10 years since the start of the ATO/JFO: how Russia’s war against Ukraine began
12 April 2024 15:21
On this day 10 years ago, 12 April 2014, the National Security and Defence Council decided to launch the ATO. The next day, it was announced by Oleksandr Turchynov, who was then acting president. The anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine lasted from 14 April 2014 to 30 April 2018. After the ATO, the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) was launched in eastern Ukraine, Komersant ukrainskyi 
reports.
Ten years have passed since Ukraine became the target of Russian aggression, which began as an anti-terrorist operation (ATO), later turned into a joint forces operation (JFO), and has now become a full-scale Russian invasion.
Let us recall how the ATO began.
After Yanukovych fled, pro-Russian protests intensified in the southern and eastern regions of Ukraine. They called for federalisation and secession from Ukraine. The rallies were attended by Russian citizens.
on1 March 2014, the Russian Federation Council gave Vladimir Putin permission to use the army abroad. on 17 March, Oleksandr Turchynov ordered a partial mobilisation. A special period began in Ukraine. The next day, 18 March, the first wave of mobilisation began.
on6 April 2014, unknown armed men seized the Donetsk Regional State Administration. on 7 April, a group of citizens from the region announced the creation of the ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ in the meeting room of the Donetsk Regional Council. On the same day, the creation of the ‘Kharkiv People’s Republic’ was announced at a rally in Kharkiv.
on7 April 2014, in the meeting room of the Donetsk regional council, with the participation of 50 (according to other sources, 120) citizens who came from the cities of Donetsk region, a declaration on the formation of the ‘Donetsk people’s republic’, which should become part of Russia in the future, was proclaimed.
Photo: UNIAN
About 3000 militants seized the regional office of the National Bank of Ukraine in Luhansk.
A pro-Russian rally in Kharkiv announced the creation of the “Kharkiv People’s Republic”.
This day is formally designated as the day of the start of the anti-terrorist operation in Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions.
8 April – the beginning of the battle for Luhansk airport.
on9-10 April 2014, a number of regional institutions in Luhansk were seized.
12 April 2014 – armed separatists seized district police stations in Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, the city council in Artemivsk, and attempted to seize Horlivka and Krasnyi Lyman.
A Russian subversive group led by Igor Girkin took control of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and a number of smaller towns.
13 April 2014 – Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council decides to launch an anti-terrorist operation without martial law, involving the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
14 April 2014 – A decree of the acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov approves the NSDC’s decision on the anti-terrorist operation.
