What’s happened in Ukraine since the ceasefire agreement?

Correction

The report above broadcast on 17 November 2014 previously included an audio of a warning given to an aircraft. The impression given was that the warning was directed at a Russian aeroplane. In fact the recording was directed at a Latvian-controlled plane not a Russian–controlled plane. We apologise for the misimpression given and are happy to set the record straight.

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7 September

Shelling in eastern Ukraine threatens to end the ceasefire after just two days.

10 September

Kiev announces that Russia has withdrawn most of its forces from eastern Ukraine. Western governments had repeatedly claimed that undercover Russian troops had been crossing the border for weeks.

President Poroshenko also says that parts of east Ukraine will be given special status, but the country will remain a sovereign entity.

16 September

The Ukrainian parliament ratifies an agreement that will integrate the country with the European Union. It is the same deal that forced out former president Viktor Yanukovych, leading to protests that ended in the government being toppled.

28 September

Ukrainian nationalists in Kharkiv topple a statue of Vladimir Lenin, the Russian revolutionary leader. The move, which was supported by officials, brings loud cheers from crowds of people in Ukraine’s second largest city.

The ceasefire continues to hold, but remains fragile.

1 October

At least 10 people are killed during fighting over the control of Donetsk airport. Pro-Russia rebel forces said that they had control of 90 per cent of the airport, whilst Kiev said that it was still in control.

8 October

The UN says that at least 331 deaths have been reported as a result of fighting in Ukraine since the ceasefire was agreed in September.

“While the ceasefire is a very welcome step toward ending the fighting in eastern Ukraine, I call on all parties to genuinely respect and uphold it,” says Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein, the UN high commissioner for human rights.

17 October

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart discuss a deal to restore gas supplied to Ukraine before the winter months. Russia turned off supplies to Kiev in June in a pricing dispute.

The two leaders also discuss the fragile ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and the pro-Russia rebels.

20 October

Shakhtar Donetsk’s Donbass Arena suffers serious damage from shelling. Shakhtar move their games away from the 52,000 seat stadium, which hosted five football matches at the European football championships in 2012, for the current season.

26 October

Ukraine holds its first elections since Viktor Yanukovich was forced out earlier in the year. Pro-European parties do well in the polls, but in areas controlled by separatists in eastern Ukraine, polling stations do not open.

2 November

Pro-Russian rebels hold an election to set up a separatist leadership in eastern Ukraine, but the poll is denounced by the west as “illegitimate”. Russia says the vote should be respected, whilst Kiev said it would open criminal cases against the organisers.

4 November

Petro Poroshenko announces that he would be sending in reinforcements to key cities to prevent potential attacks from Russia-backed separatists. He also calls on Ukraine’s parliament to rescind a law that gave special status to the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

12 November

Nato reports sightings of Russian tanks and troops crossing the border into eastern Ukraine. Independent observers report seeing a convoy of over 40 unmarked military vehicles travelling towards the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.

16 November

Vladimir Putin leaves the G20 meeting early after being accused by numerous world leaders of causing trouble in Ukraine.