27 February 2014 · Simferopol · Crimea

Seizure of Crimean Parliament by armed men, start of occupation

Unmarked armed men, later confirmed as Russian servicemen by President Putin, seized the Crimean parliament building in Simferopol on 27 February 2014, initiating the occupation of Crimea. This action preceded a disputed referendum and Russia's formal annexation of the peninsula.

Arbitrary detention·sources: Human Rights Watch

3 March 2014 · Simferopol · Crimea

Enforced disappearance of Crimean Tatar activist Reshat Ametov

Reshat Ametov, a Crimean Tatar activist, was abducted on 3 March 2014 after staging a solitary protest against Russian occupation forces in Simferopol; he was later found tortured and murdered. His case is documented as one of the first killings of the occupation.

Arbitrary detention·sources: Human Rights Watch

1 April 2014 · Sloviansk · Donetsk oblast

Illegal detentions and torture of civilians by armed groups in Sloviansk

From April to July 2014, Russia-backed armed groups controlling Sloviansk arbitrarily detained and tortured local officials, journalists, and civilians in makeshift prisons, including the SBU building basement. Several detainees were killed, including a Sloviansk city councilman.

Arbitrary detention·sources: Human Rights Watch

11 May 2014 · Krasnyi Lyman · Donetsk oblast

Killing of protestant pastor and church members in Sloviansk area

Members of a Protestant church, including Pastor Oleksandr Pavenko and his sons, were abducted and executed by an armed group in the Sloviansk area, an incident documented by OHCHR as evidence of religiously and politically motivated killings.

Summary executions·sources: UN OHCHR

26 May 2014 · Donetsk · Donetsk oblast

Battle of Donetsk Airport causes civilian casualties and destruction

Fighting for control of Donetsk International Airport, beginning 26 May 2014 and continuing over subsequent months, involved shelling that damaged surrounding civilian neighbourhoods and infrastructure and caused civilian deaths, per OSCE SMM reporting.

Strikes on civilians·sources: OSCE

1 June 2014 · Donetsk · Donetsk oblast

Use of the Izolyatsia site in Donetsk as an illegal detention and torture facility

From mid-2014, the Izolyatsia former art factory in Donetsk was converted by Russia-backed armed groups into an unofficial prison where detainees, including civilians, were held incommunicado and subjected to torture, according to Tribunal for Putin documentation.

Arbitrary detention·sources: Tribunal for Putin (T4P)

17 July 2014 · Hrabove · Donetsk oblast

Downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 by a Russian Buk missile

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Hrabove on 17 July 2014 by a Buk surface-to-air missile brought from Russia, killing all 298 people on board. The Joint Investigation Team and a Dutch court found Russia-backed separatists and Russian nationals responsible.

Strikes on civilians·sources: European Court of Human Rights

1 August 2014 · Ilovaisk · Donetsk oblast

Ilovaisk encirclement and killing of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians

In late August 2014, Ukrainian forces retreating from Ilovaisk under a negotiated safe-passage agreement were ambushed by Russian regular forces and separatist fighters, resulting in mass casualties. OSCE and human rights groups documented summary killings of captured and wounded servicemen.

Strikes on civilians·sources: OSCE

1 August 2014 · Luhansk · Luhansk oblast

Extrajudicial killings of suspected collaborators and civilians in Luhansk

OHCHR documented summary executions carried out by armed groups in Luhansk against individuals accused of supporting Ukrainian authorities, including bodies found with signs of torture and gunshot wounds in 2014.

Summary executions·sources: UN OHCHR