Yes, but the Soviets also brought industry to the region, making it a powerhouse. Ukriane decided they wanted rid of it. So now they are, land and all. They only showed disrepect to the population who had built and maintained the industry there. The Ukrainians were helped along by Western vultures who were picking clean the carcasses of that what the Soviets had built.

I am not pro-soviet, as my objection to them is spiritual: one cannot ban religion. But when viewing bombed out schools and hospitals, factories and the planned industrial parks, all with bomb-shelters for the population, I see real planning and implementation: despite the fog of BS about reds under the beds we were brought up with. Furthermore, the Ukrainians stopped paying welfare and were taking potshots at the embattled population. Their logic was that they had made it uncomfortable, had layed siege and therefore anyone remaining in the area was a terrorist.

On the other hand, the Russians moved in February and immediately provided transport, food, medicine and repeat visits to help with documentation, bank-cards and even cell-phone connections to family members. They then started in on stopping the shelling. What's not to like? Who, in their right mind, would vote to remain under the Ukrainian rules?