Russia Had Longstanding Plans to Invade and Control Ukraine
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Russia had plans for large-scale invasion of Ukraine since 2008, expecting unrest in 2015 when Yanukovych would manipulate his re-election.
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Putin aimed to annex southeast Ukraine as "Novorossiya," leave western Ukraine, and install a puppet government in Kyiv loyal to Russia.
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Dismemberment of Ukraine has been Russia's goal for decades since the Soviet collapse.
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Putin's interest in controlling Ukraine sharpened after visiting in 2001, seeing Ukraine's beauty and history.
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After failed attempts like the Tuzla conflict, Russia concluded it must install a Russia-loyal government in Kyiv to exert control.