How? The eastern part of Ukraine is largely pro-Russian (and those who are not have mostly left the region after the war started) and Russia is actually rebuilding the cities they have taken over.

In other words, Russia is not treating Donbass like Iraq, and the people who live there (despite the very complicated feelings about the invasion) don’t see Russia like how the Iraqis saw the US occupying forces. Many of them still have families and relatives on both sides of the border.