In the early days of the conflict, there were all sorts of skirmishes and standoffs between Ukrainian and Russian forces. It was like a big game of chicken, with both sides trying to outmaneuver each other. But things took a turn for the worse in 2015, when full-blown war broke out in eastern Ukraine.
Now, you might be wondering, what's the deal with the separatists? Well, essentially, they're pro-Russian groups in eastern Ukraine who want to break away from the rest of the country. It's a pretty complex situation, but basically, they're getting support from Russia, which is making things very difficult for Ukraine.
The war has been ebbing and flowing ever since, with periods of relative calm punctuated by outbreaks of violence. It's like a big, scary rollercoaster, and everyone's just trying to hold on for dear life. But despite all the drama, there are some pretty fascinating stories coming out of the conflict.
Ukraine: one year of in-depth coverage of the conflict | AFP.com