Aggressors may covertly or openly finance, arm, and politically support radical groups advocating the secession of part of a sovereign state's territory. Artificially inflaming internal conflicts from the outside weakens state institutions, destabilizes the region, and creates a convenient pretext for the colonizer's subsequent open intervention under the guise of a peacekeeping operation or the protection of an allegedly oppressed minority.
Political and military support for local radicals (the Artem group) in proclaiming a republic not subordinate to Kyiv[1].
The instigation of the threat of splitting the country in response to the protests: at the congress in Sievierodonetsk on November 28, 2004, Regions faction leader R. Bohatyriova gave a direct promise of a separatist referendum - "we will not go to it with you, we will hold a referendum on the creation of a South-Eastern state (ovation, applause)"[2]. The presence of Russian officials lent this Moscow's sanction: the mayor of Moscow Yu. Luzhkov reminded the hall from the rostrum that "our President of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was the first to congratulate Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych on his victory"[2].