I would more closely liken it to Russia’s invasion of the Crimea in 1853...............same place............same ‘excuse’
From Wiki:
Russia and the Ottoman Empire went to war in October 1853 over Russia’s rights to protect Orthodox Christians [in Crimea].
Russia didn’t invade Crimea in 1853. It owned Crimea.
England, France and the Ottomans invaded Crimea.
Did the U.S. attack Japan at Pearl Harbor?