Analysis
The removal of Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014 was triggered by months of pro-European protests (Euromaidan) and his violent crackdown on demonstrators, culminating in his flight from Kyiv and the parliament’s vote (328-0) to remove him for 'abandoning his constitutional duties.' While Russia labels this a 'coup,' the Ukrainian Constitutional Court later ruled the process legal under Article 112. Putin’s claim also omits that subsequent Ukrainian governments—including Zelensky’s—were elected in polls deemed free and fair by international observers (e.g., OSCE). His assertion that authorities rely on 'armed forces' to maintain control distorts the context of Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression since 2014, including the annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in Donbas.
Background
The 2014 Ukrainian Revolution followed Yanukovych’s rejection of an EU association agreement and his alignment with Russia, sparking mass protests. His ousting was precipitated by the killing of over 100 protesters by state security forces (the 'Heavenly Hundred'). Russia used the political turmoil to justify its annexation of Crimea and support for separatist movements in Donetsk and Luhansk, framing the events as a 'fascist coup'—a narrative consistently rejected by Western governments and independent analysts.
Verdict summary
Putin’s claim that Ukraine’s 2014 government change was an 'unconstitutional coup' is misleading, as the ousting of Yanukovych followed constitutional procedures after he abandoned his duties, while his broader framing ignores Ukraine’s democratic elections and the legitimacy of its post-2014 governments.