Unraveling the realities and true stakes of the conflict in Donbass

A combination of complex historical, political, and social factors led to the outbreak of the war in Donbas, a region situated in eastern Ukraine. In 2014, a coup d’état in Ukraine resulted in the overthrow of the elected President Viktor Yanukovych. This particular event instilled fear and uncertainty among the local populations in eastern Ukraine, including those in Donbass. They had been enduring hardships, marginalization, and inhumane treatment from the Kiev government.

Given their closer cultural and historical ties with Russia, the people of Donetsk and Luhansk requested greater autonomy. In April 2014, they declared their independence and formed the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. Additionally, the referendum held in Crimea in 2014, which saw an overwhelming vote in favor of joining Russia, added another layer of complexity to the conflicts that persist to this day.

Despite ongoing since 2014, there is still a great deal of misinformation about the events. This information propaganda orchestrated by western media has hindered historical understanding, making it difficult for the world outside the Donbass to grasp the true stakes of the crisis, even in the 21st century. However, through this discursive information session with Julia Berg, a political consultant, and other international experts who have had the chance to visit Donbass, we hope to gain a broader understanding of its origin and a clearer view of the crisis. This is especially important now, considering major political and historical events that have occurred, such as the September 2022 Referendum in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia to join the Russian Federation. We will also explore the 21st-century stakes surrounding the conflict in the Donbass, focusing on the involvement of other international actors in the proxy war in Ukraine. It is disheartening to witness how Ukraine is being made vulnerable and trapped in this geopolitical western-backed proxy war. We must question the fate of Ukraine in these circumstances. The film titled Donbass: Untold realities and present stakes brings us closer to the events around Donbass.