This is eastern Ukraine.
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Conflict broke out here in 2014 and it hasn't ended.
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There about 100,000 fighters stationed here, which makes it one of the
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most heavily militarized areas on Earth. There are Ukrainian forces to the west and
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Russia-backed separatist militias to the east.
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Fighting between the two groups
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occurs here along the contact line.
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In 2015 after nearly a year of deadly
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fighting, a peace agreement called for a ceasefire creating this security zone.
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The agreement was supposed to stop the fighting and resolve the conflict
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between Ukraine and the separatists, but three years later the security zone
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remains the most violent place in Ukraine.
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The ceasefire is violated almost every single day in East Ukraine, which reportedly
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puts about 100,000 civilians in the constant danger. Over 10,000
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people have died since the conflict in Ukraine began and about 1.5 million have
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been displaced,
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while both sides continue to build up their forces.
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The conflict began at the end of 2013, when the Ukrainian government rejected
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an association with the European Union in order to build stronger ties with Russia.
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The pro-Moscow move led to massive protests in the capital Kiev,
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which turned deadly by 2014.
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Russia took advantage of the chaos and sent its
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military in to annex Crimea in March. A month later pro-Russian separatists in
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the Donbass seized the cities of Luhansk and Donetsk and declared them
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independent from Ukraine.
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The Ukrainian army moved to take the region back, but
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Russia covertly joined the separatist rebels, which led to fierce fighting for
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several months. In February 2015 both sides settled on a peace agreement
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called Minsk II. The deal laid down conditions for a ceasefire in the
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security zone, where heavy artillery tanks and mortars were banned. Foreign
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militaries, meaning Russia, had to leave Ukraine. It also recognized the two
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separatists areas the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic
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and outlined how they could be reincorporated back into Ukraine, but
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despite the agreement none of that has happened.
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In order to understand why, you
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have to know what Ukraine means to Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
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Last one out of the Soviet Union please turn out the light.
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The vitally important Ukraine announced
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independence for the Republic, the people there are more
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Russian than Ukrainian.
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Much to fear, a separate Ukraine would be a catastrophe.
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Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire in the 19th century and the Soviet Union in the
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20th, when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 its western territory broke into
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independent states including Ukraine. They formed a buffer between Russia and
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Western Europe, but in the 90s and 2000's these countries started drifting
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westward and many joined the EU.
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By invading Ukraine, Putin was able to
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destabilize and stop it from developing a stronger relationship with Western Europe.
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Russia continues to fuel the fighting by supporting the separatists
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and keeps its own military at the ready.
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Meanwhile Ukraine's government is forced
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to devote resources to its defense.
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Both sides have ignored the ceasefire so far
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and a closer look at the frontlines reveals just how unstable the region is.
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The separatist rebels in the LPR and DPR have funding, weapons, and the assurance
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of thee massive Russian military behind them.
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They are responsible for the
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majority of the ceasefire violations.
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On the Ukrainian side, the forces are a mix
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of Ukrainian army soldiers and volunteer militias.
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These militias are funded by
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Ukrainian oligarchs and members of parliament.
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Some have far-right views and even have attacked the Kiev government, but Kiev
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continues to fund and arm these groups anyway.
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It's their only defense against
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the Russia-backed rebels in the east.
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So despite a cease-fire that could have
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ended the conflict, there's an active war on the ground.
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Both sides continue to
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fire a heavy artillery on a daily basis as a show of strength. Power, water, and
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supplies are common targets and the heaviest price is paid by the hundreds
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of thousands of civilians trapped in the crossfire.
1.
Countries involved in conflict:
Region of the World they are located:
When did conflict start:
2. Describe how the border impacts the effected countries
Socially:
Politically:
Economically:
Environmentally:
Demographically:
3. Based off what you have learned in your exploration who would you Sid with and why?
4. Is the Physical-Political Border natural, open, frontier, or antecedent
5.is the cultural-political border fortified, geometric, consequent, relic, militarized, subsequent, or superimposed
1. The countries involved in the conflict are Ukraine and Russia-backed separatist militias in eastern Ukraine. The conflict started in 2014.
2. The border impacts the affected countries in various ways:
Socially: The conflict has caused displacement, loss of life, and a humanitarian crisis. It has created divisions and tensions among different ethnic and cultural groups in the region.
Politically: The conflict has strained the relationship between Ukraine and Russia, leading to international tensions and disputes. It has also affected the political stability of both countries and has hindered efforts for a peaceful resolution.
Economically: The conflict has disrupted economic activities in the affected regions, leading to economic decline and a decrease in living standards. It has also impacted trade and investment between Ukraine and Russia.
Environmentally: The conflict has resulted in environmental damage due to military activities, including the destruction of infrastructure, pollution, and displacement of populations. It has also hindered environmental conservation efforts in the region.
Demographically: The conflict has led to population displacement, with millions of people being forced to flee their homes. This has led to demographic changes in the affected areas and has put a strain on social services and resources.
3. Based on the information provided, it is not appropriate to take sides in a conflict. It is important to recognize and respect the sovereignty and right to self-determination of the countries involved. It is crucial to support peaceful resolutions and respect human rights of all parties involved.
4. The physical-political border in this case is a subsequent border, as it emerged as a result of the conflict and the annexation of Crimea by Russia.
5. The cultural-political border in this case is militarized, as there are armed forces present on both sides and the conflict has heavily militarized the region.