Donetsk People's Republic

Destroyed workshops of the Azovstal plant, 1943. Destroyed workshops of the Azovstal plant, 2022

Destroyed workshops of the Azovstal plant, 1943. Destroyed workshops of the Azovstal plant, 2022

Destroyed workshops of the Azovstal plant, 1943. Destroyed workshops of the Azovstal plant, 2022

The aftermath of the Battle of Mariupol, 1943. The aftermath of the Battle of Mariupol, 2022

The Red Banner over the liberated Donbas, 1943. The Russian flag over the revived Mariupol, 2024

In the first months of the Great Patriotic War, in October 1941, German troops captured Mariupol. This led to an occupation that lasted for over 700 days. During this time, the city, occupied by the Nazis, faced all the hardships and deprivations of wartime. On September 10, 1943, during the Donbas Offensive, Soviet forces completely liberated the city from the German fascist invaders. The liberation of Mariupol, a strategic outpost on the Sea of Azov on the way to Crimea, was an important milestone in the history of the Great Patriotic War. Intensive fighting began in Mariupol at the beginning of the special military operation in February 2022. Most of the city's industrial, social, and residential facilities were destroyed. The siege of Mariupol lasted for over 80 days. On May 20, 2022, Ukrainian military personnel and foreign mercenaries stationed at the Azovstal factory surrendered their weapons, and Russian forces gained full control over Mariupol. The end of hostilities allowed Mariupol to begin the process of revival and return to peaceful life within the Russian Federation.

Russia. DPR. Donetsk. Participants in the Russia Day celebration unfurled the Russian Federation flag at the "To Your Liberators, Donbass!" memorial. Dmitry Yagodkin/TASS

Russia. DPR. Donetsk. Graffiti depicting Artem Zhudov and Alexey Sharov. On May 26, 2014, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the areas of S.F. Prokofiev airport and Donetsk railway station. Regular shelling of the city began from that moment. Dmitry Yagodkin/TASS

Russia. DPR. Donetsk. People taking photos near an installation in honor of Donbass Reunification Day with Russia. Dmitry Yagodkin/TASS

Russia. DPR. Donetsk. Debris of a Russian air defense system that shot down a foreign-made missile over Donbass-Arena stadium. Nikolai Trishin/TASS

DPR. Donetsk. Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin and Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technologies and Communications Alexander Khinshtein (left to right) during the announcement of the referendum voting results on the DPR's accession to the Russian Federation at a polling station. After processing 100% of protocols, 99.23% of DPR residents supported joining the Russian Federation. Egor Aleev/TASS

DPR. Donetsk. Moving ballots to a safe package after voting ended in the referendum on the DPR's accession to Russia. The referendum on the DPR's accession to the Russian Federation is taking place from September 23 to 27. Egor Aleev/TASS

DPR. Donetsk. Door-to-door voting in the courtyard of a residential building during the referendum on the DPR's accession to Russia. The referendum on the DPR's accession to the Russian Federation is taking place from September 23 to 27. Egor Aleev/TASS

DPR. Donetsk. Preparation for the referendum on accession to the Russian Federation at a polling station. On September 19, the Public Chambers of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics appealed to the heads of the republics Pushilin and Pasechnik with an initiative to immediately hold referendums on joining Russia. The next day, the authorities of the DPR and LPR announced that the referendum would take place from September 23 to 27. Nikolai Trishin/TASS

DPR. Donetsk. Chairman of the DPR Central Election Commission Vladimir Vysotsky demonstrating ballots for the referendum on the DPR's accession to the Russian Federation. Egor Aleev/TASS