Isn’t this an area that is Russian friendly?
Not to the Ukraine Army - they’re trying unsuccessfully to prevent Russia from building it’s landbridge by taking over those areas....but Ukraine army isn’t going to stop this.
I think th entire area will indeed end up Russian and they will determine later what areas to rebuild but it will be Russian citizens no doubt.
Yes. After the 2014 coup, it was one of the first cities to opt out and they were immediately attacked by the Uke militias sent out from Kiev.
It was called Slavyansk until the Uke ethnic cleansing and language laws hit. It was one of the first battles in 2014 when the Uke army attacked.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sloviansk