On the evening of April 13, 2014, Acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov announced in a televised address that the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine had decided to launch a large-scale anti-terrorist operation involving the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the eastern and southern regions of the country.
RIA Novosti: "The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine has decided to launch a large-scale anti-terrorist operation in response to events in the east of the country, announced Oleksandr Turchynov, who was appointed Acting President of the country by the Verkhovna Rada."
TASS publishes an article under the headline: "Turchynov Announces the Start of a 'Large-Scale Anti-Terrorist Operation.'"
Vesti.ru quotes Turchynov and analyzes the situation in southeastern Ukraine: "Turchynov emphasized that he hopes to avoid a repeat of the Crimean scenario and intends to prevent human casualties. However, the acting head of state noted that Kyiv is prepared to counter 'attempts at destabilization and terrorist actions with weapons in hand.'"
RT in Russian reports on the start of the military operation in eastern Ukraine: "As stated by Oleksandr Turchynov, appointed Acting President of Ukraine by the Verkhovna Rada, the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine has decided to launch a large-scale special operation in the east of the country, involving military personnel of the armed forces. At the same time, he emphasized that the Kyiv authorities intend to prevent the 'Crimean scenario from repeating in the eastern region of Ukraine.'"
Izvestia writes that the southeast is steadily preparing for a referendum despite Kyiv's launched "anti-terrorist operation."
Interfax also highlights Turchynov’s statement on preventing the "Crimean scenario": "Ukraine’s special services are launching a large-scale operation involving the Armed Forces – Turchynov. He emphasized that the Kyiv authorities intend to prevent the 'Crimean scenario from repeating in the eastern region of Ukraine.'"
The British The Guardian writes a few days after the events: "Ukrainian troops begin military operation to ‘destroy foreign invader.'”
Another British outlet, The Telegraph, refers to Turchynov as the "leader of Ukraine" fighting against "rebels": "In Kiev, Ukraine's acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, announced an "anti-terrorist operation" to root out the "separatists," but it was unclear how that measure differed from the one announced Monday, which resulted in no visible action. The insurgents, many of them armed, continued occupying government, police and other administrative buildings in nearly nine cities in the country's Russian-speaking east of the country, demanding broader autonomy and closer ties with Russia."
The New York Times describes the "ATO" as a necessary measure: "Ukraine’s interim president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, issued another ultimatum, saying separatists should vacate occupied buildings by Monday or face a “large-scale antiterrorist operation” that would include the Ukrainian military."
The French Le Figaro frames the "anti-terrorist operation" as a forced response to unrest in the east and notes the presence of "pro-Russian separatist figures" among the movement’s leaders: "The week began with the rhetoric of Ukraine’s acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, threatening to launch a large-scale anti-terrorist operation in the east of the country if separatists did not lay down their weapons and relinquish control over official buildings in nearly ten cities in the east. Pro-Russian separatists ignored the threats and forcibly seized another city, Gorlovka, with a population of 300,000."
The Italian La Repubblica reports on Turchynov’s decision, Moscow’s reaction, and the urgent convening of the UN Security Council: "In a televised address to the nation, Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov thundered: 'Blood has been spilled in the war against Ukraine, initiated by Russia,' adding that he had ordered the launch of a 'large-scale anti-terrorist operation' against pro-Russian forces – Kremlin militants."
The Spanish 20 Minutos writes that losing Donbass would be worse for Ukraine than losing Crimea, as it is the "industrial heart of the country": "On this Sunday, the Kiev authorities launched a military offensive (with casualties) on the city of Slavyansk and stated that they would extend this 'anti-terrorist' operation to all points in the east of the country where pro-Russian uprisings are taking place. So far, the reaction of those sympathetic to Moscow, who have taken up arms, has not weakened, leading to an even more tense scenario than in the past few hours, with some casualties due to gunfire exchanges."
The Latvian news portal jauns.lv links the announcement of the "ATO" to the presence of "little green men" in eastern Ukraine: "As reported, over the weekend, armed pro-Russian separatist groups in eastern Ukraine began seizing government administration and security service buildings. On Monday, more and more reports emerged of direct involvement by Russian military personnel in these events. In some places, the so-called 'little green men' — very well-armed and dressed in standardized military uniforms — have openly appeared, just as they did in Crimea before its annexation by Moscow last month."
Ukrainska Pravda reports on an emergency meeting of the NSDC regarding anti-terrorist measures in response to the situation in the east of the country: "The NSDC meeting took place late Saturday night under the chairmanship of O. Turchynov at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. During the meeting, participants discussed anti-terrorist measures and issues related to normalizing the situation in eastern Ukraine."
UNIAN quotes Turchynov: "The National Security and Defense Council has decided to launch a large-scale anti-terrorist operation involving the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We will not allow Russia to repeat the Crimean scenario in the eastern region of Ukraine."
Author · Mar 31, 2025
