No this is a Russian canard and not true. In fact some of the fiercest resistance to Russian occupation came from the Donbas.

And yet, it's not a justification for what was done there, and it's not a justification for what was done in this case either. Wasn't a justification in Iraq with Saddam for that matter. I remember the day the Iraqis pulled that statue down, they seemed very happy to be able to do that. And then...