Globe and Mail: they are not "separatist rebels" by any definition of this term, Russian-supported or pro-Russian either–time to be clearer with these terms. This is a Russian hybrid force, Russian-trained & supported. If you worked for 6+ years to foment unrest in another country, brought in your own operatives  and literally put your own hand-picked leaders in charge, then created fake reasons for a fake uprising while thousands of your troops invaded that country with no insignia and continue to support a hybrid army you create through your special operatives terrifying and abducting locals and giving them no choice while your own whitewashed troops continue to move in specialists, equipment, refueling trucks, provisions, massive amounts of weapons supplies and set up all kinds of base camps (all of this has been unequivocally substantiated and the proof posted, so please inform yourselves if you don't know this, but you do) - you would not call this any kind of "separatist rebels."