The political rift was catalyzed in late 2013 when former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych postponed an EU Association Agreement, sparking the "Revolution of Dignity" and a subsequent pro-European shift in Ukraine.
: In Russian-occupied territories, residents have faced "forced passportization," where access to basic necessities is often tied to accepting Russian citizenship. Politics: Conflict at the Crossroads Ukraine and Russia: People, Politics, Propagand...
Historically, Ukrainians and Russians shared deep cultural, economic, and political ties, though the ongoing war has caused irreparable harm to these relations. The political rift was catalyzed in late 2013