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81-608: Since 2014, following the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War and the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation , the base has been operated by the Russian Ministry of Defence . In 2017 plans were published under Russian administration to restore the airfield into an international airport by 2020, but this did not happen. The base was home to the 38th Fighter Aviation Regiment which flies

162-577: A bill to repeal the 2012 law which made Russian an official language. The bill was not enacted , but the proposal provoked negative reactions in the Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine, intensified by Russian media claiming that the ethnic Russian population was in imminent danger. On 27 February, an interim government was established and early presidential elections were scheduled. The following day, Yanukovych resurfaced in Russia and in

243-478: A crime of aggression under international criminal law and under some countries' domestic criminal codes —including those of Ukraine and Russia—although procedural obstacles exist to prosecutions under these laws. In late February 2014, Russia began to occupy Crimea , marking the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War. On 22 and 23 February, in the relative power vacuum immediately after

324-535: A " hybrid approach", combining disinformation tactics, irregular fighters, regular Russian troops, and conventional military support. The First Battle of Donetsk Airport followed the Ukrainian presidential elections . It marked a turning point in conflict; it was the first battle between the separatists and the Ukrainian government that involved large numbers of Russian "volunteers". According to Ukraine, at

405-600: A cross-border offensive into Russia's Kursk Oblast in August 2024. Russia has repeatedly carried out deliberate and indiscriminate attacks on civilians far from the frontline. The International Criminal Court (ICC) opened an investigation into war crimes and issued arrest warrants for Putin and several other Russian officials . After the dissolution of the Soviet Union (USSR) in 1991, Ukraine and Russia maintained close ties. In 1994, Ukraine agreed to accede to

486-734: A document claiming that their participation was limited to "offering humanitarian help" to avoid Russian mercenary laws. Russia's anti-mercenary legislation defined a mercenary as someone who "takes part [in fighting] with aims counter to the interests of the Russian Federation". In August 2016, the Ukrainian intelligence service, the SBU , published telephone intercepts from 2014 of Sergey Glazyev (Russian presidential adviser), Konstantin Zatulin , and other people in which they discussed covert funding of pro-Russian activists in Eastern Ukraine,

567-489: A fifty-man unit of pro-Russian militants seized the towns of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk . The heavily armed men were Russian Armed Forces "volunteers" under the command of former GRU colonel Igor Girkin ('Strelkov'). They had been sent from Russian-occupied Crimea and wore no insignia . Girkin said that this action sparked the Donbas War. He said "I'm the one who pulled the trigger of war. If our unit hadn't crossed

648-442: A maximum of 25,000 troops. Russia was required to respect the sovereignty of Ukraine, honor its legislation, not interfere in the internal affairs of the country, and show their "military identification cards" when crossing the international border. Early in the conflict, the agreement's generous troop limit allowed Russia to significantly strengthen its military presence, deploy special forces and other required capabilities to conduct

729-628: A new deal with Russia, known as the Kharkiv Pact , to resolve the 2009 Russia–Ukraine gas dispute . The pact extended Russia's stay in Crimea to 2042, with an option to renew. No formal declaration of war has been issued in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. When Putin announced the Russian invasion of Ukraine , he claimed to commence a " special military operation ", side-stepping a formal declaration of war. The statement was, however, regarded by

810-506: A possible Russian invasion and reinstated conscription to its armed forces. During May, the Ukrainian campaign focused on containing the separatists by securing key positions around the ATO zone to position the military for a decisive offensive once Ukraine's national mobilization had completed. As conflict between the separatists and the Ukrainian government escalated in May, Russia began to employ

891-607: A press conference, declared that he remained the acting president of Ukraine, just as Russia was commencing a military campaign in Crimea. Leaders of Russian-speaking eastern regions of Ukraine declared continuing loyalty to Yanukovych, triggering the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine . At the onset of the Crimean conflict , Russia had roughly 12,000 military personnel from the Black Sea Fleet , in several locations in

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972-524: A state. On 21 February 2014, following months of protests as part of the Euromaidan movement, Yanukovych and the leaders of the parliamentary opposition signed a settlement agreement that provided for early elections. The following day, Yanukovych fled from the capital ahead of an impeachment vote that stripped him of his powers as president. On 23 February, the Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) adopted

1053-509: A statement agreeing that "these countries will become members of NATO" at some point. Putin strongly opposed Georgia and Ukraine's NATO membership bids. By January 2022, the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO remained remote. In 2009, Yanukovych announced his intent to again run for president in the 2010 Ukrainian presidential election , which he subsequently won. In November 2013, a wave of large, pro– European Union (EU) protests erupted in response to Yanukovych's sudden decision not to sign

1134-513: A substantial period of time, but continued at a low level despite repeated attempts at ceasefire. Both sides began fortifying their position by building networks of trenches , bunkers and tunnels . The relatively static conflict was labelled " frozen " by some, though fighting never completely stopped. Between 2014 and 2022 there were 29 ceasefires , each agreed to remain in force indefinitely. However, none of them lasted more than two weeks. US and international officials continued to report

1215-786: Is guided by the Constitution, federal constitutional laws, federal laws, acts of the President and the Government, and international treaties. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is appointed to the post by the President on the proposal of the Prime Minister. The Minister is personally responsible for the implementation of the powers entrusted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and

1296-654: Is headed by the Permanent Representative appointed by the President on the proposal of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Permanent Representative represents Russia in all UN structures, including meetings of the Security Council. In special cases, the Minister for Foreign Affairs himself may take his place. In terms of the number of staff, the Russian mission is one of the largest at the UN. There

1377-463: Is often grouped together with other early-21st century protest movements, particularly within the former USSR , known as colour revolutions . According to Anthony Cordesman , Russian military officers viewed such colour revolutions as attempts by the US and European states to destabilise neighbouring countries and undermine Russia's national security. Russian President Vladimir Putin accused organisers of

1458-693: Is the current foreign minister. The structure of the Russian MFA central office includes divisions, which are referred to as departments. Departments are divided into sections. Russian MFA Departments are headed by Directors and their sections by Heads. According to Presidential Decree 1163 of September 11, 2007, the Ministry is divided into 39 departments. Departments are divided into territorial (relations between Russia and foreign countries, grouped according to conventional regions) and functional (according to assigned functions). Each department employs 30-60 diplomats. In addition, there are four divisions under

1539-763: The 2011–2013 Russian protests of being former advisors to Yushchenko, and described the protests as an attempt to transfer the Orange Revolution to Russia. Rallies in favour of Putin during this period were called " anti-Orange protests ". At the 2008 Bucharest summit , Ukraine and Georgia sought to join NATO. The response among NATO members was divided. Western European countries opposed offering Membership Action Plans (MAP) to Ukraine and Georgia in order to avoid antagonising Russia, while US President George W. Bush pushed for their admission. NATO ultimately refused to offer Ukraine and Georgia MAPs, but also issued

1620-821: The Battle of Ilovaisk , between 20,000 and 25,000 troops were fighting in the Donbas on the separatist side, and only 40–45% were "locals". On 24 August 2014, Amvrosiivka was occupied by Russian paratroopers, supported by 250 armoured vehicles and artillery pieces. On 25 August, a column of Russian military vehicles was reported to have crossed into Ukraine near Novoazovsk on the Azov sea coast. It appeared headed towards Ukrainian-held Mariupol , in an area that had not seen pro-Russian presence for weeks. Russian forces captured Novoazovsk . and Russian soldiers began deporting Ukrainians who did not have an address registered within

1701-543: The Charter for European Security , which "reaffirmed the inherent right of each and every participating State to be free to choose or change its security arrangements, including treaties of alliance, as they evolve." In the years after the dissolution of the USSR , several former Eastern Bloc countries joined NATO , partly in response to regional security threats involving Russia such as the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis ,

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1782-456: The Crimean peninsula such as Sevastopol, Kacha , Hvardiiske, Simferopol Raion , Sarych , and others. In 2005 a dispute broke out between Russia and Ukraine over control of the Sarych cape lighthouse near Yalta, and a number of other beacons. Russian presence was allowed by the basing and transit agreement with Ukraine. Under this agreement, the Russian military in Crimea was constrained to

1863-639: The EU–Ukraine Association Agreement , instead choosing closer ties to Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union . On 22 February 2013, the Ukrainian parliament overwhelmingly approved of finalizing Ukraine's agreement with the EU. Subsequently, Russia pressured Ukraine to reject this agreement by threatening sanctions . Kremlin adviser Sergei Glazyev stated that if the agreement was signed, Russia could not guarantee Ukraine's status as

1944-612: The Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) as independent states, starting the Donbas war . Russia covertly supported the separatists with its own troops, tanks and artillery, preventing Ukraine from fully retaking the territory. In February 2015, Russia and Ukraine signed the Minsk II agreements, but they were never fully implemented in the years that followed. The Donbas war settled into a violent but static conflict between Ukraine and

2025-799: The Minsk Protocol ceasefire agreement drew a line of demarcation between Ukraine and separatist-controlled portions of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. On 7 and 12 November, NATO officials reconfirmed the Russian presence, citing 32 tanks, 16 howitzer cannons and 30 trucks of troops entering the country. US general Philip M. Breedlove said "Russian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air defence systems and Russian combat troops" had been sighted. NATO said it had seen an increase in Russian tanks, artillery pieces and other heavy military equipment in Ukraine and renewed its call for Moscow to withdraw its forces. The Chicago Council on Global Affairs stated that Russian separatists enjoyed technical advantages over

2106-545: The NATO military alliance. In early 2022, Russia recognized the DPR and LPR as independent states. On 24 February 2022, Putin announced a " special military operation " to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine, claiming Russia had no plans to occupy the country. The Russian invasion that followed was internationally condemned ; many countries imposed sanctions against Russia, and sent humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine . In

2187-525: The Sukhoi Su-27 and Sukhoi Su-30 under the 27th Composite Aviation Division part of the 4th Air and Air Defence Forces Army . After a series of explosions, the unit was withdrawn from the airport at the end of 2022. NASA 's FIRMS imagery shows that runway 07L/25R has been extended to 3.45 km. The airfield is located next to the coast, in the Nakhimovsky area of Sevastopol, north of

2268-728: The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as a non-nuclear-weapon state. Former Soviet nuclear weapons in Ukraine were removed and dismantled. In return, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States agreed to uphold the territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine through the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances . In 1999, Russia was one of the signatories of

2349-596: The War in Abkhazia (1992–1993) and the First Chechen War (1994–1996). Putin said Western powers broke promises not to let any Eastern European countries join. The 2004 Ukrainian presidential election was controversial. During the election campaign, opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned by TCDD dioxin ; he later accused Russia of involvement. In November, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych

2430-628: The Crimean peninsula from the rest of Ukraine. In the following days, unmarked Russian special forces occupied airports and communications centers, and blockaded Ukrainian military bases, such as the Southern Naval Base . Russian cyberattacks shut down websites associated with the Ukrainian government, news media, and social media. Cyberattacks also enabled Russian access to the mobile phones of Ukrainian officials and members of parliament, further disrupting communications. On 1 March,

2511-758: The DPR and LPR statelets, prompting Russian cross-border shelling targeted at Ukrainian troops on their own soil, from mid-July onwards. After a series of military defeats and setbacks for the separatists, who united under the banner of " Novorossiya ", Russia dispatched what it called a "humanitarian convoy" of trucks across the border in mid-August 2014. Ukraine called the move a "direct invasion". Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council reported that convoys were arriving almost daily in November (up to 9 convoys on 30 November) and that their contents were mainly arms and ammunition. Strelkov claimed that in early August, Russian servicemen, supposedly on "vacation" from

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2592-765: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia: the Main Production and Commercial Department for servicing the diplomatic staff under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations , the Foreign Ministry College and the Russian Center for International Scientific and Cultural Cooperation. Outside

2673-561: The Revolution of Dignity and the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych . Shortly after, pro-Russian unrest erupted in eastern and southern Ukraine, while unmarked Russian troops occupied Crimea . Russia soon annexed Crimea after a highly disputed referendum . In April 2014, Russian-backed militants seized towns in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region and proclaimed the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and

2754-568: The Russian 27th Mixed Aviation Division, flying Su-27s and Su-30s , was established at Belbek, but relocated to Russia after explosions in August 2022 . The 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment (23 IAP) from Dzyomgi Airport of the Russian Air Force were deployed here from April 2022 flying the Sukhoi Su-35 S. On 1 October 2022 an explosion was reported, which Russian news agency TASS reported as due to an aircraft which ran off

2835-598: The Russian Federation ( MFA Russia ; Russian : Министерство иностранных дел Российской Федерации , МИД РФ) is the central government institution charged with leading the foreign policy and foreign relations of Russia . It is a continuation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , which was under the supervision of the Soviet Ministry of External Relations . Sergei Lavrov

2916-520: The Russian Federation, representations of the Russian Federation to international organisations, and territorial offices of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the territory of Russia. The MFA system includes the central office; foreign institutions; territorial offices; organisations subordinate to the MFA of Russia, which ensures its work on Russian territory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2997-475: The Russian and separatist forces, with many brief ceasefires but no lasting peace and few changes in territorial control. Beginning in 2021, there was a massive Russian military buildup near Ukraine's borders, including within neighbouring Belarus . Russian officials repeatedly denied plans to attack Ukraine. Russia's president Vladimir Putin expressed irredentist views and denied Ukraine's right to exist . He demanded that Ukraine be barred from ever joining

3078-428: The Russian military leadership paid soldiers to resign their commissions and fight in Ukraine in the early summer of 2014, and then began ordering soldiers into Ukraine. Russian opposition MP Lev Shlosberg made similar statements, although he said combatants from his country are "regular Russian troops", disguised as units of the DPR and LPR. In early September 2014, Russian state-owned television channels reported on

3159-723: The Russian parliament approved the use of armed forces in Crimea. While Russian special forces occupied Crimea's parliament, it dismissed the Crimean government , installed the pro-Russian Aksyonov government, and announced a referendum on Crimea's status . The referendum was held under Russian occupation and, according to the Russian-installed authorities, the result was in favor of joining Russia. It annexed Crimea on 18 March 2014. Following this, Russian forces seized Ukrainian military bases in Crimea and captured their personnel. On 24 March, Ukraine ordered its remaining troops to withdraw; by 30 March, all Ukrainian forces had left

3240-666: The Russian separatists were voiced by the Conflict Studies Research Centre. At the United Nations Security Council meeting on 12 November, the United Kingdom's representative accused Russia of intentionally constraining OSCE observation missions' capabilities, stating that the observers were allowed to monitor only two kilometers of border, and drones deployed to extend their capabilities were jammed or shot down. In January 2015, Donetsk , Luhansk , and Mariupol represented

3321-425: The Ukrainian army since the large inflow of advanced military systems in mid-2014: effective anti-aircraft weapons (" Buk ", MANPADS) suppressed Ukrainian air strikes, Russian drones provided intelligence, and Russian secure communications system disrupted Ukrainian communications intelligence. The Russian side employed electronic warfare systems that Ukraine lacked. Similar conclusions about the technical advantage of

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3402-501: The Ukrainian government as a declaration of war and reported as such by many international news sources. While the Ukrainian parliament refers to Russia as a "terrorist state" in regard to its military actions in Ukraine, it has not issued a formal declaration of war on its behalf. The Russian invasion of Ukraine violated international law (including the Charter of the United Nations ). The invasion has also been called

3483-542: The Ukrainian military in the Donbas War . These first eight years of conflict also included naval incidents and cyberwarfare . In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and began occupying more of the country, starting the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II . The war has resulted in a refugee crisis and tens of thousands of deaths. In early 2014, the Euromaidan protests led to

3564-475: The Ukrainian troops on the Crimean peninsula. If he did not receive the orders, he said that the 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade was going to fight, even if facing likely defeat. The 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade had been deployed in Belbek since December 2007 in the military area number A4515 (воинская часть A-4515). Following the 2014 annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation , a 38th fighter regiment of

3645-614: The active presence of Russian military in eastern Ukraine, including in the Debaltseve area. In 2015, Russian separatist forces were estimated to number around 36,000 troops (compared to 34,000 Ukrainian), of whom 8,500–10,000 were Russian soldiers. Additionally, around 1,000 GRU troops were operating in the area. Another 2015 estimate held that Ukrainian forces outnumbered Russian forces 40,000 to 20,000. In 2017, on average one Ukrainian soldier died in combat every three days, with an estimated 6,000 Russian and 40,000 separatist troops in

3726-425: The airfield. According to the website, there had been a fire at the airfield in military area (воинская часть, Military Unit Number , А-4515) where electrical equipment was stored, with some unknown soldiers guarding it. The site was updated several times, and discontinued in 2016. 14 March 2014, Ukrainian Colonel Yuliy Mamchur made an appeal on YouTube to the Ukrainian government, requesting written orders to all

3807-530: The airport had been blocked by Russian Military personnel, and unidentified armed men were patrolling the area. He said through his Twitter account that, "I can only describe this as a military invasion and occupation". Neither the Russian Foreign Ministry nor the Russian defense ministry responded to requests for comment. 11 March 2014, a website was established by the military personnel to report directly on current and former events in

3888-435: The annexation of Crimea, some NATO members began providing training for the Ukrainian army. From late February 2014, demonstrations by pro-Russian and anti-government groups took place in major cities across the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine . The first protests across southern and eastern Ukraine were largely native expressions of discontent with the new Ukrainian government. Russian involvement at this stage

3969-406: The army, began to arrive in Donbas. By August 2014, the Ukrainian "Anti-Terrorist Operation" shrank the territory under pro-Russian control, and approached the border. Igor Girkin urged Russian military intervention, and said that the combat inexperience of his irregular forces, along with recruitment difficulties amongst the local population, had caused the setbacks. He stated, "Losing this war on

4050-407: The border, everything would have fizzled out". In response, on 15 April the interim Ukrainian government launched an " Anti-Terrorist Operation " (ATO); however, Ukrainian forces were poorly prepared and ill-positioned and the operation quickly stalled. By the end of April, Ukraine announced it had lost control of the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. It claimed to be on "full combat alert" against

4131-519: The city center, close to the adjacent neighborhood Lyubimovka. The Belbek airfield was built as an operational airfield in 1938 - in the summer of that year, the 3rd and 4th aviation squadrons of the 32nd Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Black Sea Fleet Air Force landed on it for the first time on I-15bis aircraft. In the summer of 1939, one squadron of fighters was on duty at the airfield. In 1940, experiments were carried out on

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4212-480: The conflict". Poroshenko then recanted. On 5 September Russia's Permanent OSCE Representative Andrey Kelin , said that it was natural that pro-Russian separatists "are going to liberate" Mariupol . Ukrainian forces stated that Russian intelligence groups had been spotted in the area. Kelin said 'there might be volunteers over there.' On 4 September 2014, a NATO officer said that several thousand regular Russian forces were operating in Ukraine. On 5 September 2014,

4293-503: The departmental structure, there are Ambassadors for special assignments, each responsible for a particular issue of international relations (for example, the Georgian-Abkhaz settlement). The ambassadors for special assignments report directly to the deputy ministers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a federal executive authority responsible for the development and implementation of state policy and normative-legal regulation in

4374-474: The end of July, Ukrainian forces were pushing into cities, to cut off supply routes between the two, isolating Donetsk and attempting to restore control of the Russo-Ukrainian border . By 28 July, the strategic heights of Savur-Mohyla were under Ukrainian control, along with the town of Debaltseve , an important railroad hub. These operational successes of Ukrainian forces threatened the existence of

4455-528: The face of fierce resistance, Russia abandoned an attempt to take Kyiv in early April. From August, Ukrainian forces began recapturing territories in the north-east and south . In late September, Russia declared the annexation of four partially-occupied provinces, which was internationally condemned . From then through 2023, Russian offensives and Ukrainian counteroffensives gained only small amounts of territory. The invasion has also led to attacks in Russia by Ukrainian and Ukrainian-backed forces, among them

4536-583: The field of international relations of the Russian Federation The President of the Russian Federation is the head of the Foreign Ministry. The main function of the ministry is to develop an overall foreign policy strategy, submit relevant proposals to the President and implement the foreign policy course. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs operates directly and through diplomatic representations and consular offices of

4617-457: The funerals of Russian soldiers who had died in Ukraine, but described them as "volunteers" fighting for the " Russian world ". Valentina Matviyenko , a top United Russia politician, also praised "volunteers" fighting in "our fraternal nation". On 3 September, Poroshenko said he and Putin had reached a "permanent ceasefire" agreement. Russia denied this, denying that it was a party to the conflict, adding that "they only discussed how to settle

4698-667: The ground, wounding 11 soldiers and igniting a fire at a fuel and lubricant depot serving the airbase. As of 2015, there were no scheduled flights to or from the airport. Russo-Ukrainian War [REDACTED]   Russia [REDACTED]   Ukraine [REDACTED]   Russia [REDACTED]   Ukraine Post-Minsk II conflict Attacks on civilians Related The Russo-Ukrainian War began in February 2014. Following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity , Russia occupied and annexed Crimea from Ukraine and supported pro-Russian separatists fighting

4779-426: The height of the conflict in the summer of 2014, Russian paramilitaries made up between 15% and 80% of the combatants. From June Russia trickled in arms, armor, and munitions. On 17 July 2014, Russian-controlled forces shot down a passenger aircraft, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 , as it was flying over eastern Ukraine. Investigations and the recovery of bodies began in the conflict zone as fighting continued. By

4860-468: The implementation of state policy in the relevant area of work. The Minister has deputies, also appointed by the President. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is the head of the Foreign Ministry. The Minister represents Russia in bilateral and multilateral negotiations and signs international treaties; divides responsibilities between his deputies and the Director-General; approves regulations for

4941-594: The last high-intensity battle of the Donbas war until 2022. In September 2015 the United Nations Human Rights Office estimated that 8,000 casualties had resulted from the conflict in eastern Ukraine. After the Minsk agreements, there were few changes in territorial control, while the war settled into static trench warfare around the agreed line of contact, marked by artillery duels and special forces operations. Hostilities never ceased for

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5022-421: The occupation of administration buildings and other actions that triggered the conflict. As early as February 2014, Glazyev gave direct instructions to various pro-Russian parties on how to take over local administration offices, what to do afterwards, how to formulate demands, and promised support from Russia, including "sending our guys". Russian Foreign Ministry The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of

5103-674: The operation in Crimea, under the pretext of addressing security concerns. According to the original treaty on the division of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet signed in 1997, Russia was allowed to have its military bases in Crimea until 2017, after which it would evacuate all military units including its portion of the Black Sea Fleet from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. On 21 April 2010, former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych signed

5184-429: The ousting of Yanukovych, Russian troops and special forces were moved close to the border with Crimea. On 27 February, Russian forces without insignia began to occupy Crimea. Russia consistently denied that the soldiers were theirs, instead claiming they were local "self-defense" units. They seized the Crimean parliament and government buildings , as well as setting up checkpoints to restrict movement and cut off

5265-400: The peninsula. On 15 April, the Ukrainian parliament declared Crimea a territory temporarily occupied by Russia . After the annexation, the Russian government militarized the peninsula and made nuclear threats. Putin said that a Russian military task force would be established in Crimea. In November, NATO stated that it believed Russia was deploying nuclear-capable weapons to Crimea. After

5346-439: The region. Cases of killed and wounded Russian soldiers were discussed in local Russian media. Recruiting for Donbas was performed openly via veteran and paramilitary organisations. Vladimir Yefimov, leader of one such organisation, explained how the process worked in the Ural area. The organisation recruited mostly army veterans, but also policemen, firefighters etc. with military experience. The cost of equipping one volunteer

5427-427: The runway while landing, without damaging the airfield. In January 2017, the company managing the airport presented public plans to open a new temporary terminal with a capacity of 300,000–400,000 passengers by 2018, with a full-size terminal to follow by 2019 or 2020. The plans were not carried out. On 15 May 2024, Ukraine launched a missile strike against the airbase reportedly destroying two MiG-31 fighter jets on

5508-408: The second half of the 1980s, after Mikhail Gorbachev came to power, the airfield was significantly increased and improved, as the airfield was to be used by him when travelling to the presidential dacha on the southern coast of the Crimea , near the cape of Foros . The name of the airport comes from the Belbek river, in the south-west of Crimea. After Ukrainian independence in 1991 the airfield

5589-545: The separatist movement, supported by volunteers and materiel from Russia, including Chechen and Cossack fighters. According to Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) commander Igor Girkin , without this support in April, the movement would have dissipated, as it had in Kharkiv and Odesa . The separatist groups held disputed referendums in May, which were not recognised by Ukraine or any other UN member state. In April 2014, armed conflict began in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and Ukraine. On 12 April,

5670-455: The structural subdivisions of the central apparatus; and appoints senior officials from the central apparatus, foreign agencies and territorial bodies. The Permanent Mission of Russia to the United Nations is one of the most important foreign offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Permanent Mission conducts negotiations on behalf of the Russian Federation on the most important problems of international relations. The Representative Office

5751-420: The suspension of I-16 fighters on the TB-3 aircraft, the so-called Zveno project . The TB-3 carrier bomber, in theory, delivered to the target thr attached I-16 fighters, on which bombs were suspended. I-16s acted in this case as dive bombers. Work continued until January 1941. The base airfield of the “SPB link” was the Evpatoria airfield, and the 2nd Squadron of the 32nd IAP, which took part in these experiments,

5832-606: The territory that President Vladimir Putin personally named New Russia would threaten the Kremlin's power and, personally, the power of the president". In response to the deteriorating situation, Russia abandoned its hybrid approach, and began a conventional invasion on 25 August 2014. On the following day, the Russian Defence Ministry said these soldiers had crossed the border "by accident". According to Nikolai Mitrokhin's estimates, by mid-August 2014 during

5913-521: The three battle fronts. Poroshenko described a dangerous escalation on 21 January amid reports of more than 2,000 additional Russian troops, 200 tanks and armed personnel carriers crossing the border. He abbreviated his visit to the World Economic Forum because of his concerns. A new package of measures to end the conflict, known as Minsk II , was agreed on 15 February 2015. On 18 February, Ukrainian forces withdrew from Debatlseve , in

5994-813: The town. Pro-Ukrainian anti-war protests took place in Mariupol . The UN Security Council called an emergency meeting. The Pskov -based 76th Guards Air Assault Division allegedly entered Ukrainian territory in August and engaged in a skirmish near Luhansk , suffering 70 - 80 dead . The Ukrainian Defence Ministry said that they had seized two of the unit's armoured vehicles near Luhansk, and reported destroying another three tanks and two armoured vehicles in other regions. The speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament and Russian state television channels acknowledged that Russian soldiers entered Ukraine, but referred to them as "volunteers". A reporter for Novaya Gazeta , an opposition newspaper in Russia, stated that

6075-611: Was announced that resumption of air links was to commence in the near future, but this did not happen. Ukrainian military use of the airfield as a fighter airbase continued alongside its civilian use. In 1996 the Su-15TM aircraft based there were replaced by the Su-27 , and until 2014 the 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade flying the MiG-29 was based there. On 28 February 2014, Ukraine's acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said that that

6156-557: Was at that time stationed at Belbek airfield. Also located here was the 3rd Squadron on I-153 and the regiment's command and control unit. Constructed without a hardened runway, a concrete runway was constructed after the war. In 1947 the Black Sea Fleet 's 62nd Fighter Aviation Regiment arrived at the base. In 1960 the regiment was transferred from the Soviet Navy to the Soviet Air Defence Forces . During

6237-560: Was declared the winner, despite allegations of vote-rigging by election observers. During a two-month period which became known as the Orange Revolution, large peaceful protests successfully challenged the outcome. After the Supreme Court of Ukraine annulled the initial result due to widespread electoral fraud , a second round re-run was held, bringing to power Yushchenko as president and Yulia Tymoshenko as prime minister, and leaving Yanukovych in opposition. The Orange Revolution

6318-605: Was estimated at 350,000 rubles (around $ 6500) plus salary of 60,000 to 240,000 rubles per month. The recruits received weapons only after arriving in the conflict zone. Often, Russian troops traveled disguised as Red Cross personnel. Igor Trunov, head of the Russian Red Cross in Moscow, condemned these convoys, saying they complicated humanitarian aid delivery. Russia refused to allow OSCE to expand its mission beyond two border crossings. The volunteers were issued

6399-493: Was limited to voicing support for the demonstrations. Russia exploited this, however, launching a coordinated political and military campaign against Ukraine. Putin gave legitimacy to the separatists when he described the Donbas as part of " New Russia " ( Novorossiya ), and expressed bewilderment as to how the region had ever become part of Ukraine. Russia continued to marshal forces near Ukraine's eastern border in late March, reaching 30–40,000 troops by April. The deployment

6480-645: Was under Ukrainian military control, with concomitant use as a civilian airport for a few years. After Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, the Sevastopol transportation authorities said that Belbek airport was used for civilian charter flights from Ukraine and Russia. From July 2002, the airfield began to be used for civil aviation. In December 2002, the airport received a license for international flights. Between 2002 and 2007 over 2,500 flights were carried out, which transported about 25,000 passengers. During 2007, civil flights were suspended again. In spring 2009 it

6561-445: Was used to threaten escalation and disrupt Ukraine's response. This threat forced Ukraine to divert forces to its borders instead of the conflict zone. Ukrainian authorities cracked down on the pro-Russian protests and arrested local separatist leaders in early March. Those leaders were replaced by people with ties to the Russian security services and interests in Russian businesses. By April 2014, Russian citizens had taken control of

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