Abstract: The subject of this research is the two projects on reforming the Ukrainian State at the time of severe political crises: South-East Ukrainian Autonomous Republic, which was a response to Orange Revolution of 2004; and Novorossiya, which became a response of the Eastern regions of Ukraine to the events of Euromaidan. The author meticulously analyzes the differences between these two projects that led to failure in one case, and became the key to success in the other. In conclusion, the author makes a forecast of development of the Ukrainian conflict. The research methodology contains the comparative analysis (events of 2004 and 2014) and historical analysis (brief insight into the history of Ukraine and historical prerequisites for the projects). The Russian modern scientific literature lacks studies focusing on the South-East Ukrainian Autonomous Republic, therefore this article is the first Russian-language research dedicated to detailed examination of this phenomenon of the Ukrainian political life. The author explores the geopolitical, historical, and political prerequisites for this phenomenon, emphasizing that many of its ideas underlied the Minsk Agreements.