In 2014, the US put their guy in power in Ukraine.
For years before the Russians invaded, the Azov Ukrainians were bombing Russian communities in the Donbas.
2014 - Keep telling yourself that, eventually you will believe it. The Maidan Revolution happened because President Yanukovych sold out to Russia. A few facts here the Russia camp never brings up:
1) Yanukovych sold the Ukrainian treasury to a Russian firm, who raided the treasury leaving Ukraine broke. 2) Yanukovych fled to Russia after the coup where he still lives and 3), the medals for the Russian liberation of Crimea were contracted before the Maidan Revolution. The medals include dates several months before the actual invasion, before Maidan. Russia was going to invade Crimea and Eastern Ukraine before Yanukovych was driven out.
Azov before Russia invaded - The Azov were founded after the 2014 invasion. The claims they were shelling Donbas come from the Russian side. The same Russians who sent Wagner and Igor Girkin into Donbas to liberate it whether the residents wanted it or not. Girkin admitted to starting the Donbas war in 2014. The war in 2014 was started because Putin wanted it, not because Ukraine was oppressing the Russian minority.