Donetsk People's Republic.

The Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) materialized after the fall of President Viktor Yanukovych and the Ukraine-Crimea crisis. Activists in Donetsk province, where half the population was ethnically Russian, rejected the new regime in Kyiv, taking over government buildings and raiding police stations for weapons. DPR militias soon gained control of most of the province. Ukrainian security forces were cautious about attacking DPR positions, as Russia sent 40,000 troops to the border to protect ethnic Russians. Kyiv accused Russia of aiding the rebels with equipment and tactical support. After a civilian airliner was shot down over DPR-controlled territory, global attention focused on Russia's role in the conflict. The top two DPR leaders—Alexander Boroday and Colonel Igor Girkin, both Russian citizens—were replaced by figures born in Ukraine. By September 2014, government forces had retaken nearly all of Donetsk province except for the capital. Despite a cease-fire, sporadic fighting continued as DPR leadership rejected any resolution short of complete independence. On February 21, 2022, Russia recognized the DPR as a sovereign state. Then, on February 24, 2022, Russia began a military invasion of Ukraine.