The Crimean incident occurred only a few weeks after the Ukrainian government was overthrown (which killed many ethnic Russians living in Kiev). If Putin hadn't had "asserted" himself (for lack of a better word), it's likely that Ukraine would have started killing ethnic Russians.
Note the "Ukraine will be Ukraine" comment.
(Just a side-note that I don't advocate for Putin's actions, but I'd rather see him invade Crimea than see a genocide of innocent people)
Ukraine would have started killing ethnic Russians if Putin hadn't "asserted himself"? What?
According to who though? Kremlin propaganda?
Who's to say that the invasion is solely what's preventing an ethnic Russian genocide from happening regardless.
I always thought of his claims of "genocide" as an excuse to expand his power into his region.
Are there murders and intimidation of the ethnic Russians? Absolutely. But genocide?
Have you seen the reactions to that picture on Facebook from the guy that joked about the plane disappearing when he was about to board it?
Truly heartbreaking
I agree tho
