For as long as there's been a Russian Empire Crimea has been either an aspiration or a strategic territory. It's the key to controlling the Black Sea and proje

For as long as there's been a Russian Empire Crimea has been either an aspiration or a strategic territory. It's the key to controlling the Black Sea and projecting power in SE Europe and the Caucauses. To some extent, it's the crown jewel of the Russian Empire. If you're an emperor (which Putin essentially is) it's very hard to explain away losing your crown jewel. It shatters the myth of a resurgent/strong Russia and would be an existential threat to Putin's regime. That's the why. Why now is a little bit trickier. But I think it's because of a fundamental weakness. Russia's military is essentially still the Soviet military. It's a decaying force using last generation military technology that is rapidly being left behind. MANPADs (infantry mobile air defense) & Javelins (anti-tank missiles) have all but rendered their planes, helicopters, and tanks obsolete. And, as a country, they are too corrupt and poor to modernize their military. They're going to win this war but it's obvious that they're mustering about the best invasion force they can and even then it's been a slow moving brutal war. Five more years of Russian decay and Ukrainian modernization would bring the outcome into doubt. Ten years and maybe it's impossible.