The regions known as Donetsk and Luhansk are sometimes mentioned in th

The regions known as Donetsk and Luhansk are sometimes mentioned in the news. They are the separatist regions of

Ethiopia
Sudan
Ukraine
Yemen
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2022
Donetsk and Luhansk are separatist regions located in Ukraine.
– Donetsk and Luhansk are two provinces (oblasts) in eastern Ukraine, collectively known as the Donbas region.
– Since 2014, parts of these regions have been controlled by pro-Russian separatists, leading to armed conflict.
– Russia recognized the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) as independent states in February 2022, shortly before its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and later claimed to annex them.
– The conflict in Donbas is a key part of the ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Ukraine and Russia.
– The status and control of these regions remain highly contested internationally.