Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi marks 10th anniversary of Donbas Anti-Terrorist Operation

Photo: Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi (Getty Images)

Today marks exactly 10 years since the start of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in eastern Ukraine. Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, thanked the soldiers who stood up to defend Ukraine in the spring of 2014.

The Chief of Staff reminded that on April 14, 2014, the Anti-Terrorist Operation began in response to the seizure of Sloviansk by an FSB special unit led by an international criminal under Kremlin orders.

“With honor, I fulfilled the duties of both the Chief of Staff of the Anti-Terrorist Operation and the Deputy Head and Head of the Anti-Terrorist Operation,” noted Syrskyi.

The Commander-in-Chief thanked Ukrainian defenders, both men and women, who joined the ranks of the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine in the spring of 2014.

“Thank you to everyone who defended and continues to defend the independence of Ukraine. On this day, we must remember and honor all Ukrainian defenders who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of our state in the face of Russian aggression. Eternal glory and eternal memory to our heroes,” he wrote.

Syrskyi added that the fight against Russian occupiers continues, and “everyone who participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation knows well that the Ukrainian sun rises beyond the horizon in Donbas.”

10 years since the start of the ATO

On April 12, 2014, militant groups under the command of FSB colonel Igor Girkin seized the Ministry of Internal Affairs buildings in Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. This marked the beginning of an advance on other settlements in eastern Ukraine, preceded by the annexation of Crimea.

In response to these events, on April 14, 2014, then-acting President Oleksandr Turchynov announced the start of the Anti-Terrorist Operation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

A state of war was not declared, as presidential elections were scheduled to take place at the end of May 2014, which would have been impossible under such circumstances.

Since April 30, 2018, the ATO format has been changed to the Joint Forces Operation (JFO). Command of the operation was transferred to the Unified Operational Headquarters of the Armed Forces.

On February 24, 2022, Russian forces began a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, active combat has unfolded not only in Donbas but also in the south and north of Ukraine.