History of the Donetsk and Luhansk dispute

From the April 2014 declarations, through the unimplemented 2015 Minsk II agreement, to Russia's 2022 recognition and attempted annexation.

2 min read

Published

24 September 2026

Status verified as of

20 September 2026

The 2014 declarations

On 7 April 2014, pro-Russian activists proclaimed the "Donetsk People's Republic" from within Donetsk's regional government building; on 27 April 2014, a similar group proclaimed the "Luhansk People's Republic," demanding amnesty, official status for the Russian language, and a referendum on Luhansk's status.[1]

7 April 2014 – 27 April 2014 · Declaration

Donetsk and Luhansk "People's Republic" declarations, 2014

Pro-Russian activists proclaimed separatist "people's republics" in Donetsk and Luhansk amid the broader 2014 crisis in Ukraine.

The 2015 Minsk II agreement

On 12 February 2015, the Trilateral Contact Group signed the "Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements" (Minsk II) in Minsk, providing for an immediate ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons, local elections in accordance with Ukrainian law, a special self-government status for certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, and constitutional reform including decentralization; the UN Security Council endorsed the package on 17 February 2015 in Resolution 2202.[2]

The package's central provisions were not fully implemented by their intended end-of-2015 deadline, and conflict in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions continued in the years that followed.[3]

12 February 2015 · Agreement

Minsk II agreement and UNSCR 2202, 2015

A UN-endorsed peace package intended to end the fighting in Donetsk and Luhansk through a ceasefire, troop withdrawals and Ukrainian constitutional reform, most of which was never fully implemented.

The 2022 recognition and attempted annexation

On 21 February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic as independent states.[4]

From 23 to 27 September 2022, Russian-organized referendums were held in parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions; on 30 September 2022, President Putin signed treaties purporting to annex all four regions into the Russian Federation.[5]

On 12 October 2022, UN General Assembly Resolution ES-11/4 condemned these referendums and the subsequent attempted annexation, declared them to have no validity under international law, and demanded Russia reverse its decisions and withdraw its forces from Ukraine; the resolution was adopted with a reported 143 states in favour, 5 against and 35 abstaining.[6][7]

21 February 2022 – 30 September 2022 · Other

Russian recognition and attempted annexation of Donetsk and Luhansk, 2022

Russia recognized the DPR and LPR as independent states shortly before its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, then attempted to annex both regions along with Kherson and Zaporizhzhia following disputed referendums.

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

Claim: On 7 April 2014, pro-Russian activists proclaimed the "Donetsk People's Republic" from within Donetsk's regional government building; on 27 April 2014, a similar group proclaimed the "Luhansk People's Republic," demanding amnesty, official status for the Russian language, and a referendum on Luhansk's status.

International recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic (Wikipedia) link, Declarations section. Source record

Claim: On 12 February 2015, the Trilateral Contact Group (comprising the OSCE, Russia, Ukraine and the DPR/LPR sides) signed the "Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements" (Minsk II) in Minsk, providing for an immediate ceasefire from 15 February 2015, withdrawal of heavy weapons, local elections in accordance with Ukrainian law, a special self-government status for certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, and constitutional reform including decentralization; the UN Security Council endorsed the package on 17 February 2015 in Resolution 2202, alongside a supporting declaration by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany.

United Nations Security Council, Security Council Resolution 2202 (2015): endorsing the Minsk II "Package of Measures" (United Nations) link, Resolution text and Annexes I-II. Source record

Claim: The Minsk II package's central provisions, including a comprehensive ceasefire, full withdrawal of heavy weapons, Ukrainian constitutional reform providing for decentralization, and reinstatement of Ukrainian government control of the state border, were not fully implemented by their intended end-of-2015 deadline, and conflict in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions continued in the years that followed.

International recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic (Wikipedia) link, Post-Minsk conflict continuation section. Source record

Claim: On 21 February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic as independent states, along with agreements on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with each; the decision was approved by the State Duma the same day.

Russian annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts (Wikipedia) link, Recognition decrees section. Source record

Claim: From 23 to 27 September 2022, Russian-organized "referendums" were held in parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine; on 30 September 2022, President Putin signed treaties purporting to annex all four regions into the Russian Federation.

Russian annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts (Wikipedia) link, Referendums and annexation treaty section. Source record

Claim: On 12 October 2022, UN General Assembly Resolution ES-11/4 condemned Russia's organization of the 23-27 September 2022 "illegal so-called referendums" in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia and the subsequent attempted annexation; declared these acts to have no validity under international law and incapable of altering the regions' status; called on all states, international organizations and UN specialized agencies not to recognize any such altered status; and demanded that Russia immediately and unconditionally reverse its 21 February and 29 September 2022 decisions and withdraw its military forces from Ukraine.

United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly Resolution ES-11/4: Territorial integrity of Ukraine: defending the principles of the Charter of the United Nations (United Nations) link, Preamble and operative paragraphs 1-5. Source record

Claim: Resolution ES-11/4 was adopted with a reported 143 states in favour, 5 against, 35 abstaining and 10 not voting.

Russian annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts (Wikipedia) link, UN vote section. Source record