MOSCOW, May 3. /TASS/. Russia’s State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin thinks that the breakup of Ukraine started as early as 2014 when a coup took place in that country.

"The breakup of Ukraine began after the state coup back in 2014 when Crimea left it. The DPR and LPR declared their independence, also seceding from Ukraine," he told journalists on Tuesday.

He also added that nowadays many residents in western Ukraine have already "received citizenship of Poland, Hungary."

"Over recent time, more than 5 mln people have left the country. This does not increase stability either. We also hear statements by the Kherson and other regions that they don’t want to be part of Ukraine. That’s the reality," the top lawmaker stressed.