On May 15 , the Donbass People 's Militia sent an ultimatum to Kiev . They ordered the withdraw all Ukrainian troops from Donetsk oblast . On May 17 , several members of the militia seized two BRDM unarmed armored vehicles from Severodonetsk and Lysychansk ( Luhansk Oblast ) On May 22 , the Federal State of Novorossiya was declared . On May 23 , several members of people 's militia seized another BRDM-RKh unarmed armored vehicle from Loskutovka ( Luhansk Oblast ) The militia were widely suspected to be involved in the downing of a civilian airliner , Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 , on 17 July 2014
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
Separatist forces of the war in Donbass