Ukraine is viewed as a fascist/Nazi state due to Bandera, the Maidan coup, and the numerous swastikas.
any action taken against a fascist imperialist power (Ukraine, by extension NATO, by extension the United States) is critically supported, even if the state taking the action is itself problematic

People other than me might be able to clarify better or tell me I've interpreted the situation incorrectly

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 13 points 2 days ago

Expanding on 1: The Kiev state has taken to suppressing the Russian language, despite ethnic Russians living in Eastern Ukraine making up a sizable portion of Eastern Ukraine. This led to Donetsk and Luhansk seceding.

Expanding on 2: It isn't that any action taken against western powers is critically supported. Russia does a huge amount of trade with China, the DPRK, etc and has a rising socialist sympathy among the populace. Russia isn't simply trying to gain new colonial territory, but provide a buffer zone against further NATO buildup.

Russia is a reactionary capitalist state, but it's also one that has a population increasingly in favor of returning to socialism, and one that is on great terms with socialist countries, so it earns critical support. Russia is currently helping the global transition to socialism by taking a firm stance against NATO and by being a valuable ally to socialist countries, for the time being.