>>63839466
Crimea - effectively no ukrainian government or chain of command during it happening; crimea itself being an "autonomous republic" simplifying things for a takeover; advantegeous geographic position and russian troops being stationed in sevastopol; lightning-fast execution. One day there's seemingly nothing happening except for unassuming mild protests/counterprotests seen across the country; the next the "green men" flood the streets, lock down every ukrainian military base and government building with a threat of "sit tight on your asses, dont try anything funny or else" while everybody understands everything about who they really are and who is behind them and unwilling to "provoke le mighty russia into actual war", then the government of crimea declares independence and soon after - a "referendum" and annexation. Less than a month since putin saying "go" till russia proclaiming crimea its region - a surgical strike against opponent confused and frozen with fear.
Also of course important to note that crimea isnt just another chunk of land for russian, eh, "imperial thought" - besides practical reasons of being a base for black sea fleet, its a powerful symbol of past military glories, a monument to accomplishments of empire at its peak, etc. From this point of view, it simply doesnt feel right to not have a crimea as a part of russia. Putin most likely shares this view, and, that might be a controversial thing to say, but not insignificant part of crimean population also did and does.
(also have some original content - a tank destroyed in summer 2014 at one of two, no longer remember which one, interchanges south of luhansk. photos taken 31 of january, 2015)

>>507735003
Crimea - effectively no ukrainian government or chain of command during it happening; crimea itself being an "autonomous republic" simplifying things for a takeover; advantegeous geographic position and russian troops being stationed in sevastopol; lightning-fast execution. One day there's seemingly nothing happening except for unassuming mild protests/counterprotests seen across the country; the next the "green men" flood the streets, lock down every ukrainian military base and government building with a threat of "sit tight on your asses, dont try anything funny or else" while everybody understands everything about who they really are and who is behind them and unwilling to "provoke le mighty russia into actual war", then the government of crimea declares independence and soon after - a "referendum" and annexation. Less than a month since putin saying "go" till russia proclaiming crimea its region - a surgical strike against opponent confused and frozen with fear.
Also of course important to note that crimea isnt just another chunk of land for russian, eh, "imperial thought" - besides practical reasons of being a base for black sea fleet, its a powerful symbol of past military glories, a monument to accomplishments of empire at its peak, etc. From this point of view, it simply doesnt feel right to not have a crimea as a part of russia. Putin most likely shares this view, and, that might be a controversial thing to say, but not insignificant part of crimean population also did and does.
(also have some original content - a tank destroyed in summer 2014 at one of two, no longer remember which one, interchanges south of luhansk. photos taken 31 of january, 2015)