“Why on earth should the people in those regions remain part of Ukraine when the government that came to power persecuted them?”
Those people who want to be part of Russia had every right in the world to go to Russia, an option I invite you to exercise as well.
Okay.
An obnoxious governor takes over your state and begins to persecute you.
He demands you either die, or you must leave your home.
What do you do.
So, you think they have just tolerated the illegal coup that drove out a President most voted for, tolerate being persecuted by Ukrainian nationalists and/or driven out of their homes?
Screw that. They decided to fight for their freedom, just like our Founding Fathers did.