Soldater från Azovstal ska ställas inför rätta

The Donetsk People's Republic (DPR or DNR; Russian: Донецкая Народная Республика, tr. Donetskaya Narodnaya Respublika, IPA: [dɐˈnʲetskəjə nɐˈrodnəjə rʲɪˈspublʲɪkə]) is a breakaway state located in Ukraine, formed on 7 April 2014 by pro-Russian separatists following the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity. It is one of two breakaway states in Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, the other being the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). Since 2014, DPR forces have been fighting against the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donbas War, and have received political and military backing from Russia. The capital city and largest city within the DPR is Donetsk. Denis Pushilin has served as the DPR head of state since 2018.Ukraine designated both the DPR and the LPR as terrorist organisations in May 2014. Ukraine classifies the territories controlled by the separatists to be part of the "temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine" as a result of Russian military intervention, together with the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. The DPR and the Ukrainian government estimate that around 2 million people – over half of the total population of Donetsk Oblast – live in DPR-held regions. Although the rebels do not govern most of Donetsk Oblast in terms of area, only controlling 7,853 square kilometres (3,032 sq mi), they hold major cities such as Donetsk, Makiivka, and Horlivka.On 21 February 2022, Russia officially recognised the DPR and the LPR as independent states, becoming the first UN member state to do so. Russia had formerly already recognised identity documents, diplomas, birth- and marriage-certificates, and vehicle registration plates issued by the DPR since February 2017. Both republics are at the center of the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.