Independence from who? The evidence that it has significantly happened is the 2014 LDNR referendums and the following harsh resistance of Donbas militias again

Independence from who? The evidence that it has significantly happened is the 2014 LDNR referendums and the following harsh resistance of Donbas militias against Ukrainian forces (absolute majority of the soldiets being locals since how would you convince a large number of Russians to go and risk their lives in an unrecognized state). Donbas population is basically miners bearing automatic weapons. Not too easy to control if they oppose you on a fundamental level.