Armies invade Eastern Ukraine? What planet do you live on. Donetsk and Luhansk wanted to separate from Ukraine and Ukraine invaded them. Yes the Russians have tacitly backed them otherwise they would have been slaughtered by now as the two provinces were primarily inhabited by Russians. Crimea voted to leave Ukraine in a legal referendum. The US provided money to the Ukraine to illegally overthrow the legally elected government of Ukraine. It was a coup d'etat plain and simple. The Russians to their credit have been very patient. They did not steal Ukraine's lands. Much of what today is Ukraine had been a part of Russia for centuries. An accident of history had Khrushchev create the Ukraine republic including Crimea. The Russians were ok with their leasing of the naval base in Crimea but it was being threatened by Ukraine after the coup. Russia did what they had to do to protect their interests just like I am sure the US would do what they have to do protect Guantanamo in Cuba.