“Liberate”? From the fate of being constantly bombarded by the russians? Who am I kidding, they will continue to bombard it regardless.
Eastern Ukraine generally supports Russia over Kiev, which is why the Ukrainian Civil War was going on for a decade prior to Russia’s entry. From most people’s perspective, this is liberation for them. The Ukrainian hardliners have generally moved westward, those that remain are generally waiting for Russia’s advance.
While eastern Ukraine was always more pro-russian, the argument that a majority or even a sizable minority supported the annexation by russia is a russian lie. The separatist movement that led to the donbas war was majorly influenced by russian forces, as the former FSB agent Igor Girkin himself admitted.
It’s completely understandable that the people that saw their elected president overthrown by fascists would want to secede.
