It’s 7 years living in Russia, 14 years in the countries of the former Soviet Union and visiting Russia for many years before that, speaking the language at home, studying at a Russian university and living in Russia during these key events, in the region neighbouring Ukraine. What I will say, is the entire leadership of Donbas and Lugansk are Russian- not even from the area and the whole separatist units that started this “push to independence” are led by GRU and FSB. And many of the soldiers were, in fact, Russian soldiers “on vacation”. Long my history lesson would be of Russia doing the same thing in Georgia in both 2008 and 1992, as well as Moldova. The separatist movement was instigated and led from Moscow. Most of the people who left this region ended up in my city and I knew plenty of them. Sure, they were not happy with Ukrainians response, yet many still described themselves as Ukrainians, but they also described Donetsk and Lugansk as being run by warlords, running mafia style protection rackets and extorting everyone and the leaders heading to Russia to appeal for funds for construction/reconstruction then stealing that money for themselves.