Major Events of April 2014: Key Historical Moments from the Month
Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from April 2014 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of April 2014: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Apr 2014 NATO Suspends Cooperation with Russia over Crimea: In response to Russia's annexation of Crimea, NATO suspends all practical civil and military cooperation. Tensions remain high, with no indication of Russian troops withdrawing from the Ukrainian border.
- 02 Apr 2014 Chile Earthquake and Disaster Declaration: A powerful earthquake struck northern Chile, prompting President Michelle Bachelet to declare the regions of Tarapaca and Arica y Parinacota disaster areas. A significant 7.8 magnitude aftershock further compounded the damage and humanitarian challenges.
- 03 Apr 2014 Fort Hood Shooting: A tragic shooting at Fort Hood Army base in Texas resulted in four deaths, including the gunman, and 16 injuries. The shooter, Specialist Ivan Lopez, an Iraq war veteran undergoing PTSD diagnosis, committed suicide after a 20-minute rampage.
- 04 Apr 2014 First Ebola Case Reported in Mali: As part of the 2014 West Africa Ebola epidemic, Mali reported its first case. Concurrently, the death toll in Guinea and Liberia rose to 90.
- 05 Apr 2014 2014 Afghan Presidential Election: Afghanistan held its first democratic presidential election, marking a significant milestone in the country's political development despite ongoing security challenges and electoral violence.
- 06 Apr 2014 Nigeria Becomes Africa's Largest Economy: Nigeria's economy surpassed South Africa's, marking a significant milestone in African economic development and shifting regional economic dynamics.
- 07 Apr 2014 Pro-Russian Activists Declare Donetsk People's Republic: Pro-Russian activists occupied a government building in Donetsk, an eastern Ukrainian city, and declared the establishment of a sovereign Donetsk People's Republic, seeking independence from Kyiv. This marked a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian government.
- 08 Apr 2014 Ukraine Crisis Escalation: Ukrainian police conducted an anti-terrorist operation in Kharkiv, arresting 70 pro-Russian protesters who had seized government buildings. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russian agents of inciting separatist unrest, while Russia warned against potential military intervention that could trigger a civil war.
- 09 Apr 2014 Pro-Russian Unrest in Ukraine: Tensions escalated in Luhansk, Ukraine, as pro-Russian separatists occupied a security building. Ukraine's acting Interior Minister, Arsen Avakov, declared that the situation could be resolved either through force or negotiations within 48 hours, reflecting the complex geopolitical dynamics of the region.
- 10 Apr 2014 Council of Europe Suspends Russia's Voting Rights: The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe suspended Russia's voting rights and election observation participation in response to its controversial annexation of Crimea, signaling international diplomatic disapproval.
- 11 Apr 2014 First Exomoon Discovery: Astronomers made a groundbreaking discovery by identifying the first known moon orbiting an exoplanet, expanding our understanding of planetary systems.
- 12 Apr 2014 Chemical Weapons Attack in Syria: During the Syrian Civil War, chemical weapons were used in an attack targeting the town of Kafr Zita in Hama province, continuing the pattern of chemical warfare in the ongoing conflict.
- 13 Apr 2014 Ukraine Launches Anti-Terrorist Operation in Slaviansk: Acting President Oleksandr Turkchynov announced a full-scale anti-terrorist operation against pro-Russian protesters who had seized control of buildings and police stations in Slaviansk, marking an escalation in the Ukrainian crisis.
- 14 Apr 2014 Chibok Girls Kidnapping: Boko Haram abducted 276 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Chibok, Nigeria, in a shocking act of mass kidnapping that drew international condemnation and sparked global awareness about the terrorist group's atrocities.
- 15 Apr 2014 Ukraine Pro-Russian Unrest: Escalating tensions in Ukraine as Ukrainian Ground Forces engage pro-Russian separatists at Kramatorsk Air Base. Unconfirmed reports suggest between 4-10 militants killed, with Ukraine's acting President announcing an 'anti-terrorist' operation.
- 16 Apr 2014 Sewol Ferry Disaster: The South Korean ferry MV Sewol capsized and sank near Jindo Island, resulting in a tragic maritime disaster that claimed 304 lives, predominantly high school students. The incident exposed critical failures in maritime safety, emergency response, and governmental oversight, leading to widespread public outrage and systemic criticism of South Korean authorities.
- 17 Apr 2014 Putin Admits Russian Troops in Crimea: Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly acknowledged that Russian troops were deployed to Crimea in the previous month, ostensibly to protect military equipment, further confirming Russia's direct involvement in the Ukrainian territorial dispute.
- 18 Apr 2014 Pro-Russian Separatists Defy Ukrainian Authorities: Pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk refuse to leave government buildings, challenging Kiev's authority and threatening the international agreement on Ukraine's territorial integrity.
- 19 Apr 2014 Indian General Election 2014: On April 19, 2014, India reached the midpoint of its 16th Lok Sabha elections, which was recognized as the world's largest democratic exercise. The election involved an unprecedented 815 million registered voters, showcasing the massive scale and complexity of India's democratic process.
- 20 Apr 2014 South Korean Ferry Sewol Disaster: The tragic Sewol ferry disaster continued to unfold, with the death toll rising to 58. Navy and Coast Guard divers were actively searching the sunken vessel, establishing five search routes to recover victims and investigate the catastrophic maritime accident.
- 21 Apr 2014 Flint Water Crisis Begins: The city of Flint, Michigan switches its water source to the Flint River, initiating a catastrophic public health crisis. The decision ultimately leads to widespread lead poisoning affecting up to 12,000 people, causing 15 deaths from Legionnaires' disease, and resulting in criminal indictments against 15 individuals, with five charged with involuntary manslaughter.
- 22 Apr 2014 South Korean Ferry Sewol Disaster: The South Korean ferry Sewol capsized, resulting in 113 confirmed deaths and 190 passengers missing. Seven crew members were detained for failing to evacuate the vessel, sparking a national tragedy and investigation.
- 23 Apr 2014 Pro-Russian Insurgency in Ukraine: Ukrainian security officials uncovered that the Assumption Monastery Lavra of the Moscow Patriarchate was being used as a strategic military base by pro-Russian insurgents who had occupied the region, escalating tensions in eastern Ukraine.
- 24 Apr 2014 US Threatens Sanctions Against Russia: The United States accused Moscow of deliberately fomenting unrest in Eastern Ukraine. President Obama warned of potential additional economic sanctions against Russia in response to its perceived interference.
- 25 Apr 2014 Flint Water Crisis Begins: The Flint water crisis officially commences when city officials switch Flint, Michigan's water supply to the Flint River, resulting in severe lead contamination and bacterial pollution that would have long-lasting health consequences for the community.
- 26 Apr 2014 Afghan Presidential Election Second Round: The Afghan presidential election will proceed to a second round between two leading candidates: former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and former finance minister Ashraf Ghani. This follows the first round where no candidate secured an absolute majority.
- 27 Apr 2014 Pope Francis Canonizes John XXIII and John Paul II: In a historic papal ceremony, Pope Francis declared Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II as saints, marking a significant moment in Catholic Church history and recognizing their substantial contributions to the church.
- 28 Apr 2014 Mass Death Sentence for Muslim Brotherhood Supporters: An Egyptian court controversially sentenced 638 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death, including their top leader Mohamed Badie, following significant political unrest after the military coup.
- 29 Apr 2014 Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Disappearance: A mysterious aviation incident where Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, carrying 239 people from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, vanished without a trace. The disappearance remains one of the most perplexing aviation mysteries in modern history, with no conclusive evidence about whether it was an accident, hijacking, or deliberate act.
- 30 Apr 2014 Biden Announces Obama's European Visit: Vice President Joe Biden announced President Barack Obama would visit Poland to commemorate the 25th anniversary of free elections and then hold Russia-Ukraine crisis talks with G7 leaders in Brussels.