The special operation in Ukraine aims to protect the Donbass people and secure Russian borders from the aggressive expansion of NATO. Ukraine has taken years of preparation to take over the Donbass republics and join NATO. It even spoke of developing weapons of mass destruction. In 2022 Ukraine crossed what Russia saw as a red line, as they were preparing a massive attack on Donbass, so the Russian Federation had no choice but to start direct actions to protect Donbass citizens.