“Ukraine has a terrible history of mistreatment by old Soviet Union and now Russia. “
In 1954, likewise. Ukraine took Russians and their territory.
Khrushchev gave Sevastopol, Crimea, and parts of East Ukraine to create a “complete” Ukraine. Apparently done with no protest by the Duma, as it was viewed as normal back then.
Khrushchev himself was raised in Ukraine, so it could be seen as normal USSR process.