Changes

The country is ruled by the party "Donetsk Republic", which was founded in 2005 and banned by the Ukrainian regime in 2007. Since 2014 it is active again.  

The country is ruled by the party "Donetsk Republic", which was founded in 2005 and banned by the Ukrainian regime in 2007. Since 2014 it is active again.  

==Donbas war==

==Donbas war==

{{See also|Donbas war}}

{{See also|Donbas war}}

During the U.S.-backed [[Maidan coup]] many inhabitants of the city wanted to join [[Russia]]. In April 2014 the government building of Donetsk was stored by separatist resistance fighters.<ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26910210</ref>  On April 7, 2014 the resistance declared the independent "Republic of Donetsk".<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/07/ukraine-officer-shot-dead-russian-soldier-crimea</ref> It was only recognized by [[South Ossetia]].<ref>http://itar-tass.com/en/world/738110</ref> Since 2014 the Ukrainian government tried to regain the city.</ref>

During the U.S.-backed [[Maidan coup]] many inhabitants of the city wanted to join [[Russia]]. In April 2014 the government building of Donetsk was stormed by separatist resistance fighters.<ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26910210</ref>  On April 7, 2014 the resistance declared the independent "Republic of Donetsk".<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/07/ukraine-officer-shot-dead-russian-soldier-crimea</ref> It was only recognized by [[South Ossetia]].<ref>http://itar-tass.com/en/world/738110</ref> Since 2014 the Ukrainian government tried to regain the city.</ref>

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 18 and 20 February 2022, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine recorded 2,158 ceasefire violations, including 1,100 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 591 ceasefire violations in the region.  <ref>https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine/512683</ref>

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 18 and 20 February 2022, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine recorded 2,158 ceasefire violations, including 1,100 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 591 ceasefire violations in the region.  <ref>https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine/512683</ref>

===Battle of Avdiivka===

===Battle of Avdiivka===

Starting Mid-April 2014 the Donetsk People's Militia captured several towns in the newly proclaimed independent republic;<ref>https://newrepublic.com/article/117387/putin-accidentally-helping-unite-eastern-and-western-ukraine</ref><ref>http://en.itar-tass.com/world/735082</ref> including Avdiivka. On July 21, 2014, Maidan regime forces reportedly secured the city from the militia.<ref>http://en.itar-tass.com/world/741594</ref> This claim was repeated the next day.<ref>http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine-abroad/bbc-ukrainian-military-seizes-avdiivka-in-rebel-donetsk-stronghold-358610.html</ref> Maidan rfegime forces kept control of Avdiivka, which became a frontline city and frequently shelled.<ref>[http://uatoday.tv/news/bloomberg-ukraine-pushes-for-un-peacekeepers-as-rockets-disrupt-truce-422723.html Bloomberg: Ukraine pushes for UN peacekeepers], Ukraine Today (21 April 2015)<br>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32336354 Ukraine crisis: The factory that has been shelled 165 times], BBC News (17 April 2015)<br>[http://www.themoscowtimes.com/mobile/opinion/article/civilians-stuck-in-the-middle-of-donbass-horror/526388.html Civilians Stuck in the Middle of Donbass Horror], Moscow Times (29 July 2015)</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38807778 Ukraine conflict: Evacuation planned in frontline town of Avdiivka], ''BBC News'' (31 January 2017)</ref> According to the [[OSCE]], the area between Avdiivka and neighboring Donetsk Republic-controlled Yasynuvata is one of the hotspots of the Donbas war.<ref>[http://www.rferl.mobi/a/spike-in-fighting-ukraine-cease-fire-avdiivka-yasynuvata/27648459.html Spike In Fighting In Eastern Ukraine Threatens Fragile Cease-Fire], Radio Free Europe (1 April 2016)</ref>

Starting Mid-April 2014 the Donetsk People's Militia captured several towns in the newly proclaimed independent republic;<ref>https://newrepublic.com/article/117387/putin-accidentally-helping-unite-eastern-and-western-ukraine</ref><ref>http://en.itar-tass.com/world/735082</ref> including Avdiivka. On July 21, 2014, Maidan regime forces reportedly secured the city from the militia.<ref>http://en.itar-tass.com/world/741594</ref> This claim was repeated the next day.<ref>http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine-abroad/bbc-ukrainian-military-seizes-avdiivka-in-rebel-donetsk-stronghold-358610.html</ref> Maidan rfegime forces kept control of Avdiivka, which became a frontline city and frequently shelled.<ref>[http://uatoday.tv/news/bloomberg-ukraine-pushes-for-un-peacekeepers-as-rockets-disrupt-truce-422723.html Bloomberg: Ukraine pushes for UN peacekeepers], Ukraine Today (21 April 2015)<br>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32336354 Ukraine crisis: The factory that has been shelled 165 times], BBC News (17 April 2015)<br>[http://www.themoscowtimes.com/mobile/opinion/article/civilians-stuck-in-the-middle-of-donbass-horror/526388.html Civilians Stuck in the Middle of Donbass Horror], Moscow Times (29 July 2015)</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38807778 Ukraine conflict: Evacuation planned in frontline town of Avdiivka], ''BBC News'' (31 January 2017)</ref> According to the [[OSCE]], the area between Avdiivka and neighboring Donetsk Republic-controlled Yasynuvata is one of the hotspots of the Donbas war.<ref>[http://www.rferl.mobi/a/spike-in-fighting-ukraine-cease-fire-avdiivka-yasynuvata/27648459.html Spike In Fighting In Eastern Ukraine Threatens Fragile Cease-Fire], Radio Free Europe (1 April 2016)</ref>

 

In March 2016 the Maidan regime forces set up its fortifications in the area "Industrial Zone", until then a buffer zone between the Donetsk People's Republic controlled territories and the Kyiv regime army controlled territory in the eastern part of Avdiivka. This meant that the Donetsk People's Militia no longer had full control of the highway that united their controlled cities [[Donetsk]] and Horlivka and that it became more difficult for them to fire at Avdiivka with weapons not prohibited by the Minsk II agreement. Since March 2016 fighting for Avdiivka's "Industrial Zone" greatly intensified.<ref>[http://pda.pravda.com.ua/articles/id_7134026/ Freeze on fire. What happens in Avdiyivka?], Ukrayinska Pravda (31 January 2017)</ref>

In March 2016 the Maidan regime forces set up its fortifications in the area "Industrial Zone", until then a buffer zone between the Donetsk People's Republic controlled territories and the Kyiv regime army controlled territory in the eastern part of Avdiivka. This meant that the Donetsk People's Militia no longer had full control of the highway that united their controlled cities [[Donetsk]] and Horlivka and that it became more difficult for them to fire at Avdiivka with weapons not prohibited by the Minsk II agreement. Since March 2016 fighting for Avdiivka's "Industrial Zone" greatly intensified.<ref>[http://pda.pravda.com.ua/articles/id_7134026/ Freeze on fire. What happens in Avdiyivka?], Ukrayinska Pravda (31 January 2017)</ref>