These demonstrations , which followed the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation ( February to March 2014 ) , and which were part of a wider group of concurrent pro-Russian protests across southern and eastern Ukraine , escalated Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale into an armed conflict Hostile_encounter between the separatist forces of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People 's Republics ( DPR and LPR respectively ) , and the Ukrainian government .

As a result of the August 2014 events , DPR and LPR insurgents regained Recovering much of the territory they had lost Earnings_and_losses during the Ukrainian government 's preceding military offensive .

Ukraine , Russia , the DPR and the LPR signed Sign_agreement an agreement to establish Building a ceasefire , called Name_conferral the Minsk Protocol , on 5 September 2014 .