Donetsk People’s Republic is a non-recognised state in the Donbass region of Ukraine. When the War in Donbass started in 2014, a few hundred separatists proclaimed it in part of Donetsk Oblast. Donetsk Oblast is all to the east of Ukraine, at the border with Russia. Approximately at the same time, other people started Luhansk People's Republic in Luhansk Oblast. In both parts, there are many etrhnic Russians. Russia helped a lot to start these non-recognised states.