Changes

In early December 2021 it was reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine deployed 125,000 troops, half of its forces, against the predominantly Russian speaking Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine.<ref>https://www.anews.com.tr/world/2021/12/01/russia-ukraine-has-deployed-half-of-its-army-to-donbass-conflict-zone</ref>  More than 600,000 Russian citizens reside in Donbas.<ref>http://uawire.org/kremlin-almost-640-000-donbas-residents-received-russian-passports</ref>

In early December 2021 it was reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine deployed 125,000 troops, half of its forces, against the predominantly Russian speaking Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine.<ref>https://www.anews.com.tr/world/2021/12/01/russia-ukraine-has-deployed-half-of-its-army-to-donbass-conflict-zone</ref>  More than 600,000 Russian citizens reside in Donbas.<ref>http://uawire.org/kremlin-almost-640-000-donbas-residents-received-russian-passports</ref>

==Allegations of genocide==

 

===Allegations of genocide===

In early February 2022 Russia accused Ukraine's military of committing "crimes against residents of the eastern Donbas region" in a report filed with the [[United Nations]].<ref>https://theweek.com/russia/1010313/russia-in-report-to-un-again-accuses-ukraine-of-genocide-amid-shelling-in-donbas</ref>  The Russian news outlet ''Sputnik'' reported that the Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal investigation after the discovery of mass graves of civilians in Donbass.  "The remains of at least 295 civilians who died as a result of indiscriminate shelling by Ukrainian armed forces in 2014 were exhumed from them. It is already known that among the remains there are bodies of women of different ages," a statement from the committee said.<ref>https://sputniknews.com/20220216/russia-opens-criminal-case-after-discovery-of-mass-graves-of-civilians-in-donbass-1093089542.html</ref>  

In early February 2022 Russia accused Ukraine's military of committing "crimes against residents of the eastern Donbas region" in a report filed with the [[United Nations]].<ref>https://theweek.com/russia/1010313/russia-in-report-to-un-again-accuses-ukraine-of-genocide-amid-shelling-in-donbas</ref>  The Russian news outlet ''Sputnik'' reported that the Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal investigation after the discovery of mass graves of civilians in Donbass.  "The remains of at least 295 civilians who died as a result of indiscriminate shelling by Ukrainian armed forces in 2014 were exhumed from them. It is already known that among the remains there are bodies of women of different ages," a statement from the committee said.<ref>https://sputniknews.com/20220216/russia-opens-criminal-case-after-discovery-of-mass-graves-of-civilians-in-donbass-1093089542.html</ref>  

Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] called the events in Donbass a "[[genocide]],"<ref>https://www.marketwatch.com/story/russian-documents-level-genocide-allegation-against-ukraine-in-eastern-donbas-region-11645114453</ref> saying that the Ukrainian government continues to violate [[human rights]], including by legalizing the [[discrimination]] of the Russian-speaking population in the country.  On January 16, 2022 ''Tass'' reported that Ukraine mandated all print media are to switch to the Ukrainian language.<ref>https://tass.com/world/1388729</ref>

Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] called the events in Donbass a "[[genocide]],"<ref>https://www.marketwatch.com/story/russian-documents-level-genocide-allegation-against-ukraine-in-eastern-donbas-region-11645114453</ref> saying that the Ukrainian government continues to violate [[human rights]], including by legalizing the [[discrimination]] of the Russian-speaking population in the country.  On January 16, 2022 ''Tass'' reported that Ukraine mandated all print media are to switch to the Ukrainian language.<ref>https://tass.com/world/1388729</ref>

As tensions escalated in mid-February 2022, some 700,000 women, children, and elderly were being evacuated to Rostov in neighboring Russia.<ref>https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ukraine-russia-separatists-shelling-civilians_n_620fc47de4b0f2c343f3d4fa</ref><ref>https://tass.com/world/1406247</ref>  Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] instructed the Russian government to house and feed people fleeing the Ukrainian military advance once they arrived in southern Russia.  Each refugee arriving from Donbass is to be given a payment of 10,000 roubles ($129).  Men 18 to 55 were conscripted to remain and defend against the Ukrainian military attack.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bl1rUoecaUM</ref><ref>https://youtu.be/hUTXV4VusTM</ref>  [[RT]] reported Denis Pushilin, the head of the [[Donetsk Peoples Republic]] warned, "Kiev can start a full-scale assault on Donbass at any moment, the situation is critical”<ref>https://www.rt.com/russia/549912-donetsk-leader-ukraine-invasion-war/</ref>

As tensions escalated in mid-February 2022, some 700,000 women, children, and elderly were being evacuated to Rostov in neighboring Russia.<ref>https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ukraine-russia-separatists-shelling-civilians_n_620fc47de4b0f2c343f3d4fa</ref><ref>https://tass.com/world/1406247</ref>  Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] instructed the Russian government to house and feed people fleeing the Ukrainian military advance once they arrived in southern Russia.  Each refugee arriving from Donbass is to be given a payment of 10,000 roubles ($129).  Men 18 to 55 were conscripted to remain and defend against the Ukrainian military attack.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bl1rUoecaUM</ref><ref>https://youtu.be/hUTXV4VusTM</ref>  [[RT]] reported Denis Pushilin, the head of the [[Donetsk Peoples Republic]] warned, "Kiev can start a full-scale assault on Donbass at any moment, the situation is critical”<ref>https://www.rt.com/russia/549912-donetsk-leader-ukraine-invasion-war/</ref>