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The civil war was started after

1. Yanukovych abandoned an EU FTA deal that almost all Ukrainian politicians from all parties including his own had supported, and had been working on for six months. Although Putin denies it, there’s strong evidence of Russian pressure being a factor.

2. Yanokovych signed a private deal with Putin on 17th December 2013 that effectively handed the finances of Ukraine over to Moscow. In total violation of Ukraine’s Constitution (such deals must be ratified by their Rada), and in violation of the Budapest Memorandum.

3. As a consequence of the backlash and violent protests, a spate of resignations including by the prime minister brought the government down.

4. In accordance with the constitution, Yanukovych agreed to a process to install a caretaker government pending elections. 24 hours later he abandoned his post and turned up in Russia.

5. While in Russia, Yanukovych green-lit Russian engagement in Crimea and ordered Ukraine’s forces to stand aside.

Remind me... what’s the correct process in the event that a POTUS is judged to have been irretrievably compromised, imprisoned, or under coercion AND the result is American forces being told to ignore a hostile military invasion?

I don’t think its emergency break glass process would be “wait six months for a constitutional debate to issue its report and then maybe hold some primaries”.

So fir entirely defensible reasons, point 5 motivated the Rada to vote in a significant majority to remove their absentee president from office before he did something even more seditious.

Although this wasn’t entirely in line with the Constitution Ukraine could hardly allow Yanukovych to continue issuing orders enabling Russian forces while tying the hands of Ukrainian troops, from his prison/palace in Moscow.

Naturally this resulted in civil war between separatists and the loyalists.