So you admit the Russian supported separatists did start a civil war in the Donbass area of Ukraine, it is a start. When separatists supported by a hostile foreign power violently seize chunks of territory of course the victim country's armed forces are going to try to take it back, it is not provocation. What did Russia do in Chechnya? People on both sides will be killed, the responsibility is on the instigators. If it is a civil war, as you admit, other countries must not interfere. If one does, like Russia has, they can't reasonably oppose support or even intervention from other outside states.