He wanted to restore order in Ukraine from Donbass.

Source: https://eng.belta.by/president/view/lukashenko-on-peace-prospects-in-ukraine-156705-2023/

In his words, the Washington administration is giving a "green light" for using US assistance to attack Crimea and "covers crimes committed by radicals against population of Donbass, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions."

Source: https://en.mehrnews.com/news/196611/Russia-to-destroy-US-tanks-NATO-equipment-if-Kyiv-gets-them

It was estimated over 14,000 ethnic Russians of the former Ukraine’s Eastern region of the Donbass were killed in the war.

Source: https://www.blueprint.ng/massive-cyber-attack-of-the-au-is-ukraine-complicit/

Let the people in Crimea and the Donbass choose their destinies.

Source: https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/03/us-exceptionalism-and-the-wars-in-syria-and-ukraine/

Neo-Nazi militias destroyed temples and killed clergy and believers in Donbass during hostilities against resistance forces.

Source: https://www.weeklyblitz.net/opinion/russian-orthodox-bishop-denounces-ukrainian-crimes-at-unsc/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=russian-orthodox-bishop-denounces-ukrainian-crimes-at-unsc

… Since 2014, Donbass has been fighting for the right to live in their land and to speak their native tongue.

Source: https://americanfreepress.net/russian-presidential-address-to-federal-assembly/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=russian-presidential-address-to-federal-assembly

This was said by the president of the country Donbass belonged to.

Source: https://www.weeklyblitz.net/international/russian-foreign-minister-sergey-lavrovs-remarks-and-answers-to-media-questions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=russian-foreign-minister-sergey-lavrovs-remarks-and-answers-to-media-questions

Ukraine takes tentative step toward EU membership as Donbass battles reach 'frightening climax'

Source: https://www.mutiny.in/why-the-conflict-in-sudan-matters-to-the-rest-of-the-world/

Ukrainian soldiers work with "pion" artillery in the northern direction of the Donbass frontline as the war continues in Donetsk, Ukraine.

Source: https://www.odt.co.nz/news/world/moscow-ends-self-proclaimed-ceasefire-ukraine

Without a doubt, the vast majority of the population there and in the Donbass are Russian and feel Russian.

Source: https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/02/06/the-ukraine-war-in-the-light-of-the-un-charter/