Points I’d like to correct or see included:
1) the “vote” was an absolute joke, tightly controlled by armed men, and not even Russian media was allowed .
2) From what I understand, lots of Russian pensioners, following Moscow’s encouragement and moved to Crimea. Population displacement has been a Russian / Soviet strategy for centuries.
3) Two points for historic context:
a. Upon the collapse of the Soviet Union, 55% of Crimeans voted to join independent Ukraine.
b. As part of Ukraine giving up it’s arsenal of nuclear weapons, Moscow signed the Budapest Memorandum, promising to recognize and respect Ukraine’s borders.