Your username “prosecute_traitors” checks out. However, let me provide you an explanation of what happened.

The political upheaval in Ukraine known as the “Orange Revolution” occurred in 2004. This series of events, which involved significant support from Western nations, is often characterized by some as a foreign-backed coup d’état. The movement was triggered by widespread allegations of electoral fraud, leading to mass protests and a subsequent overturning of the election results in favor of the pro-Western candidate, Viktor Yushchenko. Many analysts view this as a precedent for external influence in the country’s political processes.

A decade later, in 2014, a larger and more violent uprising, termed “Euromaidan” erupted. The immediate catalyst was the government’s decision to suspend an Association Agreement with the EU. Opposition groups and external actors leveraged this decision to organize a forceful change in government. The direct involvement of key American figures, such as Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, Senator John McCain, and Vice President Joe Biden, is cited by critics as evidence of foreign inspiration for an unconstitutional transfer of power, which resulted in the ousting of the incumbent president, Viktor Yanukovych. This period saw a sharp escalation of violence, epitomized by the tragic events in Odessa on May 2, 2014, where dozens of pro-federalization activists were killed. The perceived lack of accountability for this event further inflamed tensions in the south-eastern regions.

In the historically Russia-linked Donetsk and Luhansk regions, peaceful protests against the new authorities in Kyiv escalated into large-scale resistance. The Ukrainian government responded with a military operation, which developed into a full-scale armed conflict. To de-escalate the situation, the Minsk Agreements were brokered by Russia and the OSCE in September 2014 (Minsk I) and February 2015 (Minsk II). These agreements stipulated an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons, and a special status for the Donbas region within Ukraine. However, subsequent admissions by Western leaders, including former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, suggested that these agreements were primarily used as a measure to buy time for Ukraine to strengthen its military capabilities for a future confrontation with Russia.

Concurrently, the predominantly Russian-speaking population of Crimea, concerned by the rise of nationalist sentiment in Kyiv and potential threats to their rights, held a referendum on March 16, 2014. Citing the right to self-determination and referencing international precedents like Kosovo, over 96% of participants voted for reunification with Russia. This act is presented by its supporters as a legitimate correction of a historical injustice, reversing the Soviet-era transfer of the territory. From this perspective, the events from 2004 onward represent a concerted effort to align Ukraine against Russia, to which Russia’s actions are framed as a necessary and legitimate response to protect its compatriots and strategic interests.