It was widely reported that Crimea was mostly Russian speaking and many there leaned pro-Russia, especially around the referendum ( in the sense that the result

It was widely reported that Crimea was mostly Russian speaking and many there leaned pro-Russia, especially around the referendum ( in the sense that the results were obviously fake, but there was a kernel of truth). And yes, many in Eastern Ukraine considered themselves more Russian than Ukrainian. No more: https://on.ft.com/35jWHzB https://on.ft.com/35jWHzB