In talking with the supporters of federalization and regional republics in the east of Ukraine who call themselves separatists, you often hear similar reasons given for their protest. Further discussion often highlights significant contradictions in the separatists’ arguments about reasons for their protests. These are the top 8 contradictions most often cited.

1. Nobody has brought Donbas to its knees and nobody will.

No matter that if Ukrainian citizens had not started EuroMaidan but accepted total corruption, officials’ impunity, pillaging and repression under Yanukovych and meekly awaited new presidential elections, the whole country would be brought to its knees, including Donbas.