The CIA backed led Maidan protest in 2013 started it.
Once the elected President was ousted by an undemocratic mob, the sovereignty of Ukraine became a moot point.
Absent constitutional order, Eastern Ukraine had a natural right to self determination and Donbas militias were formed to resist the western backed fascists in Kiev.
In 2015 the Donbas militias defeated the Kiev regime and the Minsk Accords codifying their autonomy an reintegration into Ukraine were signed.
However the Kiev fascists along with their deceitful Western partners never intended to implement Minsk, but rather use the ceasefire to build/train a better equipped army.
On the eve of 2022 it became clear that the Kiev fascists had massed another Army and with western backing were about to mount another all out assault on Donbas in contravention of Minsk.
The Russians quickly granted protection status to the Donbas and Ukraine dramatically increased its shelling of Donbas in response, which led to the decision by Russia to attack on Feb 23, 2022.
Absent constitutional order, Eastern Ukraine had a natural right to self determination and Donbas militias were formed to resist the western backed fascists in Kiev.
Supplementary.
Crimea declared independence, was recognized by Russia, requested annexation, and was annexed by Russia in 2014.
The LPR and DPR declared independence in 2014 but were not recognized by Russia until 2022. Russia entered into a mutual assistance (defense) agreement with both the DPR and LPR. Upon further belligerent actions by Ukraine, Russia entered with military force pursuant to the mutual assistance (defense) agreements.
Crimea has existed independent of Ukraine for going on nine years. If LPR and DPR successfully establish their independence, it will date back to 2014.
http://duma.gov.ru/en/news/53516/
February 22, 2022
Members of the State Duma at the plenary meeting unanimously supported ratification of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Lugansk People's Republic and the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Donetsk People's Republic.The Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier submitted those treaties to the State Duma following signing orders on DPR and LPR recognition.
“A coup d'état took place in Ukraine exactly eight years ago. This is the root of the problem which had caused a conflict in the Donbass. Both presidents, Poroshenko and Zelensky, had all opportunities and time to implement the Minsk agreements. But nothing has been done. They care more about holding on to power than about the citizens of the country,” the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin posted on his Telegram channel.
“All those years after the collapse of the USSR, Russia has done a lot to help Ukraine to become a sovereign state: it paid off the Soviet Union’s debts, supplied energy resources at reduced prices, and much more,” he stressed.
“The decision to ratify the treaties is the only way to protect people, stop the fratricidal war, prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and bring peace,” emphasized Vyacheslav Volodin.
“Those agreements are concluded for a period of 10 years and maybe automatically extended for subsequent five-year periods, if none of the contracting parties declares their desire to terminate it by written notification no later than six months before the expiration of the next period,” says one of the articles of the Treaty between Russia and the DPR. A similar article is included in the text of the Treaty with the LPR.
There was introduced an amendment for the second reading, according to which both documents would come into force on February 22.
A week ago, members of the State Duma appealed to the Russian President to recognize Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics as sovereign and independent states.