Timeline of the war in Donbas (2014)

This is a timeline of the war in Donbas for the year 2014.

April –June 7 April – At 3:30 am, pro-Russian activists stormed the SBU offices in Donetsk and Luhansk.Ukraine crisis: Protesters declare Donetsk 'republic' , BBC News (7 April 2014) They did not initially make clear demands, but later called for a referendum on independence from Ukraine by 11 May. The militants took control of the SBU armoury and armed themselves with automatic weapons, while other supporters brought bricks and debris to erect barricades. They initially numbered 1,000, but subsequently thinned. In an address on the Ukrainian national television channel, interim President Oleksandr Turchynov stated that the current unrest in eastern Ukraine was "the second wave" of a Russian operation to destabilise Ukraine, overthrow the government and disrupt planned elections and represented an attempt by Russia to "dismember" Ukraine. He vowed to launch a major "counter-terrorism" operation against separatist movements. 8 April – In Luhansk, separatists occupying the SBU building declared themselves the "Luhansk Parliamentary Republic". According to Ukrainian security officials, the separatists planted mines in the building and took 60 people hostage.SBU demands separatists release hostages, defuse bombs in its office in Luhansk region , Interfax-Ukraine (8 April 2014) 11 April – In Mariupol, a pro-Ukraine flashmob of 100 took place outside the police department. Protesters were attacked by men with bats as the police did not react. 12 April – Fifty-two armed militants led by Igor Girkin (retired FSB colonel) attacked the executive committee building, the police department, and the Security Service of Ukraine offices in Sloviansk. His militia was formed in Crimea and consisted of volunteers from Russia, Crimea, and other regions of Ukraine (Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Kyiv) and many people from Donetsk and the Luhansk region. Two thirds were Ukrainian citizens. The majority of men had combat experience. Many of the Ukrainians had fought in the Russian Armed Forces in Chechnya and Central Asia. Others fought in Iraq and the former Yugoslavia with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Girkin's original intention was to replicate the Crimean scenario (seizure of the territory by Russian army). According to Girkin, nobody fought for the Donetsk People's Republic or the Luhansk People's Republic, everybody initially wanted to join Russia. Girkin flew a Russian flag at his headquarters and his men were perceived as Russian forces by the local population. Girkin believed that the Russian Armed Forces and the Russian state would quickly follow and the Donbas would become a republic within Russia. In Kramatorsk, in the course of a pro-Russian rally, protestors overpowered a police line and occupied the building of the local executive committee, where they hoisted the new-proclaimed republic's flag.Над будівлею виконкому Краматорська вивісили прапор Донецької республіки (The flag of the Donetsk Republic was hung above the building of the Kramatorsk executive committee) . Korrespondent.net, 12 April 2014 At evening, the police station was captured by armed men in camouflage fatigues after a protracted firefight.У Краматорську зі стріляниною захоплений міськвідділ міліції (In Kramatorsk, the city police department was seized with a shooting) . Korrespondent.net, 12 April 2014Сепаратисти захопили Краматорський міський відділ міліції (The separatists seized the Kramatorsk city police department) . Gazeta.ua, 12 April 2014 15 April – In accordance with the Ukrainian law on fighting the terrorismЗакон України «Про боротьбу з тероризмом» (Law of Ukraine "On Combating Terrorism") , Відомості Верховної Ради України, 2003, № 25, ст. 180. Turchynov announced the start of an "anti-terrorist operation" (, abbreviation – ATO). An armoured column sent by Ukraine established a checkpoint 40 km from Sloviansk. The SBU claimed that rebels there had been reinforced by several hundred soldiers from Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate. Ukrainian special forces retook Kramatorsk airfield. According to Ukrainian officials no fatalities occurred on either side,Українські силовики взяли в полон сепаратистів у Краматорську (Ukrainian security forces captured separatists in Kramatorsk) . Ukrayinska Pravda, 15 April 2014 while rebel reports varied from two militiamen wounded to eleven dead.В Краматорске силовики вступили в переговоры с ополченцами. (In Kramatorsk, the security forces entered into negotiations with the militias) Trud.ru, 15 April 2014 16 April – Six BMD-2 armoured vehicles were captured by pro-Russian militias when they were stopped at a rebel checkpoint near Kramatorsk. They were later seen driven by masked pro-Russian troops to Sloviansk. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence (MOD) confirmed the loss.Минобороны Украины: шесть единиц бронетехники находятся у ополчения (Ministry of Defense of Ukraine: six units of armored vehicles are at the militia) . Ria Novosti, 16 April 2014В Краматорске протестующие захватили шесть БТР – СМИ. (In Kramatorsk, protesters seized six armored personnel carriers - media.) Korrespondent.net, 16 April 2014 In Mariupol, 300 insurgents attempted to occupy a military base and demanded soldiers turn over their weapons. They threw petrol bombs at base guards. After firing warning shots, police together with the National Guard and Omega units returned fire. According to Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, three insurgents were killed and 13 wounded, while 63 were arrested; no Ukrainian officers were killed in the battle. 20 April – On Turchinov's orders, Dmytro Yarosh led 20 Right Sector members to sabotage an insurgent-controlled television tower in Sloviansk, leading to the first combat fatalities in the Siege of Sloviansk. Yarosh denied his role in these events for two years. 21 April – In Luhansk, separatists announced two referendums, one on 11 May to decide between autonomy or retaining the current status and a second on 18 May to decide to join Russia or declare independence. 25 April – Two Ukrainian aircraft –an Mi-8 helicopter and an An-2 plane- were destroyed in an apparent RPG attack claimed by pro-Russian militias at the Kramatorsk airport, where the control tower was damaged. The explosion injured one Ukrainian officer.У Краматорську російські диверсанти за допомогою ПТКРСу підірвали вертоліт Мі-8, літак АН-2 та пошкодили будівлю аеродрому (In Kramatorsk, Russian saboteurs with the help of PTKRS blew up a Mi-8 helicopter, an AN-2 plane and damaged the airfield building) . Ostanni Podii, 25 April 2014На аеродромі Краматорська згоріли вертоліт Мі-8 і літак Ан-2 (A Mi-8 helicopter and an An-2 plane burned down at Kramatorsk airfield) . BBC Ukraine, 25 April 2014 27 April – Separatists in Luhansk proclaimed the "Luhansk People's Republic". 2 May – At dawn, Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale operation to retake Sloviansk. Reports mentioned gunfire, explosions, and a military helicopter opening fire. Separatists said one Mi-24 helicopter had been shot down and one of the pilots captured.Сепаратисти "взяли" українського льотчика (The separatists "took" the Ukrainian pilot) . Ukrayinska Pravda, 2 May 2014 Separatist authorities said that three militants and two civilians were killed. The Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that up to nine checkpoints around Sloviansk were seized. They acknowledged that two helicopters were shot down and two airmen were killed.Ночью под Славянском украинские силовики деблокировали блокпост и схватили одного экстремиста (At night, near Slovyansk, Ukrainian security forces unblocked a checkpoint and seized one extremist) . Unian, 27 April 2014 Seven were wounded.Турчинов: спецоперация в Славянске разворачивается медленнее, чем хотелось бы (Turchynov: the special operation in Slavyansk is unfolding more slowly than we would like) . ITAR-TASS, 2 May 2014 The fighting died down by afternoon.Ukraine forces move against separatists; copters shot down, killing 2 . Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2014 Confrontation between supporters and opponents of the post-Maidan Ukrainian government in Odesa resulted in 48 dead and 247 wounded 5 May – Fighting continued in Sloviansk, where a Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter was shot down and crashed into a river; its crew survived. The Ukrainian government accused the separatists of using heavy weapons, including mortars."Ukraine soldiers killed in renewed Sloviansk fighting" . BBC News, 5 May 2014"Interior Ministry: Four Ukrainian soldiers killed, 30 wounded in anti-terrorist operation in Sloviansk" Kyiv Post, 5 May 2014 7 May – After a day of clashes that involved an ambush against Ukrainian forces and the death of two militants,В центре Мариуполя горят шины, у воинской части слышны выстрелы (Tires are on fire in the center of Mariupol, shots are heard near the military unit) . Ukrayinska Pravda, 6 May 2014Мариуполь под контролем властей, 1 террорист убит, 2 в плену (Mariupol under government control, 1 terrorist killed, 2 captured) . Ukrayinska Pravda, 7 May 2014 pro-Russian demonstrators re-occupied Mariupol city hall after Ukrainian security forces withdrew.Украинские военные ушли из горсовета Мариуполя (Ukrainian military left the city council of Mariupol) . Polit.ru, 7 May 2014 They were later attacked by special troops using tear gas, which according to pro-Russian sources affected 15 people.Ополченцы Мариуполя заявили о 15 пострадавших от слезоточивого газа (Mariupol militia reported 15 victims of tear gas) . Polit.ru, 7 May 2014 A pro-Russian spokeswoman said that five militants were killed and 15 captured during the Ukrainian operation."Report: Putin wants delay in referendum in Ukraine's Donetsk region". CNN, 7 May 2014 9 May – Clashes followed in Mariupol, where 60 separatists attempted to occupy the police station. The attack was repulsed, leaving the building in flames. The Ukrainian Internal Affairs Ministry claimed that 20 rebels were killed and four captured. The Ukrainians acknowledged one killed and five wounded.У Маріуполі знищили 20 сепаратистів, ще чотирьох взяли в полон – Аваков . Korrespondent.net, 9 May 2014 It was later reported that the police superintendent had been abducted by the militiamen.В Мариуполе похитили начальника милиции города . Argumenti i Facti, 9 May 2014 10 May – The MOD announced the deaths of a Lieutenant Colonel and an artillery soldier during the Mariupol battle. The Colonel's vehicle was ambushed en route to the police station, while the soldier was killed in the building assault.Міноборони: Демиденко та Ейсман загинули, як герої . Ukrinfo, 10 May 2014 11 May – Two independence referendums were held in Donetsk and Luhansk. In Donetsk, the organizers stated that 89% voted in favour of self-rule, with 10% against, while turnout was nearly 75%. In Luhansk, the organizers stated that 96.2% voted for separation. These results were not independently verified."Insurgents say Ukraine region opts for sovereignty" Dallas Morning News, 11 May 2014