The collapse of the USSR, which initially took place fairly peacefully, led to the appearance of numerous "hot spots" in the territory of a vast country. Interethnic conflicts, promptly suppressed by the Soviet authorities using all the means of the state apparatus, suddenly there was no one to "extinguish", moreover, their main source - movements and parties of a nationalist nature - in many newly formed countries became an element of the political apparatus and a stronghold of sovereignty. After the tragic events in Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, Transnistria, Tajikistan, Chechnya, Dagestan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and many other post-Soviet regions, it was the turn of Ukraine. Here began the so-called "anti-terrorist operation", unprecedented in its scale, which, perhaps, will eclipse many local wars of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.
Background
Ukraine is historically divided according to political and historical sympathies that dominate in different regions. However, in addition to the "Bandera" and "Vatnik" ideologies, there are economic factors that influence the course of further development of the state. President Yanukovych, realizing this fact, hesitated for a long time, choosing the movement vector of the country entrusted to him. His task was not simple: it was necessary to determine what was more profitable in the macroeconomic sense - to go west, promising very distant prospects for joining the “European values” that were mysterious for many Ukrainian citizens, or quite real commercial and industrial cooperation with the Russian Federation. The choice was made difficult by the extremely harsh conditions set by the EU countries: “It is impossible to sit on two chairs, and whoever is not with us is against us!” Ultimately, Viktor Fedorovich fell into confusion, he did not dare to use force against a well-organized Maidan, and was overthrown.
Start
Only an extremely naive observer can claim that Donetsk and Lugansk had any gentle sympathy for their estranged and runaway president. However, the very fact that representatives of only one political force came to power and did not consider it necessary to listen to other opinions caused a certain murmur. After the secession of Crimea and its entry into the Russian Federation, a precedent arose, foreshadowing the imminent and complete collapse of the country. On April 7, an anti-terrorist operation began in eastern Ukraine. The name of this military action suggested the creation of a certain image of the enemy. And the military, and their own population, and the international community were inspired by the idea that they would fight with a few groups of mercenaries and bandits, most of which came from across the Russian border. In this case, the victory was expected guaranteed, fast and almost bloodless. Very soon, every sober person with a tendency to analyze events began to understand the fallacy (at best) or the crime (at worst) of such an approach to resolving the conflict, which the Committee of the Red Cross recognized as "non-international."
The issue of legitimacy
The anti-terrorist operation was declared acting President of Ukraine Turchinov. He and his associates came to power in about the same legal way as the Bolshevik party in 1917. A revolution took place in the country, called a revolution, but not possessing its main feature - a change in the socio-economic formation. The document, signed by the President’s acting president, in its title contained the expressions “consolidation”, “termination of the confrontation” and directly pointed to the place where the main threat to the new government arose: Donetsk and Lugansk regions. A significant part of the population expected elections in which people can elect a legitimate president who expresses at least some degree of their views.
Anti-terrorist operation after the election
The choice was not rich. Those who came to the polling stations on May 25 were guided by the appearance of the candidates and the reputation that they managed to gain in their previous career. For the most part, citizens who took part in the plebiscite considered the image of Petro Poroshenko to be the most handsome, hoping for his common sense and business-like proposed approach to resolving the armed confrontation. Rainbow expectations did not materialize, the anti-terrorist operation continued with even greater fierceness.
Doubtful successes
The deplorable state of the armed forces of Ukraine is inextricably linked with the economic condition of this country. Despite the ongoing efforts to maintain morale and the natural superiority of firepower and the quantity of equipment of the regular army over the militia, successes are sporadic, and losses exceed all conceivable standards. The number of downed aircraft has long been calculated in double digits, and the burnt armored vehicles have not been counted for a long time. The loss of personnel to the population of Ukraine has to be judged by indirect signs, they are hidden and underestimated. The civilian population is dying, about a thousand innocent victims (including children) are recognized, and how many of them actually are difficult to establish. Bombing and shelling destroyed houses and social facilities. There is a general tendency for the anti-terrorist operation in the Donetsk region to become more and more punitive. However, in Lugansk too.
