Before its annexation, the movement's goal was the creation of a "federation of sovereign Donetsk", which would include seven regions of eastern and southern Ukraine.

[6] The movement won the 2014 Donbas general elections with 68.53% of the vote and 68 seats,[7] which were condemned as illegitimate and a violation of the Minsk ceasefire agreements between Ukraine, Russia, and the OSCE.

[12] At the beginning of 2007, representatives of the organization conducted number of activities in various cities of eastern Ukraine propagating the idea of separatism and federalization of the country.

[16] In the days and weeks prior until the postponement of the DNR October 2015 local elections (to 21 February 2016[17]) 90% of the (campaign) advertising was done by Donetsk Republic.

[18] On 23 July 2022 the public movement "Donetsk Republic" and the party "United Russia" signed a cooperation agreement, the document was signed by the secretary of the General Council of the United Russia party Andrey Turchak and the head of the Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin.