NO there was nothing so oppressive going on that they couldn't advance their interests within lawful political process.
NO this idiotic separatism lead to wholesale demoliton of Donbass. What was once of the most modern, richest areas in Ukraine that even hosted World Soccer Cup became third world craphole.
Luhask and Donetsk areas (aka LNR/DNR) saw their poplation cut in HALF from 2014 to 2022.
I notice that you have an accent that is evident in your writing. Are you from Ukraine or in Ukraine ?
Who are we in the west to ascertain what had happened in Ukraine between it's populations there, and to do so in a neutral non-biased way ? Do we in the west truly understand everything that eventually caused Putin to react in such a way ?
Our problem in America is that we have two parties in our government that truly despise and hate each other. So we had 77 million voter's come out against the Democrat party basically condemning them for everything they did, and for what they were involved in doing, and it also included for what it was doing within Ukraine and beyond at the time.
Now we see a huge corruption scandal unraveling in Ukraine that might indicate that it was true when they said Ukraine is a highly corrupt place, and unfortunately we had a president and his son that was allegedly tangled up in that place in shady dealings as well.
Then there is the Epstien scandal that actually ensnared dignitaries across the globe who were caught up in that mess.
Right now we have Trump as our president, and he is adamantly against the Democrats for everything that they were involved in, and for everything that they allowed on their watch.
His working in a peace negotiating neutral way to stop the war in Ukraine is an honorable thing, and this regardless of the demonicrats that are trying to save face for what they were doing or causing in it all.
Beware of all the propaganda people, and focus on the entire history and culture that has led up to this tragic war. It is a war that has devastated a country, killed millions, and it's all due to rotten politics, corruption, and pride in allegedly hiding the truth.