Ten years ago, Ukraine launched anti-terrorist operation

Russian special forces seized governmental buildings across Donetsk and Luhansk Oblast.

Ten years ago today, Ukraine launched the Anti-terrorist Operation (ATO) in the eastern regions of Ukraine. The operation was declared after Russian special forces without insignia captured administration and police buildings in Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, Bakhmut and Donetsk. The enemy was led by GRU officer Igor Girkin, and the actions sparked the War in Donbas. The war lasted for a long eight years and ended when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

April 13, 2014, also marked the first military casualty of this war. Captain Hennadii Bilichenko of Ukrainian SBU Special Unit Alpha was killed during a reconnaissance mission near Slovyansk.