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The area is the center of the Russian Black Sea fleet based in Sevastopol. Following Ukrainian independence there were unsuccessful attempts at Ukrainianization. The Russian society in general and even some government officials never accepted the loss of Sevastopol and regarded the separation from the homeland as temporary. Kiev's disregard of the region exacerbated that impression.

The  Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) rather than the Kyivan Patriarchate was the dominant church.

In the six years prior to the Russian annexation the American administration did nothing to prepare for what happened. During the 2012 debate with Romney the President Barack Obama laughed at the idea Russia posed any threat. He also promised then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev "more flexibility" after the election. They believed him.

http://dailycaller.com/2016/12/12/remember-when-obama-pledged-more-flexibility-to-putin-after-winning-the-2012-election-video/