Editing Russia (section)

====Invasion of Ukraine====
{{Main|Russian invasion of Ukraine}}
In early 2014, following [[Revolution of Dignity|a pro-Western revolution]] in neighbouring Ukraine, Russia [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexed Crimea]] after a [[2014 Crimean status referendum|disputed referendum]] on the status of Crimea was staged under [[Russian occupation of Crimea|Russian occupation]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Yekelchyk |first=Serhy |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1190722543 |title=Ukraine: What Everyone Needs to Know |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2020 |isbn=978-0-19-753213-3 |edition=2nd |location=New York |page=117 |oclc=1190722543}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=DeBenedictis |first1=Kent |title=Russian 'Hybrid Warfare' and the Annexation of Crimea: The Modern Application of Soviet Political Warfare |date=2022 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |pages=1–7 |isbn=978-0-7556-4003-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CkaIEAAAQBAJ}}</ref> The annexation generated an insurgency in the [[Donbas]] region of Ukraine, supported by Russian military intervention as part of [[Russo-Ukrainian War|an undeclared war against Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Galeotti |first1=Mark |title=Putin Takes Crimea 2014: Grey-zone Warfare Opens the Russia-Ukraine Conflict |date=2023 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |page=4 |isbn=978-1-4728-5385-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EmnGEAAAQBAJ}}</ref> Russian mercenaries and military forces, with the support of local separatist militias, waged a [[War in Donbas|war in eastern Ukraine]] against the new Ukrainian government after the Russian government fostered anti-government and [[2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine|pro-Russian protests]] in the region,<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1400/RR1498/RAND_RR1498.pdf |title=Lessons from Russia's Operations in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine |last1=Kofman |first1=Michael |last2=Migacheva |first2=Katya |publisher=RAND Corporation |location=Santa Monica |pages=xii, xiii, 33–34, 48 |last3=Nichiporuk |first3=Brian |last4=Radin |first4=Andrew |last5=Tkacheva |first5=Olesya |last6=Oberholtzer |first6=Jenny |year=2017}}</ref> although most residents had opposed secession from Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Plokhy |first=Serhii |title=The Russo-Ukrainian war: the return of history |date=2023 |publisher=WW Norton |isbn=978-1-324-05119-0 |location=New York, NY |pages=123–26 |quote=... The relative ease with which Russian mercenaries, supported by local separatist forces, were able to capture and hold hostage the inhabitants of the Ukrainian Donbas, most of whom wanted to stay in Ukraine, has a number of explanations.}}</ref> Amidst [[2017–2018 Russian protests|nationwide protests against corruption]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/28/world/europe/russia-protests-navalny.html|title=Russians Brave Icy Temperatures to Protest Putin and Election|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=28 January 2018|access-date=5 March 2015|last1=MacFarquhar|first1=Neil|last2=Nechepurenko|first2=Ivan}}</ref> Putin was re-elected for his second consecutive term in the [[2018 Russian presidential election|2018 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Roth|first=Andrew|title=Vladimir Putin secures record win in Russian presidential election|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=19 March 2018|access-date=5 March 2025|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/19/vladimir-putin-secures-record-win-in-russian-presidential-election}}</ref>

In a major escalation of the conflict, Russia launched a full-scale [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine]] on 24 February 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/24/putin-orders-military-operations-in-eastern-ukraine-as-un-meets|title=Russian forces launch full-scale invasion of Ukraine|publisher=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]|date=24 February 2022|access-date=5 April 2022|archive-date=24 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224053027/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/24/putin-orders-military-operations-in-eastern-ukraine-as-un-meets|url-status=live}}</ref> The invasion marked the largest [[conventional warfare|conventional war]] in Europe since World War&nbsp;II,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Herb |first1=Jeremy |last2=Starr |first2=Barbara |author-link2=Barbara Starr |last3=Kaufman |first3=Ellie |date=24 February 2022 |title=US orders 7,000 more troops to Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine |publisher=[[CNN]] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/24/politics/us-military-ukraine-russia/index.html |access-date=27 February 2022 |archive-date=27 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227052443/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/24/politics/us-military-ukraine-russia/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and was met with [[Reactions to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|international condemnation]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/02/united-nations-russia-ukraine-vote|title=UN votes to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and calls for withdrawal|work=[[The Guardian]]|last=Borger|first=Julian|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|date=2 March 2022|access-date=5 April 2022|archive-date=2 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302171009/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/02/united-nations-russia-ukraine-vote|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as [[International sanctions during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|expanded sanctions]] against Russia.<ref name="Walsh-2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/22968949/russia-sanctions-swift-economy-mcdonalds|title=The unprecedented American sanctions on Russia, explained|work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|date=9 March 2022|last=Walsh|first=Ben|access-date=31 March 2022|archive-date=11 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411000846/https://www.vox.com/22968949/russia-sanctions-swift-economy-mcdonalds|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Meeting with military district commanders (2024-05-15) 14.jpg|thumb|Putin with [[Sergei Shoigu|Shoigu]], [[Valery Gerasimov|Gerasimov]], [[Andrey Belousov|Belousov]], [[Yunus-bek Yevkurov|Yevkurov]] and commanders of Russia's [[military districts of Russia|military districts]] on 15 May 2024]]
As a result, Russia was expelled from the [[Council of Europe]] in March,<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/the-russian-federation-is-excluded-from-the-council-of-europe |title=The Russian Federation is excluded from the Council of Europe |publisher=Council of Europe |date=16 March 2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |archive-date=10 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510214508/https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/the-russian-federation-is-excluded-from-the-council-of-europe |url-status=live }}</ref> and was suspended from the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]] in April.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115782 |title=UN General Assembly votes to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council |website=United Nations |date=7 April 2022 |access-date=18 June 2022 |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407164712/https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115782 |url-status=live }}</ref> In September, following successful Ukrainian counteroffensives,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/putin-announces-partial-mobilization-russian-military-ukraine-war-rcna48585|title=Putin mobilizes more troops for Ukraine, threatens nuclear retaliation and backs annexation of Russian-occupied land|website=[[NBC News]]|date=21 September 2022|access-date=4 April 2023|archive-date=12 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312142451/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/putin-announces-partial-mobilization-russian-military-ukraine-war-rcna48585|url-status=live}}</ref> Putin announced a "[[2022 Russian mobilization|partial mobilisation]]", Russia's first mobilisation since [[Operation Barbarossa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/21/putin-announces-partial-mobilisation-in-russia-in-escalation-of-ukraine-war|title=Putin announces partial mobilisation and threatens nuclear retaliation in escalation of Ukraine war|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=21 September 2022|access-date=4 April 2023|archive-date=14 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114202406/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/21/putin-announces-partial-mobilisation-in-russia-in-escalation-of-ukraine-war|url-status=live}}</ref> In the end of September, Putin proclaimed the [[Annexation of southeastern Ukraine by the Russian Federation|annexation of four partially-occupied Ukrainian regions]], the largest annexation in Europe since World War&nbsp;II.<ref name="Landay-2022">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-host-kremlin-ceremony-annexing-parts-ukraine-2022-09-29/ |title=Defiant Putin proclaims Ukrainian annexation as military setback looms |website=[[Reuters]] |date=30 September 2022 |access-date=6 October 2022 |last=Landay |first=Jonathan |archive-date=6 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006084106/https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-host-kremlin-ceremony-annexing-parts-ukraine-2022-09-29/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Putin and Russian-installed leaders signed treaties of accession, internationally unrecognised and widely [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-11/4|denounced as illegal]].<ref name="Landay-2022" /> As a result of the invasion, hundreds of thousands of people are [[Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian War|estimated to have been killed or injured]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hussain |first1=Murtaza |title=The War in Ukraine Is Just Getting Started |url=https://theintercept.com/2023/03/09/ukraine-war-russia-iran-iraq/ |work=The Intercept |date=9 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite Q|Q127275136|url-access=subscription}}</ref> while Russia has been accused of [[War crimes in the Russian invasion of Ukraine|numerous war crimes]].<ref name="n377">{{cite web | last=Cumming-Bruce | first=Nick | title='Welcome to Hell': U.N. Panel Says Russian War Crimes Are Widespread | website=The New York Times | date=15 March 2024 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/15/world/europe/russia-war-crimes.html | access-date=30 November 2024}}</ref><ref name="p453">{{cite web | last=Sauer | first=Pjotr | title=UN finds further evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine | website=The Guardian | date=21 October 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/21/un-finds-further-evidence-of-russian-war-crimes-in-ukraine | access-date=30 November 2024}}</ref><ref name="o970">{{cite web | title=Ukraine: Russian strikes amounting to war crimes continue to kill and injure children | website=Amnesty International | date=18 November 2024 | url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/11/ukraine-russian-strikes-amounting-to-war-crimes-continue-to-kill-and-injure-children/ | access-date=30 November 2024}}</ref> The war in Ukraine has further exacerbated Russia's [[Demographic crisis of Russia|demographic crisis]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Putin's War Escalation Is Hastening Demographic Crash for Russia |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-18/putin-s-war-escalation-is-hastening-demographic-crash-for-russia |work=Bloomberg |date=18 October 2022 |access-date=1 July 2023 |archive-date=22 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122045038/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-18/putin-s-war-escalation-is-hastening-demographic-crash-for-russia |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2023, the [[Wagner Group]], a private military contractor fighting for Russia in Ukraine, declared an [[Wagner Group rebellion|open rebellion against the Russian Ministry of Defence]], capturing [[Rostov-on-Don]], before beginning a march on Moscow. However, after negotiations between Wagner and the Belarusian government, the rebellion was called off.<ref>{{cite web | title=Armed rebellion by Wagner chief Prigozhin underscores erosion of Russian legal system | website=AP News | date=7 July 2023 | url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-prigozhin-wagner-mutiny-ukraine-putin-898d750e843aeb105a3c220bb917f606 | access-date=9 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Rebel Russian mercenaries turn back short of Moscow 'to avoid bloodshed' | website=Reuters | date=24 June 2023 | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/wagner-head-suggests-his-mercenaries-headed-moscow-take-army-leadership-2023-06-24/ | access-date=9 July 2023 | archive-date=24 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624070212/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/wagner-head-suggests-his-mercenaries-headed-moscow-take-army-leadership-2023-06-24/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The leader of the rebellion, [[Yevgeny Prigozhin]], was later [[2023 Wagner Group plane crash|killed in a plane crash]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 August 2023 |title=Russia says it confirmed Wagner leader Prigozhin died in a plane crash |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-prigozhin-wagner-2c77567908c73e538f9f1c76ae406f8f |access-date=28 August 2023 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=28 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828104024/https://apnews.com/article/russia-prigozhin-wagner-2c77567908c73e538f9f1c76ae406f8f |url-status=live }}</ref> Putin won his third consecutive term in the [[2024 Russian presidential election|2024 presidential election]], by winning 88% of the vote, the highest percentage in a presidential election in post-Soviet Russia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/17/putin-poised-to-win-russian-presidential-election-by-a-landslide|title=Russia's Putin hails victory in election criticised as illegitimate|date=17 March 2024|access-date=5 March 2025|work=[[Al Jazeera]]}}</ref>