Hence the rebels fighting for their freedom.
Many Russians sent to Ukraine due to the willingness of Ukrainians to fight against USSR in WWII.
The Wagner Russian mercenaries with Spetznatz background were fairly ineffective in Ukraine, as Ukraine government still exists.
Part of the payback was the ill advised Wagner Russian attack against US special ops in Syria which resulted in over 200 Russians being killed.
When I see pro-russian separatist fly the hammer and sickle I don’t exactly think freedom is what their intentions are