Understanding Ukraine’s breakaway regions

ROUND ONE GOES TO RUSSIA

AFTER DECLARING DONETSK AND LUHANSK INDEPENDENT FROM UKRAINE. 

“I DEEM IT NECESSARY TO IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZE THE INDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY OF … REPUBLIC”

BUT WHAT ARE THESE TWO REGIONS?

LET’S GET THIS STRAIGHT

DONETSK AND AND LUHANSK TOGETHER KNOWN AS DONBAS- LIE ON UKRAINE’S EASTERN BORDER AND BROKE AWAY IN 2014. 

[NATS]

DONBAS IS ALSO THE CENTER OF THE CULTURAL BATTLE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

THEY SAY THEY’RE INDEPENDENT FROM UKRAINE BUT WERE NEVER OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY –

[NATS CELEBRATES]

THAT’S WHY PUTIN’S ANNOUNCEMENT WAS CELEBRATED BY SOME.

[AND CONDEMNED BY OTHERS?] + NAT

EACH REGION HAS THEIR OWN SELF-PROCLAIMED PRESIDENT. BUT THEY ALSO RECEIVE RUSSIAN AID AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE SPEAK RUSSIAN AND HAVE RUSSIAN PASSPORTS. 

[NAT]

THE WEST IS CALLING THIS AN INVASION – A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. BUT THE WAY RUSSIA DID THIS, HAS PEOPLE ASKING IF THIS WAS THE ACTUAL INVASION OR JUST THE START OF IT.