 
 <prompt> Wetin bin dey act as buffer for the Ottomans before? Based on di previous question, write one context wey contain di answer. E fit be 1 - 20 sentences. Context: <response>: For over 200 years, Russia don dey expand southwards across the sparsely populated "Wild Fields" towards the warm water ports of the Black Sea wey no dey freeze like the few other ports wey dey for north. The aim na to promote year-round trade and navy wey dey operate all year round. Pursuit of dis goal carry the emerging Russian state enta conflict with the Ukrainian Cossacks and later with the Tatars of the Crimean Khanate and Circassians. When Russia conquer these groups and gain control of southern Ukraine, wey dem call New Russia during Russian imperial times, the Ottoman Empire lose their buffer zone against Russian expansion, and Russia and the Ottoman Empire begin dey fight directly. The fight with the Ottoman Empire also get religious importance, as Russia see themselves as the protector of Orthodox Christians, many of whom dey live under Ottoman control and dey treat as second-class citizens. 