[goldstategop]

So it begins. Moscow has little reason to pay heed to the West and the temptation to weaken Kiev is outright irresistible.

[Count of Monte Fisto]

As Ukraine appears to have all but conceded Crimea to Moscow, ethnic Russians in Kherson, the province just north of the peninsula, are believed to be pushing a secession vote of their own in what a local leader angrily denounced as "treason."

All the pro-Russia protestors need to do to surround this local leader's building and start throwing Molotov cocktails. Then Obama, the EU, and the Corporate Media can declare them freedom fighters and recognize their coup junta as the legitimate government.

[FreeReign]

Ethnic Russians make up only 14.1% of Kherson Oblast.

[Navy Patriot]

“We will not allow the country to be broken up further,” said Mykola Mikolayenko, mayor of the province’s similarly named capital city. “If [pro-Russia] city council members want Kherson to join Russia, they better think again. It won't be tolerated. This is treason.”

Don't worry Mickey, Obama's got your back.

[katana]

Part and parcel of establishing an Azov shore land corridor between Russia proper and the Crimea. That it would cut Ukraine off from access to an important body of water both economically and strategically and weaken what’s left of the country is probably considered a plus in the Kremlin.

[caveat emptor]

The province has a huge ethnic Russian population,

Likely confusing ethnic Russian with Russian speaking.

[GeronL]

Bite by bite

[NaturalBornC1t1zen]

Is this how California will ultimately return to Mexico?

[Cowboy Bob]

Obama is forcing Putin to act this way.

[Mike Darancette]

Crimea 58% Russian ethnicity Kherson 14.4%.