A large rally in Donetsk celebrates the anniversary of the liberation of the Donbass from fascism during World War II. The Donbass rebel movement combined just opposition to discrimination against Russian speakers with, on the one hand, reactionary Russian nationalism and, on the other hand, healthy sympathy for the former Soviet Union and hatred of fascism. However, the bitterness of the recent war and the presence of fascists fighting on both sides have served to increase the strength of Russian nationalists/chauvinists in the rebel movement as the war has progressed.