Hmmm, sounds like something we've heard before...
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/02/world/europe/ukraine-politics/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
The map above shows the percentage of various Ukrainian populations for which Russian is their native language.
Currently, there are Russian troops occupying Crimea.
As you can see from the map, over 75% of citizens in Crimea have described Russian as their native tongue. This suggests very strong ties, politically, culturally, economically, etc, to Russia.
Did you know the Soviet Union gifted Crimea to Ukraine in 1954?
