Every day, 5,000 Slavs are added to the Russian population of this region. As a result of demographic decline, the Russians are worried about the decline of the Slavic identity. I think this plays an important role in the region's demographic strategy and in Russia's identification with the region.
Strategically, Russia will try to control the region, either explicitly or implicitly, in order to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Earlier I mentioned the Russians' strategic reasons, both historical and current. The two sides are equal as regards the Donbass region, which is at the heart of the conflict.