“We Don’t Need Donbas”: Russian State Duma and TV Make Shocking Admission (Video)

A surprising admission was made on Russian state television when a State Duma deputy openly stated that Russia never intended to annex Donbas and had no real need for the region. This unexpected statement came during a programme hosted by Kremlin propagandist Olga Skabeeva, where the official openly contradicted years of Russian claims that Donbas was historically Russian and had to be “protected” by Moscow. Ukrainian journalist Denis Kazansky highlighted the statement, pointing out how Russian propaganda sometimes exposes its own lies.

For years, the Kremlin has justified its military aggression by portraying Donetsk and Luhansk as historically Russian lands, insisting that they needed to be saved from Ukraine. However, this latest admission confirms what Ukraine has always known—Russia has never seen these regions as anything more than a tool for geopolitical manipulation. Rather than genuinely seeking to integrate Donbas, Moscow has used it as a means to destabilise Ukraine, fuel war, and justify its broader imperial ambitions.

While Russia continues to destroy Ukrainian cities, its propaganda machine has shifted to new disinformation campaigns. The Kremlin is now attempting to damage Ukraine’s relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia by spreading fake documents suggesting that Kyiv is trying to provoke a conflict between the two countries. This strategy aims to distract international attention and force Russia to open another front, further straining its military resources.

Donetsk and Luhansk have long been at the centre of Russian imperial ambitions. Though Russia has spent centuries attempting to erase their Ukrainian identity, these regions have remained resilient. Following Ukraine’s independence, local communities worked to reclaim their cultural heritage, distancing themselves from Moscow’s influence. The war that began in 2014 brutally disrupted this process, with Russia using the excuse of “protecting Russian speakers” to justify its ongoing occupation. The reality is clear—Donbas was never about protecting people, it was always about power and control.