Since March 2014 there has been instability in the east of Ukraine as a result of clashes between Ukrainian armed forces and armed separatists. This has resulted in over 2,900 deaths and the displacement of over 250,000 people. Although a ceasefire was agreed on 5 September between Ukraine, Russia and the separatists, sporadic fighting continues throughout the region. There have also been kidnappings, seizures of buildings and other violent incidents in Donetsk and Luhansk oblast in the first half of 2014.