“But they should be loyal to Ukraine, not Russia.”
They were, until the anti-Russian sentiment at the Maidan took over, with threats and actual legislation to wipe out Russian Culture within Ukraine, and cries of “Ukraine for Ukrainians!” after the coup.
Most of the original leaders, and many of the Militia leaders, are Ukrainian Russians, like Bezler, or “Motorola”. They saw Putin move on Crimea after the coup, and they saw it as their chance, as well.
As predicted, if the Right Sector/Svoboda took over the government, if you will recall discussions from Feb.
Obama backed the most radical elements in Ukraine to take power. So why is ANYONE surprised that it back-fired, and that the Russians, especially Putin, would take advantage of it?
Remember... If there had been no coup, there would be no civil war today, and Crimea would still have a Ukrainian Flag over it.
Oh, what bunk this is you slavishly repeat over and over and over. The measure was to make Ukrainian the single official language of the National Gov't, and had nothing to do with wiping out culture, any more than English as the US official language keeps anyone in the US from being as multicultural as they like. Even then, the Kiev leadership realized the measure could be used for propaganda, just as you use it, and immediately rolled it back.
the most radical elements...
More bunk.
If there had been no coup, there would be no civil war today
If there had been no coup, Russia would be running the country with nary a shot from Ukraine's military (except maybe at some disenchanted pro-Euro citizens.)