far.
  • On 21 February 2022 Russia recognized Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states.
  • One of the main reasons Russian workers were sent to the coal mines in the region post WW2 was that both cities spoke Russian as an official language. 

 

The Beginning: Russia & the Crimean Peninsula

 

The conflict between Ukraine and the rebels in Luhansk and Donetsk is 8 years old, specifically after Russia declared its control over the Crimean Peninsula on 18th March 2014.

 

Accusations against Russia

 

Ukraine and Western countries accuse Russia of supporting the pro-Russia separatists both financially & politically especially after President Vladimir Putin publicly acknowledged Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states.

 

Cultural Battle

 

The Donbas region is caught in the middle of a cultural battle between Kyiv the capital of Ukraine, and Russia’s capital Moscow. The latter of which asserts that the disputed region – like a big part of eastern Ukraine- is populated by a Russian speaking population who are being oppressed and must be protected from Ukrainian forces.

 

Negotiation Failure

 

In 2015 the Minsk Agreements sought to end the conflict but ultimately failed. All attempts at a truce also failed.

A few days ago President Pushilin called for evacuations and general mobilization amid shelling attacks by Ukraine.

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