Pre-Crisis Phase (August 24, 1991-September 15, 2000): Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union on August 24, 1991. Leonid Makarovych Kravchuk was elected president with some 61 percent of the vote in a referendum on December 1, 1991. Leonid Makarovych Kravchuk was inaugurated as president on December 5, 1991. Prime Minister Vitold Fokin resigned on September 30, 1992, and Leonid Kuchma was elected prime minister by the parliament on October 27, 1992. Prime Minister Kuchma resigned on September 9, 1993. Yukhym Zvyahilskiy was appointed interim prime minister, but President Kravchuk assumed direct control of the government on September 27, 1993. Parliamentary elections were held between March 27 and April 10, 1994, and the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU) won 86 out of 338 contested seats in the parliament. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly (PA) and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) established an election observation mission to monitor the parliamentary elections. The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent 15 short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. The OSCE established the OSCE Mission to Ukraine on June 15, 1994. The OSCE Mission to Ukraine, which consisted of six personnel, was responsible for facilitating dialogue between government officials and Crimean authorities regarding the autonomous status of the Republic of Crimea beginning on November 24, 1994. President Kravchuk appointed Vitaliy Masol as prime minister on June 16, 1994. Local elections were held on June 26 and July 10, 1994. Leonid Kuchma was elected president with some 52 percent of the vote in the runoff election on July 10, 1994. Leonid Kuchma was inaugurated as president on July 19, 1994. The OSCE/ODIHR established an election observation mission to monitor the presidential and local elections. Yevhen Marchuk was appointed prime minister after the resignation of Prime Minister Masol in March 1995. Ukraine joined the Council of Europe (COE) in November 1995. President Kuchma dismissed Prime Minister Marchuk, and appointed Pavlo Lazarenko as prime minister on May 27, 1996. Parliament approved a new constitution on June 28, 1996. President Leonid Kuchma dismissed Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko on July 2, 1997, and the Supreme Council approved Valeriy Pustovoytenko as prime minister on July 16, 1997. Parliamentary and local elections were held on March 29, 1998, and the CPU won 110 out of 450 seats in the Supreme Council. The People’s Movement of Ukraine (PMU) won 45 seats in the Supreme Council. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 16 long-term observers and 237 short-term observers headed by Andras Barsony of Hungary and Kare Vollan of Norway to monitor the parliamentary elections from February 20 to March 30, 1998. On July 1, 1998, the OSCE/ODIHR mission reported that the elections were free and fair, but that the elections were marred by harassment, violence, and intimidation in some areas. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent seven short-term observers from seven countries to monitor the parliamentary elections from March 27-30, 1998. The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent 30 short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. The COE Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRA) sent nine short-term observers from nine countries headed by Alain Chenard of France to monitor the local elections from March 27-30, 1998. The OSCE Mission to Ukraine was disbanded on April 30, 1999. An election for the head of the Kiev city council was held on May 30, 1999. The COE CLRA sent four election observers from four countries headed by Calin Catalin Chirita of Romania from May 29-31, 1999. President Leonid Kuchma was re-elected with 56 percent of the vote after two rounds of presidential elections held on October 31 and November 14, 1999. Leonid Kuchma was inaugurated for a second term as president on November 30, 1999. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 25 long-term observers and 270 short-term observers from 26 countries headed by Simon Osborne of Britain to monitor the presidential elections from September 15 to November 15, 1999. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent 18 short-term observers from twelve countries headed by Pilar Pulgar of Spain to monitor the presidential elections from October 28 to November 1, 1999. Hanne Severinsen of Denmark and Andreas Gross of Switzerland headed a COE Parliamentary Assembly delegation of seven short-term observers to monitor the second round of presidential elections from November 11 to 15, 1999. The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent 22 short-term observers to monitor the presidential elections from October 30 to November 15, 1999. President Leonid Kuchma’s proposals for political reform were approved as amendment to the Ukrainian constitution in a referendum held on April 16, 2000, but the parliament did not implement the political reforms since the referendum was determined to be unconstitutional.
Crisis Phase (September 16, 2000-January 23, 2005): Georgiy Gongadze, a journalist who was often critical of the government of President Kuchma, was abducted on September 16, 2000. The body of Georgiy Gongadze body was found near Tarashcha on November 2, 2000. President Kuchma was accused by Oleksandr Moroz, leader of the Ukrainian Socialist Party (USP), of complicity in the murder of Georgiy Gongadze on November 28, 2000. Several thousand individuals demonstrated against the government of President Kuchma in Kiev beginning on December 9, 2000. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent a two-member fact-finding mission to the country on January 10-12, 2001. Several thousand individuals demonstrated against the government of President Kuchma in Kiev on February 6-11, 2001. Opposition political parties established the Forum for National Salvation (FNS) on February 9, 2001. President Kuchma fired Leonid Derkach, head of the Ukrainian Security Service, on February 10, 2001. Government police and anti-President Kuchma demonstrators clashed in Kiev on March 9, 2001. The government of Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko collapsed following a vote of no-confidence in the parliament on April 26, 2001. President Kuchma nominated Anatoly Kinakh, leader of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (UIE), as prime minister on May 22, 2001, and the parliament approved the nomination on May 29, 2001. Ten opposition political parties established the Our Ukraine (Nasha Ukraina – NU) alliance headed by former Prime Minister Yushchenko on January 16, 2002. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent a five-member pre-election assessment mission to the country on February 27-March 2, 2002. Parliamentary elections were held on March 31, 2002, and the Our Ukraine Bloc (Blok Nasha Ukraina – BNU) won 112 out of 450 seats in the parliament. The For a United Ukraine (Za Yedina Ukraina – ZYU) headed by President Leonid Kuchma won 102 seats in the parliament. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 38 long-term observers and 390 short-term observers from 45 countries headed by Bruce George of Britain to monitor the parliamentary elections from February 26 to April 1, 2002. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent 20 short-term observers from 14 countries headed by Andreas Gross of Switzerland to monitor the parliamentary elections from March 28 to April 1, 2002. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Inter-Parliamentary Assembly sent short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent 15 short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections from March 27 to April 2, 2002. President Leonid Kuchma dismissed Prime Minister Anatoly Kinakh on November 16, 2002, and Viktor Yanukovych was approved as prime minister by the parliament on November 21, 2002. The first round of presidential elections was held on October 31, 2004, and no candidate received the required 50 percent of the vote. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 57 election experts and long-term observers, along with 550 short-term observers, led by Ambassador Geert Hinrich Ahrens of Germany to monitor the first round of the presidential election from August 31 to November 1, 2004. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly sent 47 short-term observers led by Bruce George of the United Kingdom to monitor the first round of the presidential election. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent 46 short-term observers led by Doros Christodoulides of Cyprus to monitor the first round of the presidential election from October 28 to November 1, 2004. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly sent 25 short-term observers led by Jane Cordy of Canada to monitor the first round of the presidential election. The European Parliament sent 15 short-term observers led by Marek Siwiec of Poland to monitor the first round of the presidential election. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych received a plurality of 49.57 percent of the vote in the second round of the presidential elections on November 21, 2004. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 525 short-term observers to monitor the second round of the presidential election from November 1 to November 22, 2004. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly sent 31 short-term observers led by Bruce George of the United Kingdom to monitor the second round of the presidential election. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent 21 observers to monitor the second round of the presidential election. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly sent eight observers led by Lucio Malan of Italy to monitor the second round of the presidential election. The European Parliament sent nine observers led by Marek Siwiec of Poland to monitor the second round of the presidential election. The CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly sent 635 short-term observers headed by Vladimir Rushailo of Russia to monitor the first and second rounds of the presidential election. The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) sent 50 long-term observers and 950 short-term observers to monitor the first and second rounds of the presidential election from October 19 to December 26, 2004. The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent 25 short-term observers to monitor the first and second rounds of the presidential election. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) sent 35 short-term observers from seven countries to monitor the first and second rounds of the presidential election. Supporters of presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko alleged election fraud, and large protests took place in Kiev and other cities beginning on November 22, 2004. The German government appealed for a peaceful resolution of the political dispute on November 24, 2004. The Ukrainian parliament approved a motion of no-confidence against the government of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych on December 1, 2004. President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland and President Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania attempted to mediate a resolution of the political crisis beginning on December 1, 2004. On December 3, 2004, the Supreme Court invalidated the results of the second round of presidential elections following allegations of electoral fraud. Viktor Yushchenko was elected president with 52 percent of the vote in a re-run of the second round of the presidential elections held on December 26, 2004. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych refused to concede defeat in the second round of the presidential elections, but he resigned as prime minister on December 31, 2004. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 76 long-term observers and 900 short-term observers to monitor the re-run of the second round of the presidential election from December 8 to December 27, 2004. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly sent 92 short-term observers led by Bruce George of the United Kingdom to monitor the re-run of the second round of the presidential election. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent 37 short-term observers led by Tadeusz Iwiński of Poland to monitor the re-run of the second round of the presidential election. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly sent 27 short-term observers led by Pierre Lellouche of France to monitor the re-run of the second round of the presidential election. The European Parliament sent 16 short-term observers led by Jacek Saryusz-Wolski of Poland to monitor the re-run of the second round of the presidential election. The Central Election Commission (CEC) declared Viktor Yushchenko as the winner of the presidential election on January 10, 2005. Viktor Yushchenko was inaugurated as president on January 23, 2005.
Post-Crisis Phase (January 24, 2005-November 20, 2013): Yulia Tymoshenko was approved as prime minister by the parliament on February 4, 2005. President Viktor Yushchenko dismissed the government of Prime Minister Tymoshenko on September 8, 2005, and Yuriy Yekhanurov was approved as prime minister by the parliament on September 28, 2005. The parliament approved a motion of no-confidence in the government of Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov on January 10, 2006. Parliamentary elections were held on March 26, 2006, and the Party of Regions (Partiya Rehioniv – PR) headed by former president Viktor Yanukovych won 186 out of 450 seats in the parliament. Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (Blok Yuliyi Tymoshenko – BYuT) won 129 seats in the parliament. The OSCE/ODIHR sent a 12-memeber core team, 52 long-term observers, and 750 short-term observers led by Ambassador Lubomir Kopaj of Slovakia to monitor the parliamentary elections from January 23 to March 27, 2006. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly sent 100 short-term observers led by the Honorable Alcee Hastings of the U.S. to monitor the parliamentary elections. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent 43 short-term observers led by Renate Wohlwend of Liechtenstein to monitor the parliamentary elections from March 23 to 27, 2006. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly sent 25 short-term observers led by Pierre Lellouche of France to monitor the parliamentary elections. The European Parliament sent 14 short-term observers headed by Marek Siwiec of Poland to monitor the parliamentary elections from March 24 to March 27, 2006. The CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly sent 30 short-term observers headed by Alexander Torshin of Russia to monitor the parliamentary elections from March 23 to March 28, 2006. The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) sent 42 long-term observers and 350 short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) sent 10 long-term observers and 140 short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections from March 6 to March 27, 2006. The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent 17 short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. Viktor Yanukovych of the PR was approved as prime minister by the parliament on August 4, 2006. Parliamentary elections were held on September 30, 2007, and the PR won 175 out of 450 seats in the parliament. The BYuT won 156 seats in the parliament. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 67 long-term observers and short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections from August 10 to October 1, 2007. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly sent 60 short-term observers led by Tone Tingsgård of Sweden to monitor the parliamentary elections. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent 33 short-term observers led by Hanne Severinsen of Denmark to monitor the parliamentary elections from September 28 to October 1, 2007. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly sent 16 short-term observers led by Jan Petersen of Norway to monitor the parliamentary elections. The European Parliament sent 31 short-term observers led by Adrian Severin of Romania to monitor the parliamentary elections from September 28 to October 1, 2007. The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) sent 25 long-term observers and 400 short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent 28 short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) sent short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. Ethnic-Russian demonstrations against the Ukrainian government occurred in the Crimea region on August 24, 2009. Presidential elections were held on January 17 and February 7, 2010. Viktor Yanukovych of the PR was elected president with 49 percent of the vote in the second round of presidential elections held on February 7, 2010. Yulia Tymoshenko, who won 45 percent of the vote, appealed the results of the presidential election, and the Supreme Administrative Court of Ukraine suspended the results of the presidential election on February 17, 2010. On February 20, 2010, Yulia Tymoshenko withdrew her appeal of the results of the presidential election. Viktor Yanukovych was inaugurated as president on February 25, 2010. The OSCE/ODIHR sent a 23-member core team, 60 long-term observers, and 600 short-term observers led by Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini of Switzerland to monitor the first and second rounds of the presidential election from November 24, 2009 to February 21, 2010. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly sent 117 short-term observers led by João Soares of Portugal to monitor the first round of the presidential election and 69 short-term observers to monitor the second round of the presidential election. The European Parliament sent ten short-term observers led by Paweł Kowal of Poland to monitor the first round of the presidential election and 13 short-term observers to monitor the second round of the presidential election. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly sent 30 short-term observers led by Assen Agov of Bulgaria to monitor the first round of the presidential election and 16 short-term observers to monitor the second round of the presidential election. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent 45 short-term observers led by Mátyás Eörsi of Hungary to monitor the first round of the presidential election and 37 short-term observers to monitor the second round of the presidential election. The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) sent 50 long-term observers and more than 800 short-term observers to monitor the first and second rounds of the presidential election. The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent 24 short-term observers to monitor the first and second rounds of the presidential election. Local elections were held on October 31, 2010. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRA) of the Council of Europe (COE) sent short-term observers to monitor the local elections. The CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly sent short-term observers to monitor the local elections. Parliamentary elections were held on October 28, 2012, and the PR won 185 out of 450 seats in the parliament. The All-Ukrainian Union “Fatherland” (Vseukrayins’ke Obyednannia “Bat’kivshchyna” – VOB) won 101 seats in the parliament. The OSCE/ODIHR sent a 20-member core team, 90 short-term observers, and 533 long-term observers led by Dame Audrey Glover of the United Kingdom to monitor the parliamentary elections from September 12 to November 15, 2012. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly sent 94 short-term observers led by Walburga Habsburg Douglas of Sweden to monitor the parliamentary elections. The Council of Europe (COE) Parliamentary Assembly sent 41 short-term observers led by Andreas Gross of Switzerland to monitor the parliamentary elections. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly sent 19 short-term observers led by Assen Agov of Bulgaria to monitor the parliamentary elections. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Inter-parliamentary Assembly sent short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary election. The European Parliament sent 25 short-term observers led by Paweł Kowal of Poland to monitor the parliamentary elections. The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) sent a four-member core team, 35 long-term observers, and 43 short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections from July 23 to October 29, 2012. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Election Monitoring Organization (CIS-EMO), a non-governmental organization, sent 197 long-term observers led by Vladimir Nikolaevich Shapovalov of Russia to monitor the parliamentary elections from August 1 to October 29, 2012. The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent 14 observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. On November 5, 2012, some 2,000 individuals protested in Kiev against alleged fraud in the recent parliamentary elections.
Crisis Phase (November 21, 2013-April 6, 2014): On November 21, 2013, the Ukrainian government suspended plans to sign an association agreement with the EU. Angered by the decision, thousands of Ukrainians launched mass demonstrations across the country against the government of President Viktor Yanukovych. Three individuals were killed during protests in Kiev on January 21-22, 2014. Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy condemned the escalating violence in Kiev and called on the government and opposition groups to “engage in a genuine dialogue.” Government police and demonstrators clashed in Kiev on February 18-22, 2014, resulting in the deaths of some 69 demonstrators and 13 policemen. The Ukrainian parliament impeached President Yanukovych on February 22, 2014, and Oleksandr Turchynov was named as interim president on February 23, 2014. President Viktor Yanukovych fled to Russia on February 23, 2014. Pro-Russian demonstrations occurred in Sevastopol in the Crimean region on February 23, 2014. Pro-Russian militants seized government buildings, including the parliament building, in the Crimean region on February 26-27, 2014. Arseniy Yatsenyuk was appointed as prime minister on February 27, 2014. UN Special Envoy Robert Serry of the Netherlands unsuccessfully attempted to mediate negotiations between representatives of the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists in the Crimea region from February 24 to March 5, 2014. Pro-Russian demonstrators occupied the Donetsk Regional State Administration (RSA) building beginning on March 1, 2014. On March 6, 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama authorized economic sanctions (travel restrictions and assets freezes) against pro-Russian separatists in the Crimean region. One protester was killed in Donetsk on March 13, 2014. The pro-Russian interim government in Crimea held an independence referendum on March 16, 2014. On March 17, 2014, the U.S. government announced economic sanctions (travel restrictions and assets freezes) against two Crimean separatist leaders Sergey Aksyonov and Vladimir Konstantinov, former Ukrainian presidential chief-of-staff Viktor Medvedchuk, and former President Viktor Yanukovych. On March 17, 2014, the Council of the EU imposed economic sanctions (travel restrictions and assets freezes) against eight pro-Russian separatists in the Crimean region. The Russian government formally annexed Crimea on March 18, 2014. On March 21, 2014, the Council of the EU added two pro-Russian separatists to the list of individuals subject to economic sanctions (travel restrictions and assets freezes) imposed by the Council of the EU on March 17th. On March 21, 2014, the OSCE Permanent Council decided to establish the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), a civilian monitor mission, in Ukraine. Ambassador Ertuğrul Apakan of Turkey was appointed as Chief Monitor of the OSCE SMM on April 2, 2014. The mandate of the OSCE SMM was to contribute to reducing tensions and fostering peace, stability and security in Ukraine. The U.S. government provided military assistance to the Ukrainian government beginning in March 2014. Pro-Russian separatists seized the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) building in the city of Luhansk on April 6-7, 2014.
Conflict Phase (April 7, 2014-July 26, 2020): Military hostilities broke out between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine (Donbass region), including the oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk, beginning on April 7, 2014. The U.S. government announced economic sanctions (travel restrictions and assets freezes) against seven pro-Russian separatist leaders in Crimea. Pro-Russian separatists led by Igor Girkin attacked and seized Ukrainian government buildings in Sloviansk (Slowjansk) in Donetsk oblast on April 12, 2014. Ukrainian government troops launched a counter-offensive against pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk oblast beginning on April 13, 2014. The Luhansk People’s Republic was declared on April 27, 2014. On April 28, 2014, the Council of the EU imposed economic sanctions (travel restrictions and assets freezes) against an additional five pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. Government troops clashed with pro-Russian militants in the city of Mariupol in Donetsk oblast between May 6 and June 14, 2014, resulting in the deaths of 16 government soldiers, four government policemen, and at least 20 militants. On May 12, 2014, the Council of the EU imposed economic sanctions (travel restrictions and assets freezes) against an additional eight pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. On May 22 2014, pro-Russian separatists attacked a government military checkpoints in the Donetsk region, resulting in the deaths of 13 government soldiers. Presidential and local elections were held on May 25, 2014. Petro Poroshenko, an independent candidate, was elected president with 55 percent of the vote on May 25, 2014. The OSCE/ODIHR sent a 18-member core team, 100 long-term observers, and 900 short-term observers led by Tana de Zulueta of Italy to monitor the presidential elections from March 20 to June 7, 2014. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly sent 116 short-term observers led by Ilkka Kanerva of Finland to monitor the presidential election. The Council of Europe (COE) Parliamentary Assembly send 46 short-term observers led by Andreas Gross of Switzerland to monitor the presidential election from May 23 to May 26, 2014. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly sent 18 short-term observers led by Karl Lamers of Germany to monitor the presidential election. The European Parliament sent 14 short-term observers led by Göran Färm of Sweden to monitor the presidential election from May 23 to May 26, 2014. The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) sent 50 long-term observers and 300 short-term observers to monitor the presidential election. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) sent 27 short-term observers to monitor the presidential election from May 21 to May 26, 2014. The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent twelve short-term observers to monitor the presidential election. On May 26 2014, government troops launched an air and ground military offensive against pro-Russian separatists who had seized the international airport in Donetsk. The Russian government called on the Ukrainian government to halt the military offensive. On May 28, 2014, the Council of the EU imposed economic sanctions (travel restrictions and assets freezes) against an additional twelve pro-Russian separatists in the Crimean region and eastern Ukraine. Government troops took control of Mariupol on June 13, 2014. Pro-Russian separatists shot down a Ukrainian military transport plane near the city of Luhansk on June 14, 2014, resulting in the deaths of 40 military personnel nine crew members. The Ukrainian government announced a temporary ceasefire starting on June 20, 2014. The same day, the U.S. government announced economic sanctions (travel restrictions and assets freezes) against seven pro-Russian separatists in the Crimea region and eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian government troops ended the temporary ceasefire and launched a military offensive against pro-Russian separatists on July 1, 2014. Government troops recaptured the city of Sloviansk (Slowjansk) in Donetsk oblast on July 5, 2014. Some 100 individuals, including more than 50 government soldiers, were killed in fighting in Sloviansk between April 12 and July 5, 2014. Russian military forces launched rockets from Russian territory against Ukrainian government troops near the village of Zelenopillya in eastern Ukraine on July 11, 2014, resulting in the deaths of 36 Ukrainian soldiers. On July 11, 2014, the Council of the EU imposed economic sanctions (travel restrictions and assets freezes) against an additional eleven pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. On July 17, 2014, pro-Russian separatists used a Buk surface-to-air missile to shoot down Malaysia Airlines Flight #17 over eastern Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of 298 passengers and crew members. On July 25, 2014, the Council of the EU imposed economic sanctions (travel restrictions and assets freezes) against an additional five pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. On July 30, 2014, the Council of the EU imposed economic sanctions (travel restrictions and assets freezes) against an additional four pro-Russian separatists in the Crimean region and eastern Ukraine. Some 6,000 Russian government troops intervened in support of ethnic-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine beginning on August 22, 2014. Government troops clashed with pro-Russian militants near the city of Mariupol in Donetsk oblast on September 4-8, 2014, resulting in the deaths of eight civilians. Russian, Ukrainian, and separatist representatives signed a new ceasefire agreement, the Minsk Protocol I, on September 5, 2014. On September 8, 2014, the Council of the EU imposed economic sanctions (travel restrictions and assets freezes) against an additional ten pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. A Red Cross employee, a Swiss citizen, was killed by a mortar shell that landed near the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) offices in the city of Donetsk on October 2, 2014. U.S. President Barack Obama condemned the killing of the ICRC employee in Donetsk and called on the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists to “protect the civilians in their midst and hold accountable those who engage in the indiscriminate use of force.” Pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk region announced the end of the ceasefire on October 23, 2014. Alexander Zakharchenko, the prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, indicated that pro-Russian separatists were planning to recapture the cities of Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and Mariupol from government military forces. Parliamentary elections were held on October 26, 2014, and the Petro Poroshenko Bloc won 132 out of 450 seats in the parliament. The People’s Front led by Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk won 82 seats in the parliament. The OSCE/ODIHR sent a 21-member core team, 80 long-term observers, and 676 short-term observers led by Tana de Zulueta of Italy to monitor the parliamentary elections from September 19 to November 8, 2014. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly sent 91 short-term observers led by Doris Barnett of Germany to monitor the parliamentary elections. The Council of Europe (COE) Parliamentary Assembly sent 41 short-term observers led by Christopher Chope of the United Kingdom to monitor the parliamentary elections. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly sent 27 short-term observers led by Rasa Juknevičienė of Lithuania to monitor the parliamentary elections. The European Parliament sent 17 short-term observers led by Andrej Plenković of Croatia to monitor the parliamentary elections. The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) sent a six-member core team, 50 long-term observers, and 156 short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections from September 10 to October 27, 2014. The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent 14 short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. Pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine held legislative elections on November 2, 2014. On November 3, 2014, Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, condemned the “illegal” elections held by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. On November 28, 2014, the Council of the EU imposed economic sanctions (travel restrictions and assets freezes) against 13 additional pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. Twelve civilians were killed when their bus was attacked near the village of Bahas in Volnovakha on January 13, 2015. Members of the UN Security Council issued a statement condemned the killing of the civilians in Volnovakha. On January 22, 2015, 15 civilians were killed when a bus was hit by a mortar shell in the city of Donetsk, which was held by pro-Russian separatists. Members of the UN Security Council condemned the killing of the civilians in the city of Donetsk. The human rights NGO, Amnesty International, condemned both the government and pro-Russian separatists for the deaths of the civilians in Donetsk and stated that by “basing troops, weaponry and other military targets in residential areas, using them as firing positions and firing artillery, rockets and mortars into these locations, pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces are endangering civilians in violation of the laws of war.” On January 24, 2015, pro-Russian separatists attacked government military forces in Mariupol, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 individuals. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the attack against government military forces in Mariupol that resulted in the deaths of civilians. Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, condemned the attack against government military forces in Mariupol. Foreign Minister Murray McCully of New Zealand condemned the killing of civilians in Mariupol and called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities” in eastern Ukraine. Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, head of the OSCE SMM, also condemned the attack which resulted in the deaths of civilians in Mariupol. On February 7, 2015, the French and German governments proposed a new peace plan to end the conflict in Ukraine. The French-German peace plan was discussed by Russian, Ukrainian, and pro-Russian separatist representatives in Minsk, Belarus on February 11-12, 2015. Russian, Ukrainian, and pro-Russian separatists signed another ceasefire agreement, the Minsk Protocol II, on February 12, 2015. Pro-Russian separatists captured Debaltseve (Debaltsevo) in Donetsk oblast from Ukrainian government troops on February 18, 2015. The Ukrainian government accused pro-Russian separatists of launching a military offensive against the government-held towns of Mariinka and Georgiivka in Donetsk oblast on June 3, 2015. Local elections were held on October 25 and November 15, 2015. The OSCE/ODIHR sent a 23-member core team, 80 long-term observers, and 595 short-term observers led by Tana de Zulueta of Italy to monitor the local elections from September 17 to December 4, 2015. The European Parliament sent 12 short-term observers led by Andrej Plenković of Croatia to monitor the local elections. The Council of Europe (COE) Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRA) sent 28 short-term observers led by Gudrun Mosler-Törnström of Austria to monitor the local elections. The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) sent an eight-member core team, 50 long-term observers, and 180 short-term observers to monitor the local elections. As of December 31, 2015, the OSCE SMM consisted of 669 civilian monitors from 45 countries. Volodymyr Borysovych Groysman of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc was appointed as prime minister on April 14, 2016. As of December 31, 2016, the OSCE SMM consisted of 693 civilian monitors from 44 countries. Government troops clashes with pro-Russian separatists in Avdiivka in Donetsk oblast from January 29 to February 4, 2017, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 separatists, 14 government soldiers, and 14 civilians. On February 1, 2017, Paolo Alli, President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, condemned the escalation of violence and violations of existing ceasefire agreements in eastern Ukraine. On February 2, 2017, the French government condemned the resumption of military hostilities in eastern Ukraine. A member of the OSCE SMM, Joseph Stone from the U.S., was killed by a landmine explosion in the village of Pryshyb in eastern Ukraine on April 23, 2017. On July 7, 2017, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced the appointment of Ambassador Kurt Volker as U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine negotiations. On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government announced additional military assistance to the Ukrainian government. As of December 31, 2017, the OSCE SMM consisted of 697 civilian monitors from 44 countries. On January 26, 2018, the U.S. government imposed economic sanctions (assets freezes and travel bans) against an additional 11 pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. On March 12, 2018, the Council of the EU extended economic sanctions against Russia, including travel restrictions and assets freezes against 150 individuals and 38 companies, until September 15, 2018. The U.S. government provided $47 million in military assistance (including Javelin anti-tank missiles) to the Ukrainian government in April 2018. On June 6, 2018, the UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement condemning violations of the ceasefire and expressing support for the OSCE SMM. On June 11, 2018, the foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France met in Berlin, Germany to discuss the implementation of the Minsk Protocol II ceasefire agreement for Ukraine and the deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission in the country. On November 11, 2018, local elections were held in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in eastern Ukraine. The U.S. government and NATO denounced the local elections in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said that the EU considered the local elections as “illegal and illegitimate and will not recognize them.” On November 12, 2019, the British government condemned the illegitimate elections held by pro-Russian separatists in the Donbass region. As of December 31, 2018, the OSCE SMM consisted of 778 civilian monitors from 44 countries. Presidential elections were held on March 31 and April 21, 2019. Volodymyr Zelensky of the Servant of the People (Sluha Narodu – SN) was elected president with 73 percent of the vote in the second round of the presidential election held on April 21, 2019. The OSCE/ODIHR sent a 20-member core team, 89 long-term observers, and 540 short-term observers led by Ambassador Peter Tejler of Sweden to monitor the first and second rounds of the presidential election from February 11 to May 6, 2019. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly sent 109 short-term observers led by Doris Barnett of Germany to monitor the presidential election. The Council of Europe (COE) Parliamentary Assembly sent 33 short-term observers led by Angela Smith of the United Kingdom to monitor the presidential election. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly sent 19 short-term observers led by Michal Szczerba of Poland to monitor the presidential election. The European Parliament sent 12 short-term observers led by Rebecca Harms of Germany to monitor the presidential election. The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) sent a ten-member core team, 48 long-term observers, and 158 short-term observers to monitor the first and second rounds of the presidential election. The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent 12 long-term observers and 18 short-term observers led by Cindy McCain and Daniel Twining to monitor the first and second rounds of the presidential election. Ambassador Yaşar Halit Çevik of Turkey took over as Chief Monitor of the OSCE SMM on May 31, 2019. Parliamentary elections were held on July 21, 2019, and the SN won 254 out of 450 seats in the parliament. The Opposition Platform-For Life (OPZZh) won 43 seats in the parliament. The OSCE/ODIHR sent a 23-member core team, 96 long-term observers, and 600 short-term observers led by Ambassador Albert Jónsson of Iceland to monitor the parliamentary elections from June 18 to August 4, 2019. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly sent 16 short-term observers led by Madeleine Moon of the United Kingdom to monitor the parliamentary elections. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly sent 58 short-term observers led by Sereine Mauborgne of France to monitor the parliamentary elections. The European Parliament sent 15 short-term observers led by David McAllister of Germany to monitor the parliamentary elections. The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) sent 40 long-term observers and 76 short-term observers to monitor the parliamentary elections. On August 6, 2019, four government soldiers were killed by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appointed Oleksiy Honcharuk as prime minister on August 29, 2019. On September 7, 2019, the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists exchanged a total of 70 prisoners. On October 1, 2019, representatives of the Ukrainian government, Russia and pro-Russian separatists agreed on special status for separatist-held parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. On December 9, 2019, the governments of France and Germany mediated negotiations in Paris between the governments of Russia and Ukraine concerning the conflict in eastern Ukraine. On December 29, 2019, the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists exchanged a total of 200 prisoners, including 76 Ukrainians captured by pro-Russian separatists and 124 pro-Russian separatists captured by Ukrainian forces. As of December 31, 2019, the OSCE SMM consisted of 766 civilian monitors from 44 countries. Government troops clashed with pro-Russian separatists near the village of Zolote in Luhansk oblast on February 18, 2020, resulting in the death of one government soldier and four separatists. Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk submitted his resignation on March 3, 2020, and the Ukrainian parliament voted to accept the resignation on March 4, 2020. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appointed Deputy Prime Minister Denys Shymgal as the new prime minister. The U.S. government provided more than $60 million in military assistance (including Javelin anti-tank missiles) to the Ukrainian government in June 2020. The Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists agreed to an OSCE-mediated ceasefire on July 26, 2020. More than 13,000 individuals, including more than 4,500 Ukrainian government soldiers and 3,300 civilians, were killed during the conflict. During the conflict, more than 1.5 million Ukrainians were internally-displaced and some 450,000 Ukrainians fled to Russia, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Poland.
Post-Conflict Phase (July 27, 2020-present): Pro-Russian separatists attacked government troops in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in eastern Ukraine on September 6, 2020, resulting in the death of one government soldier. Local elections were held on October 25, 2020. The OSCE/ODIHR sent a 16-member core team and 66 long-term observers led by former foreign minister Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir of Iceland to monitor the local elections from September 29 to November 15, 2020. The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) appointed a nine-member core team and 48 long-term observers to monitor the local elections. As of December 31, 2020, the OSCE SMM consisted of 720 civilian monitors from 44 countries. On March 26, 2021, pro-Russian separatists attacked government soldiers in Donetsk oblast, resulting in the deaths of four government soldiers. On April 5, 2021, two Ukrainian government soldiers were killed by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. On April 11, 2021, one government soldier was killed in artillery fire from pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. On August 14, 2021, government police clashed with right-wing nationalists near the Ukrainian presidential offices in Kiev.
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