Not apolitical at all, he's now a Putinist. But I encountered the same from a friend in Krasnodsr who is from Samachablo, South Ossetia. The GRU agents of Russia instigated the conflict and forced Georgia to intervene. But from many locals perspective all they see is Georgian army charging in to stop the so called separatist action, then Russia come in and whack the Georgians and peace returns. Of course the whole thing was set up by Russia, but some locals think Russia freed them when Russia just used them.

I imagine the same played out in Donbas, none of the leadership of the separatists and few of the soldiers were from Ukraine. But they attacked and Ukraine responded and so then some people fled to Russia. That is the refugees I refer to.