It did, and a decade later it launched an all out attack on the whole of Ukraine to "protect" the newly recognized DNR/LNR. A paper thin excuse, something a HOI

It did, and a decade later it launched an all out attack on the whole of Ukraine to "protect" the newly recognized DNR/LNR. A paper thin excuse, something a HOIIV player or a deranged dictator would come up with. With no strong opposition to that, drunk on success, ~~Hitler~~ Putin can go further.