The question is why Putin gave them the green light now.
I did see Russian accusations of Ukraine stealing from the gas pipeline last week or so.
“The question is why Putin gave them the green light now.”
As I keep saying, look at the bigger picture.
Putin likely wants this settled, now, (or at least the advantage), to clear the decks for the upcoming Syria confrontation that Obama wants authorization for.
The political situation was getting tense in Kiev before this, so they likely think this is the time to lay on the pressure.
Ukraine’s Fault(tm).