When it appeared last summer that the Ukrainian government might win the war in Donbas, Putin ordered an invasion by regular Russian armed forces. Preparations for a second wave of military action began in November, when Putin provided separatists with a new influx of armored columns and personnel.
俄罗斯违反条约义务，吞并了克里米亚并在东乌克兰的顿巴斯地区建立分裂主义飞地。去年夏天，在乌克兰政府似乎可以赢得顿巴斯战争时，普京下令俄罗斯正规武装力量入侵。第二轮军事活动在11月开始准备，此时，普京还为分裂主义者提供新的装甲装装备和人手。