So was Ukraine:) Part of Russia/USSR until 1991. Crimea is a special case - it was always assumed to be "Russian" even under Ukrainian rule. Ukrainians themselv

So was Ukraine:) Part of Russia/USSR until 1991. Crimea is a special case - it was always assumed to be "Russian" even under Ukrainian rule. Ukrainians themselves never fully considered Crimea as their own. That is why it fell off so quickly and easily. Historically it has been part of Russia, true, but more importantly is never stopped being "Russian" in terms of self identity (unlike Lwow or Volyn for example, that were Ukrainianized in a rather brutal way).