ANALISIS KETERLIBATAN RUSIA DALAM REFERENDUM WILAYAH SEPARATIS UKRAINA DONETSK DI TAHUN 2022 - 2023

This study will focus on Russia's interests in the referendum held by the Donetsk region which is part of the separatist republic of Ukraine. The Donetsk Republic is a de facto region of Ukraine dominated by Ukrainian separatist groups who are pro-Russian. The purpose of this study is to find out the reasons for Russia's involvement in the Donetsk region referendum. In February 2022, Russia deployed its military to secure the Donetsk region referendum process. This study uses a descriptive qualitative method and uses the theory of national interest in examining and analyzing Russia's involvement in the referendum of the separatist republic of Donetsk in 2022-2023. The results of the analysis of Russia's involvement in the Donetsk region referendum are the geopolitical interests of Russia that make the Donetsk region a strategic area to maintain Russia's geopolitical influence in Eastern Europe. Ukraine, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, wants integration with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), strongly opposed by Vladimir Putin who triggered the Russia-Ukraine war, and caused the Eastern Ukraine region to want to join the Ukrainian Federation.