The succeeding governments were chosen by legal elections. That Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk did not participate was not of their choice; it was imposed upon them by the Russian military.
They sought their independence and, then, voted to join the Russian Federation.
The 2014 referenda, as illegal as they were, were for autonomy within Ukraine, not independence or union with Russia. Only a dishonest person would defend the 2022 referenda. They were as bogus as a North Korean election, which is the only type that Putin could organize.
That is absolutely lie.
Those in those oblasts absolutely declared their independence and sought assistance from Russia.
Who the hell do you think you're fooling? The vast majority in all three oblasts voted for Yanukovych.
Your lies aren't believable to anyone that knows anything about the region.