Many people were surprised when Russia did not attempt to take the Donbas region for itself.

By misinterpreting the meaning of Igor Girkin’s offensive in the Donbas region, Russia’s government made a major war there inevitable.

Russian massed its troops on its Ukrainian border as a means of guaranteeing the Donbas region’s recently acquired independence.

By exposing the Ukrainian government’s fascist ideology, Russia helped the Donbas separatists gain international support.