Changes

==History==

==History==

Donetsk and Luhansk declared independence after the 2014 U.S.-backed Maidan coup in Kyiv that overthrew democratically-elected President [[Viktor Yanukovych]] on Febreuary 21, 2014. On the next day the Ukrainian Rada, with only opposition leaders present, impeached Yanukovych.

Donetsk and Luhansk declared independence after the 2014 U.S.-backed Maidan coup in Kyiv that overthrew democratically-elected President [[Viktor Yanukovych]] on February 21, 2014. On the next day the Ukrainian Rada, with only opposition leaders present, impeached Yanukovych.

After anti-Russian language laws were passed by the [[coup]] government, hand-picked by [[Victoria Nuland]] of the [[United States]], and after [[neo-Nazi]]s burned dozens of people alive in a building in [[Odessa]] on May 3, 2014, both Lugansk and Donetsk declared independence nine days later on May 12.

After anti-Russian language laws were passed by the [[coup]] government, hand-picked by [[Victoria Nuland]] of the [[United States]],<ref>https://youtu.be/6UKCqqOSBXE</ref><ref>https://youtu.be/LH8jz1Docm4</ref><ref>https://youtu.be/OWfBW1ExZmc</ref> and after [[neo-Nazi]]s burned dozens of people alive in a building in [[Odessa]] on May 3, 2014, both Lugansk and Donetsk declared independence nine days later on May 12.

The coup government launched a civil war against the separatists, whom they called “terrorists.” In essence the Donbass was defending their democratic rights to vote, as a majority of the region voted for Yanukovych, in an election certified by the [[Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe]] (OSCE).

The coup government launched a civil war against the separatists, whom they called “terrorists.” In essence the Donbass was defending their democratic rights to vote, as a majority of the region voted for Yanukovych, in an election certified by the [[Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe]] (OSCE).