On February 23, 2022, Russian military tanks were seen in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, which is controlled by Russian-backed separatists. The latest military activity followed the decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 21 to recognise Luhansk and Donetsk in the Donbas region as “independent”. Ukraine declared a nationwide state of emergency beginning at midnight, February 23. The next day, Putin ordered a Russian military operation in the Donbas region and called on the…