2010s

Viktor Yanukovych presidency

Viktor Yanukovych and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on 17 May 2010 near the Memorial to
Holodomor Victims in Kyiv.

Vladimir Putin arrived at the 14th International Biker Rally in Sevastopol, Crimea, July 24, 2010

According to Taras Kuzio, Viktor Yanukovych was the most pro-Russian and neo-Soviet[clarification

needed]
 president to have been elected in Ukraine. [97] Since his election he fulfilled all of the demands
laid out by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev in his letter written to former President Viktor
Yushchenko in August 2009.[97]
On 22 April 2010 Presidents Viktor Yanukovych and Dmitry Medvedev signed an
agreement concerning renting of the Russian Naval Forces base in Sevastopol in the next 25
years for the natural gas discounts in deliveries which accounted for $100 per each 1,000 cubic
meters.[98][99][100] The lease extension agreement was highly controversial in and outside of Ukraine.
[97]

On 17 May 2010, the President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Kyiv on a two-day visit.[101] During the
visit Medvedev hoped to sign cooperation agreements in "inter-regional and international
problems", according to RIA Novosti. That also was mentioned on the official inquiry at
the Verkhovna Rada by the First Vice Prime Minister Andriy Klyuyev. According to some news
agencies the main purpose of the visit was to solve the disagreements in the Russian–Ukrainian
energy relations after Viktor Yanukovych agreed on the partial merger of Gazprom and Naftogaz.
[102]
 Apart from the merger of the state gas companies there are also talks of the merger of the
nuclear energy sector as well.[103]
Both Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (April 2010[104]) and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin (June 2010[105]) have stated they noticed a big improvement in relations since Viktor
Yanukovych presidency.
On 14 May 2013 an unknown veteran of unknown intelligence service Sergei Razumovsky,
leader of the All-Ukrainian Association of Homeless Officers, who resides in Ukraine under
the Ukrainian flag calls on creation of Ukrainian–Russian international volunteer brigades in
support of the Bashar al-Assad government in Syria to fight rebels.[106][107][108] One of the reasons
why Rozumovsky wants to create such brigades is the fact that government of Ukraine does not
support its officer corps.[109] Because of that, Rozumovsky has intentions to apply for citizenship of
Syria.[110] Some sources claim that he is a Kremlin's provocateur. [111]
On 17 July 2013 near the Russian coast of the Sea of Azov which is considered as internal
waters of both Russia and Ukraine (no boundary delimitation), the Russian coast guard patrol
boat collided with a Ukrainian fishing vessel.[112] Four fishermen died[113] while one was detained by
Russian authorities on the charges of poaching.[114] According to the surviving fisherman, their
boat was rammed by Russians[115] and the fishermen were fired at as well, while the Russian law
enforcement agency claimed that it was the poachers who tried to ram into the patrol vessel.
[116]
 The Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olena Lukash acknowledged that Russia has no jurisdiction
to prosecute the detained citizen of Ukraine.[117] According to the wife of the surviving fisherman,
the Ukrainian Consul in Russia was very passive in providing any support on the matter. [118] The
surviving fisherman was expected to be released to Ukraine before 12 August 2013, however,
the Prosecutor Office of Russia chose to keep the Ukrainian detained in Russia. [119] Another
incident took place on the border between Belgorod and Luhansk oblasts when an apparently
inebriated Russian tractor driver decided to cross the border to Ukraine along with his two friends
on 28 August 2013.[120][121] Unlike the Azov incident that took place a month earlier on 17 July
2013, the State Border Service of Ukraine handed over the citizens of Russia right back to the
Russian authorities. Tractor Belarus was taken away and handed over to the Ministry of
Revenues and Duties.
Economic integration and Euromaidan
Main articles: Euromaidan and 2014 Ukrainian revolution
In 2013, Ukraine both pursued an observer status in the Russian-led Customs Union of Belarus,
Kazakhstan and Russia,[122] as well as, persisted with moving along with association
agreement with the EU, scheduled to sign in November. [123]
On 14 August 2013 the Russian Custom Service stopped all goods coming from Ukraine.
[124]
 Some politicians saw that as start of a trade war against Ukraine to prevent Ukraine from
signing a trade agreement with the European Union.[125] According to Pavlo Klimkin, one of the
Ukrainian negotiators of the Association Agreement, initially "the Russians simply did not believe
(the association agreement with the EU) could come true. They didn't believe in our ability to
negotiate a good agreement and didn't believe in our commitment to implement a good
agreement."[126]
In September 2013, Russia warned Ukraine that if it went ahead with a planned agreement on
free trade with the EU, it would face financial catastrophe and possibly the collapse of the state.
[127]
 Sergey Glazyev, adviser to President Vladimir Putin, said that, "Ukrainian authorities make a
huge mistake if they think that the Russian reaction will become neutral in a few years from now.
This will not happen." Russia had already imposed import restrictions on certain Ukrainian
products and Glazyev did not rule out further sanctions if the agreement was signed. Glazyev
allowed for the possibility of separatist movements springing up in the Russian-speaking east
and south of Ukraine.[127]

March 15 protests, named the March of Peace, took place in Moscow a day before the Crimean
referendum
Pro-Russian protesters in Odessa, March 30, 2014

On 21 November 2013, Yanukovych suspended preparations for signing EU Association

Agreement, to seek closer economic relations with Russia. [128] On 17 December 2013 Russian
President Vladimir Putin agreed to lend Ukraine 15 billion dollars in financial aid and a 33%
discount on natural gas prices.[129][130] The treaty was signed amid massive, ongoing protests in
Ukraine for closer ties between Ukraine and the European Union.[131] Critics pointed out that in the
months before the 17 December 2013 deal a change in Russian customs regulations on imports
from Ukraine was a Russian attempt to prevent Ukraine to sign an Association Agreement with
the European Union.[132][133][129]
Annexation of Crimea and war in eastern Ukraine
Main articles: Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, Russo-Ukrainian War, 2014
pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine, War in Donbass, and Greater Russia
The 2014 Crimean crisis was unfolding in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, in the aftermath
of the February 2014 Ukrainian revolution, in which the government of Ukrainian President Viktor
Yanukovych was ousted. Protests were staged by groups of mainly ethnic Russians who
opposed the events in Kyiv and wanted close ties or integration with Russia, in addition to
expanded autonomy or possible independence for Crimea. Other groups, including Crimean
Tatars, protested in support of the revolution. On 27 February, unmarked military men wearing
masks seized a number of important buildings in Crimea, including the parliament building and
two airports.[134] Under siege, the Supreme Council of Crimea dismissed the autonomous
republic's government and replaced chairman of the Council of Ministers of Crimea, Anatolii
Mohyliov with Sergey Aksyonov.[134]
Ukraine accused Russia of intervening in Ukraine's internal affairs, while the Russian side
officially denied such claims. In response to the crisis, the Ukrainian parliament requested that
the Budapest Memorandum's signatories reaffirm their commitment to the principles enshrined in
the political agreement, and further asked that they hold consultations with Ukraine to ease
tensions.[135] On 1 March without declaration of war, the Russian parliament granted President
Vladimir Putin the authority to use military force in Ukraine. [136] On the same day, the acting
president of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov decreed the appointment of the Prime Minister of
Crimea as unconstitutional. He said, "We consider the behavior of the Russian Federation to be
direct aggression against the sovereignty of Ukraine!"
In mid March, after a disputed local referendum, Russia recognized Crimea as a sovereign
state[137][138] and proceeded to formally annex the peninsula. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs summoned the Provisional Principal of Russia in Ukraine to present note verbale of
protest against Russia's recognition of the Republic of Crimea and its subsequent annexation.
[139]
 Two days later, the Verkhovna Rada condemned the treaty[140] and called Russia's actions "a
gross violation of international law". Additionally Ukraine responded with sanctions against
Russia as well as blacklisting and freezing assets of numerous individuals and entities involved
with the annexation. Ukraine started a campaign not to buy Russian products and other countries
supporting Ukraine's position (e.g. the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland,
Liechtenstein, Albania, Montenegro, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, Japan, etc.) followed similar measures.[141] Russia responded with similar
measures against Ukraine and its supporters but did not publicly reveal the list of people or
entities sanctioned.[142][143][144]
On 19 March 2014 all Ukrainian Armed Forces (at the time besieged in their bases by unmarked
soldiers) were withdrawn from Crimea.[145] On 8 April 2014 an agreement was reached between
Russia and Ukraine to return interned vessels to Ukraine and "for the withdrawal of an
undisclosed number of Ukrainian aircraft seized in Crimea". [146] Russia returned 35 ships that had
been impounded during its annexation of Crimea but unilaterally suspended the return
of Ukrainian Navy materials from Crimea to Ukraine proper because/after Ukraine did not renew
its unilaterally declared ceasefire on 1 July 2014 in the War in Donbass.[147][148] 16 minor ships are
hence yet to return to Ukraine proper. [148]
On March 27, 2016, Dmitry Kozak was appointed to greatly strengthen Crimea's social, political,
and economic ties to Russia.[149][150]
On 14 April, Russian President Putin announced that he would open a ruble-only account
with Bank Rossiya and would make it the primary bank in the newly annexed Crimea as well as
giving the right to service payments on Russia's $36 billion wholesale electricity market—which
gave the bank $112 million annually from commission charges alone. [151]
On 15 April, the Verkhovna Rada declared the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol
to be under "provisional occupation" by the Russian military[152][153] The territories were also
deemed "inalienable parts of Ukraine" subject to Ukrainian law. [154] On 19 March 2014
all Ukrainian Armed Forces (at the time besieged in their bases by unmarked soldiers) were
withdrawn from Crimea.[145] On 17 April 2014, President Putin stated that the Russian military had
backed Crimean separatist militias, stating that Russia's intervention was necessary "to ensure
proper conditions for the people of Crimea to be able to freely express their will". [155]
Throughout March and April 2014, pro-Russian unrest spread in Ukraine, with pro-Russian
groups proclaiming "People's Republics" in the oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk, as of 2017 both
partially outside the control of the Ukrainian government. [156]
On 17 July 2014 Malaysia Airlines flight 17 was shot down by a Buk surface-to-air missile
launched from pro-Russian separatist-controlled territory in Ukraine. All 283 passengers and 15
crew were killed.
Military clashes between pro-Russian rebels (backed by Russian military) and the Armed Forces
of Ukraine began in the Donbass region in April 2014. On 5 September 2014 the Ukrainian
government and representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and
the Luhansk People's Republic signed a tentative truce (ceasefire – the agreement).[157] The
ceasefire imploded amidst intense new fighting in January 2015. A new ceasefire agreement has
operated since mid-February 2015, but this agreement also failed to stop the fighting. [158][159][160][161][162]
[163][164]
 Russia has been accused by NATO and Ukraine of engaging in direct military operations to
support the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic. [165] Russia denies
this,[165] but in December 2015, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin admitted that
Russian military intelligence officers were operating in Ukraine, insisting though that they were
not the same as regular troops.[166] Russia has admitted that Russian "volunteers" are helping the
separatists People's Republics.[167]
At the 26 June 2014 session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Ukrainian
President Petro Poroshenko stated that bilateral relations with Russia cannot be normalized
unless Russia undoes its unilateral annexation of Crimea and returns its control of Crimea to
Ukraine.[168] In February 2015, Ukraine ended a 1997 agreement that Russians can enter Ukraine
with internal ID instead of a travel passport.[169]
December 2014 performance in Kyiv in support of the Boycott Russian Films civic campaign

In February 2015 the law "On protection information television and radio space of Ukraine,"
banned the showing (on Ukrainian television) of "audiovisual works" that contain "the
popularization, agitation for, propaganda of any action of law enforcement agencies, the armed
forces, other armed, military or security forces of the occupier state" was enacted. [170] One year
later Russian productions (on Ukrainian television) had decreased by 3 to 4 (times). [170] Early in
March 2014, and prior to its independence referendum, all broadcast of Ukraine-based TV
channels was suspended in Crimea.[171] Later that month, the Ukrainian National Council for TV
and Radio Broadcasting ordered measures against some Russian TV channels which were
accused of broadcasting misleading information about Ukraine. [172][173] 15 more Russian TV
channels were banned in March 2016.[174]
Continued deterioration of relations
Main article: Kerch Strait incident
In May 2015, Ukraine suspended military cooperation agreement with Russia, [175][176] that was in
place since 1993.[177] Following a breakdown in mutual business ties, Ukraine also ceased supply
of components that were used in production of military equipment by Russia. [178] In August,
Russia announced that it will ban import of Ukrainian agricultural goods from January 2016. [179] In
October 2015, Ukraine banned all direct flights between Ukraine and Russia. [180] In November
2015, Ukraine closed its air space to all Russian military and civil airplanes. [181] In December
2015, Ukrainian lawmakers voted to place a trade embargo on Russia in retaliation of the latter's
cancellation of the two countries free-trade zone and ban on food imports as the free-trade
agreement between the European Union and Ukraine is to come into force in January 2016.
[182]
 Russia imposes tariffs on Ukrainian goods from January 2016, as Ukraine joins the Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU.[183]
Since 2015 Ukraine is banning Russian artists from entering Ukraine and also banning other
Russian works of culture from Russia when they were considered "a threat to national security".
[184]
 Russia did not reciprocate, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded by saying that
"Moscow should not be like Kyiv" and should not impose "black lists" and restrictions on the
cultural figures of Ukraine.[185] Lavrov did add that Russian producers and the film industry should
take into account "unfriendly attacks of foreign performers in Russia" when implementing cultural
projects with them.[185]

Russian-annexed Crimea in 2016

According to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine the amount of Russian citizens who

crossed the Russia–Ukraine border (more than 2.5 million Russians in 2014) dropped by almost
50% in 2015.[186]
On 5 October 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine officially recommended that its
citizens should avoid travel to Russia claiming Russian law enforcers growing number of
groundless arrests of Ukrainian citizens and that they often "rudely treat Ukrainians, use illegal
methods of physical and psychological pressure, torture and other acts that violate human
dignity".[187] In a 14 June 2018 resolution on Russia the European Parliament claimed there were
71 "illegally detained Ukrainian citizens in Russia and on the Crimean peninsula." [188]
In February 2017, the Ukrainian government banned the commercial importation of books from
Russia, which had accounted for up to 60% of all titles sold in Ukraine, [189] following the August
2015 ban on particular titles.[190]
Ukraine's 2017 education law makes Ukrainian the only language of primary education in state
schools.[191] The law faced criticism from officials in Russia and Hungary. [192][193] Russia's Foreign
Ministry stated that the law is designed to "forcefully establish a mono-ethnic language regime in
a multinational state."[192]

Victory Day celebrations in Donetsk, the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, 9 May 2016

On 18 January 2018 the Ukrainian parliament passed a law defining areas seized by the Donetsk

People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic as "temporarily occupied by
Russia."[167] The law also called Russia an "aggressor" state.[167]
In March 2018, the Ukrainian border guards detained in the Sea of Azov the Russian-flagged,
Crimean-registered fishing vessel Nord, accusing the crew of entering "territory, which has been
under a temporary occupation".[194] The captain of the Nord, Vladimir Gorbenko, is facing up to
five years in prison.[195]
In November 2018 Russia fired upon and seized three Ukrainian Navy vessels (and imprisoned
its 24 sailors in Moscow[196]) off the coast of Crimea injuring crew members.[197] The event
prompted angry protests outside the Russian embassy in Ukraine and an embassy car was set
on fire.[198] Consequently, martial law was imposed for a 30-day period from 26 November in 10
Ukrainian border oblasts (regions).[199] Martial law was introduced because Ukrainian
President Petro Poroshenko claimed there was a threat of "full-scale war" with Russia. [199] During
the martial law (and starting on 30 November 2018) Ukraine banned all Russian men between 16
and 60 from entering the country for the period of the martial law with exceptions for
humanitarian purposes.[200] Ukraine claimed this was a security measure to prevent Russia from
forming units of "private" armies on Ukrainian soil.[201] On 27 December 2018 the National
Security and Defense Council of Ukraine announced that it had extended "the restrictive
measures of the State Border Guard Service regarding the entry of Russian men into
Ukraine."[202] (According to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine) between 26 November and
26 December 2018 1,650 Russian citizens were refused entry into Ukraine. [203] From 26
December 2018 until 11 January 2019 the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine denied 800
Russian citizens access to Ukraine.[204]