To your first point, the Ukraine government has incorporated hard core Nazi units into its military. These guys have swastikas emblazoned on their helmets.
Ukraine’s Azov battalion was once a volunteer force doing most of the fighting on the frontline in the Donbas. It was dubbed as the army’s ‘greatest weapon’ and biggest wild card. The battalion is infamous for stoking nationalist sentiment and attracting far-right volunteers from all over the world. Its fighters are known as some of the most battle-hardened and experienced in the country’s armed forces.
Now, the group is part of the National Guard and its official name is the "Azov" Special Forces battalion.
The Azov Battalion (Ukrainian language: Батальйон Азов ) is a far-right [1][2][3][4] all-volunteer infantry military unit forming part of military reserve of National Guard of Ukraine.[5][6][7][8] The unit is based in Mariupol in the Azov Sea coastal region.[9] It saw its first combat experience recapturing Mariupol from pro-Russian separatists forces in June 2014.[7] Initially a volunteer militia, formed as the Azov Battalion on 5 May 2014 during the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine, Azov has since been incorporated into and is armed by Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs.[10] All members of the unit are under contract of National Guard of Ukraine.[11] The Azov Battalion has been labelled neo-Nazi
Of course the Nazis dont want to be controlled by Russia.
To your second point, the actual Ukraine, with mostly Ukrainian speakers, is very small and has been part of the Russian Empire for 1300 years, even before the Czars controlled Russia. And before that occupied by the Golden Horde. The entire Donbass region was gifted to Ukraine in 1917 by the Bolsheviks. The Crimea was given to Ukraine by Krutschev in 1954.
The western end is made up of parts of Poland, Hungary, Romania and the former Czechoslovakia given to them in 1939 and some after WW2.
Ukraine has never been a country of its own until the breakup of the Soviet Union. It has always been a region inside the Russian Empire. Exactly the same disposition as its northern neighbor Belarus also called White Russia.
Russia is vast with many, many different ethnic groups. But Russia has maintained control over these regions for 1000+ years. From asians in Siberia to white europeans in the west, its always been one Russia.
Also the area between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea consisting of parts of Ukraine, Georgia and Kazakhstan is the homeland of the Khazars. During Roman times this area produced the Sarmatians. The Cossacks are also associated with this area. These are the Russian Steppes. The Volga, the Don, the Dneiper are all Russian rivers and always have been. The Vikings used a back route through Murmansk and Moscow, and these rivers, to reach Constantinople.
To your first point, the Ukraine government has incorporated hard core Nazi units into its military. These guys have swastikas emblazoned on their helmets.
https://112.international/article/the-controversial-rise-of-far-right-azov-regiment-5116.html
Now, the group is part of the National Guard and its official name is the "Azov" Special Forces battalion.
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Azov_Battalion
Of course the Nazis dont want to be controlled by Russia.
To your second point, the actual Ukraine, with mostly Ukrainian speakers, is very small and has been part of the Russian Empire for 1300 years, even before the Czars controlled Russia. And before that occupied by the Golden Horde. The entire Donbass region was gifted to Ukraine in 1917 by the Bolsheviks. The Crimea was given to Ukraine by Krutschev in 1954.
The western end is made up of parts of Poland, Hungary, Romania and the former Czechoslovakia given to them in 1939 and some after WW2.
Ukraine has never been a country of its own until the breakup of the Soviet Union. It has always been a region inside the Russian Empire. Exactly the same disposition as its northern neighbor Belarus also called White Russia.
Russia is vast with many, many different ethnic groups. But Russia has maintained control over these regions for 1000+ years. From asians in Siberia to white europeans in the west, its always been one Russia.
Thanks for the good summary.
Also the area between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea consisting of parts of Ukraine, Georgia and Kazakhstan is the homeland of the Khazars. During Roman times this area produced the Sarmatians. The Cossacks are also associated with this area. These are the Russian Steppes. The Volga, the Don, the Dneiper are all Russian rivers and always have been. The Vikings used a back route through Murmansk and Moscow, and these rivers, to reach Constantinople.