Yes, but to be clear, they were not conducted by Russians, but by pro-Hitler pro-Nazi Ukrainians, like these guys.
All of the Russian "separatist" leaders, most with ties to the FSB, are Neo-Nazis or out and out Fascists and Monarchists with strong sympathies for Adolf Hitler. They've even posed for photographs, just before invading, posing with Swastika armbands. In comparison, the so-called Neo-Nazis in Ukraine hardly number above a thousand, and Azov has become so liberalized now that there are Jewish and minority volunteers fighting beside them.
Russia's media is also routinely anti-Semitic. Hence why Ukraine's Jews are overwhelmingly anti-Moscow.
These truths have been explained hundreds of times on this forum, yet you still insist on spreading these misleading posts.
So desperate to defend the motherland, the subject needed to be changed
The only reason Azov existed was the Soviet invasion of 2014. They have almost no political support. Now shall we discuss why national-bolshevik ideologist Dugin is taught in Russian war colleges? Stop being Lord Haw Haw for the Red Chinese-KGB Russian alliance and remember you were once a patriot and anticommunist. A man of courage and principle Man up enough to think for yourself.