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In reply to the discussion: Putin Tells Obama Russia Will Act In Case of Ukraine Violence [View all]riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)Presumably that element in Crimea - approximately 60% - would self-identify as Russian Crimeans, and then there's the Crimean Tartars which are a substantial minority in Crimea (if I can recall its about 12% of the population) who certainly don't see themselves as Ukrainian and actually align more with Turkey.
Regardless.
None of those groups needed protection because the region was loosely and fairly peacefully held together as "Ukraine", including the Crimea, until the protests (and Yanukovich's overreaction) threw the place into chaos. So Putin is moving in to seize control of the Crimea, which identifies primarily as Russian.
And which holds the real prize - Russia's only warm water port Sevastopol.
Russia may be saying its about preserving the Russian element in Crimea but its really all about maintaining control of the port.
It doesn't help much that the government that's taken over in Yanukovich's place is similarly awful.
Really awful. So maybe the Crimean population DOES need saving. Its too early to say. Whatever, Putin isn't waiting.