. Whoever thought it could have been a fast and easy campaign, has been proved wrong.
April-June 2014. Ukrainian forces initially focused on Donetsk. Then, on April 22, a military operation was launched to take back separatist-controlled territory in the East. The heaviest fighting involved the cities of Sloviansk and Lugansk and Donetsk.
July 2014. Ukrainian military forces succeeded in retaking control over Sloviansk while separatists were reported fleeing the city. (July 5). Until the end of July, the army and pro-Russia rebels kept engaging each other mainly near Donetsk and Lugansk. According to the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine (NSDC), separatists were slowly losing their positions near Donetsk as well as in mid-southern areas of Lugansk Oblast.
August 2014. By the end of August, on the one hand, Ukrainian army progressively retook control over relevant portions of southern previously separatist-controlled territory (near Donetsk) but, on the other hand, Ukraine progressively lost control over part of its border with Russia. At the same time, separatist forces succeeded in obtaining a bridgehead in southern Ukraine and took control over Novoazovsk.
September-December 2014. By the end of September, pro-Russia forces made it through to the Sea of Azof reuniting their southern and northern positions. Ukrainian forces completely lost control over Russian border from Parkhomenko to Novoazovsk as well as over most of the areas they had freed in July and August. In October, separatists got closer to Mariupol and reinforced their positions near Lugansk and Donetsk. In Early December, fights were reported all along the front line despite a previously-signed cease-fire (September 5).
January 2015. On January 24, separatists launched an offensive over Mariupol. According to Ukrainian Defence Ministry, the city was hit by Grad rockets in three different strikes. Thirty people were reported dead.
Recent events show that this crisis is far from being over. Rebel’s leader Alexander Zakharchenko clearly stated that an offensive to take Mariupol is underway. The harbour and the geographic position make the city strategically relevant for both sides and make it a crossroads toward western Ukraine and Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
