The referendum was
1. After Russian special ops occupied Crimea
2. After the dissenting Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars were chased away.
3. After Soviet era population replacement bussing in Russians and bussing out native Ceimean Tatars, Greeks, Ukrainians etc.
No matter how many times the world leaders have propped up Ukraine it remains a failed state...and it will be so in the future. Clearly it's History shows this...time and time again.