Alexander Zakharchenko and Igor Plotnitsky were both very clearly Nazis and both were installed by Russia.

https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/jewish-groups-condemn-anti-semitic-remarks-by-rebel-leaders-in-ukraine

As for ballot stuffing:

https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-elections-voting-vladimir-putin-1a072af8580b05b134bd22df95a5ae83

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/19/494549560/putins-united-russia-party-wins-big-in-election-some-ballot-stuffing-seen

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/03/20/fraud-violations-and-pressure-election-observers-describe-russian-2024-presidential-vote-a84508

Anybody claiming that was a legitimate election is not arguing in good faith.