I apologize if that equivalence was implied in my statement. I'm imperfectly recalling a conversation I had almost a year ago at this point. I think a better p

I apologize if that equivalence was implied in my statement. I'm imperfectly recalling a conversation I had almost a year ago at this point. I think a better phrasing would be, given the option of who governed where they lived, the social benefits were a stronger draw than any sort of patriotic or nationalistic feeling they had toward Kiev. I suspect many in Moscow expected this to go like the annexation of Crimea went- probably illegitimate, but small enough that it would be over quickly. After all, how could the tiny country of Ukraine possibly expect to hold a small territory out against the entire Russian military? Clearly, that's not what happened. I don't think anyone living there now is glad it happened like this, let alone the people who aren't alive to voice their opinion on the matter.