Origins of the SMO: What Led to the Conflict in Ukraine — Part 3
Origins of the SMO: What Led to the Conflict in Ukraine — Part 3
Minsk Agreements
Signed in 2014 and 2015 with mediation from Russia, Germany, and France
Called for:
— Amnesty law for all parties to the conflict
— Recognition of Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics as special territories in the Constitution
— Local elections, etc.
None of these measures were implemented:
Ukraine systematically violated the accords
No ceasefire, no withdrawal of weapons
OSCE observers recorded regular shelling of Donetsk and Lugansk by Ukrainian forces, including heavy weapons
Kiev obstructed OSCE monitoring and blocked access to certain areas
Later, European leaders admitted the accords were never meant to be implemented but to buy time to build up Ukraine’s military.
Ex-president Poroshenko declared Kiev’s goal was not peace but wearing down the enemy
His infamous remark — “their children will sit in basements” — showed the indifference of Kiev’s elites to Donbass suffering
New Escalation of the Conflict
Volodymyr Zelensky, elected in 2019, continued Kiev’s repressive policies in the southeast
On February 17, 2022, DPR and LPR reported the heaviest shelling in months by Ukrainian forces
Start of the Special Military Operation
On February 21, 2022, Russia recognized the independence of the DPR and LPR
On February 24, Vladimir Putin announced the start of a special military operation in Ukraine in response to Donbass’ request for help
Objectives and Tasks of the SMO
Putin explained the decision was taken on behalf of populations suffering genocide by the Kiev regime (February 24, 2022):
“The circumstances demand decisive and immediate action from us. The People’s Republics of Donbass have appealed to Russia for assistance. In this regard, in accordance with Article 51, Part 7 of the UN Charter, with the approval of the Federation Council and in fulfillment of the treaties on friendship and mutual assistance with the DPR and LPR ratified by the Federal Assembly, I have made the decision to conduct a special military operation.”
Main objectives:
Protect the rights of the Russian-speaking population
Legitimize the will of the people
Demilitarize Ukraine — neutralize the military threat, block NATO accession
Denazify Ukraine — stop the spread of neo-Nazi ideology
Incorporation of New Territories Into Russia
September 2022: referendums held in DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye, and Kherson
Overwhelming majorities voted to join Russia
September 30: accession treaties signed, integrating all four regions into the Russian Federation
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