Donetsk and Lugansk, ground zero of the crisis between Russia and Ukraine

• Maria Crespo

Updated Wednesday, February 23, 2022-02:30

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• Crisis Russia recognizes the independence of the entire territory of Donetsk and Lugansk, including the one under control of Ukraine

The recognition by Vladimir Putin of the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk marks a before and after in the crisis in Ukraine and leaves the scene of a war open.

The world is now looking towards Donbas, the 'rebellious' region in the east of the country where the war began long before, specifically, in 2014.

Is there going to be a new annexation?

"I consider it necessary to make this decision, which had matured for a long time: to immediately recognize the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic," Putin announced on Monday.

A day later, Russia specified that it

, including the one under control of the Ukrainian forces.

The Friendship and Cooperation treaties with Russia, ratified both by the Parliaments of both republics and by the Russian Parliament, make it possible for Russian troops to enter Ukraine.

Signed for a duration of 10 years, these agreements certify the dependence -energy, military and economic- of these territories on Russia.

One of the articles specifically states that each of the parties will grant the other the right to build, use and improve its military infrastructure and bases on its territory.

In Putin's mentality, the nostalgic idea of ​​an

- in which an independent Ukraine did not exist - is so ingrained that the Russian leader constantly reminds that the neighboring country "

l".

In 2014, Moscow already stirred up public opinion with the argument that independence had only brought poverty to the Ukrainians.

What will happen to the war in Donbas?

Vladimir Putin's decision to send troops to Donbas leaves the peace process embodied in the

(signed with the mediation of France and Germany in 2015), which granted greater autonomy to the separatist provinces, touched by death.

This "low intensity" war between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists broke out eight years ago, following Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula, and has left

since 2014 and

The conflict has intensified in recent days: observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) reported on Monday more than

in eastern Ukraine, the highest level in all year.

Monitors reported heavy clashes on the front line separating rebel forces from government troops.

How is this mining region, with a pro-Russian majority?

Donetsk (previously known as Stalino) is the main city of the Donbas mining basin, as well as one of the main

of Ukraine and has a population of two million inhabitants.

Just 10 years ago, it

Championship, welcomed thousands of fans and underwent a major reconstruction.

Today, the

and abandoned buildings reflect the deterioration and the passage of the war.

Lugansk (formerly Voroshilovgrad) is an industrial hub home to 1.5 million people.

Donbas, bordering Russia on the northern shore of the Black Sea, has huge coal reserves.

The presence of Russian speakers is related to the large number of Russian workers posted there after World War II.

Moscow argues that the region, along with much of eastern Ukraine, is populated by Russian-speakers who must be protected from Ukrainian nationalism.

For years, the Kremlin has issued a large number of

Now, Russia could argue that sending troops is out of a need to protect its own citizens.

And who is in charge?

leads the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) after the death in 2018 of the previous leader, Alexander Zajarchenko, in a

.

Leonid Pasechnik heads the self-proclaimed Lugansk Republic (LNR).

Several warlords and separatist leaders have been killed in recent years in attacks.

Did something similar happen in Ossetia and Abkhazia?

After the disintegration of the USSR and the independence of Georgia, the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia proclaimed their autonomy, rejected by Georgia.

The tension led to two armed conflicts in South Ossetia (between 1990 and 1991) and in Abkhazia (a year later, between 1992 and 1993), which left

and in which the separatists had the direct support of Moscow. .

Although two separate peace agreements were signed, in practice the two territories remained almost independent and built their own armies and institutions.

For a few years, the conflict seemed to be forgotten.

But in 2008, when he was re-elected as president of Georgia, Mijail Saakashvili, who had already made clear his goal of

called a referendum for Georgia's accession to NATO, which resulted in a majority in favor of "yes".

Russia did not like it at all.

In August 2008, the Georgian army made a surprise attack on several cities in South Ossetia.

Right after, Russian tanks entered South Ossetia under the pretext of helping its citizens, many of whom already had

In five days more than 600 people died.

Weeks later, Russia recognized the independence of these two "rebellious" territories (rejected by almost the entire international community except for

of Russia such as Venezuela or Syria).

Today, South Ossetia and Abkhazia function almost as independent states, but Georgia - which is still awaiting a response from NATO - continues to claim them as its own.

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