The Orange Revolution(01 of18)
Open Image ModalIn 2004, newly-elected Yanukovych was ousted by Western-leaning Viktor Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko after mass rallies known as the Orange Revolution (credit:Getty Images)
Yanukovych Re-Elected(02 of18)
Open Image ModalBut Yanukoych was re-elected in 2010 after Tymoshenko and Yushchenko were dogged by allegations of corruption. In 2013, he announced he would no longer seek closer ties with the EU, after economic pressure from Russia (credit:AP)
And then this kicked off(03 of18)
Open Image ModalThe Euromaidan movement in Kiev's Independence Square, with 100,000 people demanding Ukraine move away from Russia and closer to Europe
Occupying the square(04 of18)
Open Image ModalIn December, Ukraine's riot police violently broke up the occupation of the square, where barricades and a tent city had been built, saying it had to install a Christmas tree, and protesters fought back
The new anti-protest law(05 of18)
Open Image ModalCome 2014, Yanukovych's government effectively banned all forms of protest, including wearing of masks and helmets without police permission. And that's when it properly kicked off... (credit:PA)
#Euromaidan explodes(06 of18)
Open Image ModalProtesters battled with riot police, with molotov cocktails, barricades of burning tyres, and were attacked with rubber bullets and water cannons (credit:AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The bodies mount up(07 of18)
Open Image ModalAs the violent clashes continued through February, 95 people were killed, many by snipers
Kiev in ruins(08 of18)
Open Image ModalProtesters set up make-shift morgues and hospitals in hotels, just off the Maidan (credit:Getty Images)
Agreement reached(09 of18)
Open Image ModalOn February 19, Ukraine's government and opposition leaders agreed a truce, including a promise of new elections, and people gathered at makeshift shrines to mourn the dead (credit:LEHTIKUVA / Vesa Moilane)
A manhunt begins(10 of18)
Open Image ModalYanukovych fled to Ukraine's Russian-leaning east, sparking a man-hunt and calls for him to be prosecuted for mass murder (credit:Vesa Moilanen/STT-Lehtikuva/Press Association Images)
Ukraine's new leaders(11 of18)
Open Image ModalYulia Tymoshenko was released from prison, where she was serving time for corruption and opposition leader Olexander Turchynov was named interim president (credit:Darko Bandic/AP/Press Association Images)
Inside the president's palace(12 of18)
Open Image ModalUkrainians raided Yanukovch's lavish residence, finding a zoo and and golden furniture (credit:Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
But Ukraine is still divided(13 of18)
Open Image ModalFebruary 27th, Pro-Russian protesters in Crimea, a predominantly ethnic Russian peninsula, raised the Russian flag in parliament, as armed men wearing no official insignia seized two local airports (credit:Sergei Vaganov/AP)
Yanukovych Appears(14 of18)
Open Image ModalYanukovych turns up in (surprise, surprise) Russia, and insists he remains the president of the country. Vladimir Putin then requests the use of Russian forces in Ukraine to protect its interests (credit:Pavel Golovkin/AP)
Russia mobilises(15 of18)
Open Image ModalRussian soldiers, who have bases in Crimea, advance on Ukrainian military bases, sparking anger from European and US politicians, with the UK, US and Canada pulling out of the G8 summit (credit:Kochetova Julia/ABACA)
The face-off at Belbek airbase(16 of18)
Open Image ModalUkrainian soldiers, carrying their blue and yellow flag, advanced unarmed toward heavily-armed Russian troops, with one Russian firing three warning shots, the first shots of the conflict (credit:Ivan Sekretarev/AP)
Crimea votes to be part of Russia(17 of18)
Open Image ModalOn March 6, Crimea's parliament said it has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin "to start the procedure" of formally allowing Crimea to join the Russian Federation and says it will hold a referendum (credit:Sergei Grits/AP)
Could Russia go further?(18 of18)
Open Image ModalWith the threat still lingering that Russia could invade parts of eastern Ukraine, leaders are meeting to discuss possible sanctions, but the situation remains tense in the divided nation (credit:Sergei Chuzavkov/AP)