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Russia's two eastern regions are facing a crisis in Russia after President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to infiltrate rebel-held areas.
Russia's president says his country recognizes them as independent nations. But what do we know about Donetsk and Luhansk?
In 2014 the separatists successfully occupied a vast territory in the two regions and have since declared the establishment of the Donetsk Republic (DNR) and the Luhansk Republic (LNR), on the border with Russia.
Ukraine calls them "temporary occupied territories" - as in the case of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
But they all depend on financial and military support from Russia.
Russia-backed DNR regional leaders Denis Pushilin and LNR Leonid Pasechnik won the 2018 general election without international support. The two leaders called for the Russian Federation.
Where are Luhansk and Donetsk on the map?
photo: google
The two breakaway regions belong to the Donbas River, and are now under the "Russian Donbas Basin", where the region is considered a Russian state.
They are in a country recognized by the United Nations as Ukraine. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.
Donetsk has been a coal mine since the middle of the 19th century.
The original name was Yuzovka or Yuzivka, associated with Welsh billionaire John Hughes, who set up a mining and mining center in the area.
Metal mining continued to expand during the Soviet era, and many Russian workers were sent to the region to run the coal mining industry.
The city was renamed Stalin in 1924, to Stalino in 1929 before finally moving to Donetsk in 1961.
What is happening in Luhansk and Donetsk?
After the end of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the two territories returned to the autonomous region of Ukraine. But Russian President Vladimir Putin views Ukraine under Soviet rule and has stated that he views Russia and Ukraine as "one thing".
In 2014, the outbreak of violence between Russian-backed rebels and pro-Ukrainian rebels further escalated tensions in the region.
"Rebel-held territories are slowly being separated from the rest of Ukraine and further merged - politically, economically and culturally - with Russia", according to Natalia Savelyeva, a researcher at the European Center for Political Studies. (CEPA) in Washington.
Ukraine-Russia Crisis: What Caused the Violence?
Although the territories are not officially Russian territory, but almost 750,000 people living in the Donbas region have Russian passports and can vote in Russian elections.
Their status allows them to enjoy the benefits of the Russian pension system, and they have easy access to employment in Russia.
But while some see their proximity to Russia, there are those who hope to remain in Ukraine.
"They took over our territory illegally, that is what happened in Crimea. I do not understand why Putin is leading this system." Said Ludmyla, a 61-year-old Sloviansk resident of Donetsk.
The number of people crossing into occupied territories has declined since the conflict began in 2014
Ukraine Relations
On the contrary, it has become increasingly difficult for Donbas residents to travel to Ukraine for medical treatment or financial assistance.
The number of people crossing between the two regions and the rest of Ukraine arrested between 2014 and 2015, and due to the epidemic that caused the borders to be closed recently, has increased but now decreases.
"Russia's political alliance goes hand in hand with an effort to ensure cultural independence from Ukraine," said Dr. Savelyeva.
Both regions banned the Ukrainian language in 2020, promoting only the Russian language. Schools have stopped teaching the Ukrainian language and its history.
"Therefore, children born before or during the crisis do not know of any history or origins that affected them in Ukraine (except to hear from their parents,) she said.
But Putin has not come out yet to express his views on the two regions or to assert their independence, until now.
Photo: Reuters
Has Russia Invaded Ukraine?
After acknowledging the two breakaway regions, Putin sent his troops to "maintain peace" in Donetsk and Luhansk. That means Russian troops in Ukraine's autonomous region.
"Russian troops have already crossed the border into Donetsk and Luhansk and are withdrawing from the north and west," said Vladislav Berdichevsky, a member of the DNR parliament in a video posted on telegram.
"Their goal is security and peace in the republic's territories," he said.
Redesign of Donetsk and Luhansk
Violence could escalate if rebel leaders continue to occupy areas under their control in Donetsk and Luhansk.
So far, the West has responded by announcing new sanctions against Russia.
According to Reuters "The United States, the European Union and Britain announced plans to target banks and elites while Germany halted a major gas pipeline project from Russia".
But with 150,000 Russian troops occupying Ukraine's border, according to US estimates, there are fears the situation could turn into a war.
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