“Sham referendum” LOL!! I have friends living in Crimea, do you?? Practically all Crimean citizens wanted to become part of Russia & are still pissed that it was just HANDED OVER to Ukraine as a “gift. Study some history. Nice try, dude. Yoy haven’t a clue about Crimea ir it’s people.
The only thing Putin is mad about is the collapse of his beloved EVIL EMPIRE.
54% of Crimeans voted for Ukrainian independence in 1991. In Sevastopol City in was 57%.
Certainly in 1991 your statement that "practically all Crimean citizens...are still pissed that it (Crimea) was handed over to Ukraine as a gift" would be incorrect.
And since then, with a new generation of UKRAINIANS being born in Crimea, the number of Crimeans who are "pissed" that Crimea was Ukranian is probably even smaller.
Study some history.
Ironic.