Chapter 25: Current Uprising

2014 Ukrainian Revolution (18–23 February 2014)

The Revolution began with a series of violent episodes of civil unrest in Kiev, Ukraine, as part of Ukraine's ongoing Euromaidan protest movement against the government. The conflict escalated rapidly, leading to the downfall of the government of President Viktor Yanukovych and the setting up of a new government to replace it within a few days. Yanukovych fled to Russia, and is wanted in Ukraine for the killing of protesters.The conflict continued with the 2014 Crimean crisis when Pro-Russian forces seized control of the Crimea region. Most of the world treated the events as a revolution, but Russia and Yanukovych denounced it as a coup d’état. A compromise deal was agreed to and signed by both opposition leaders and the president after overnight negotiations. The deal agreed to: a restoration of the Constitution as it was between 2004 and 2010; constitutional reform to be completed by September; early presidential elections no later than December 2014. Aftermaths of this issue include the Russian Invasion that has recently taken place, as the old President Yanukovych is trying to reinstate himself with the help of the Russians.