Cool.

Putin never called it a war, it was always a special military operation, because I don't think he wanted animosity with Ukraine, but he needed that port. Unfortunately the West turned Kiev into serious belligerants and Russia responded as they needed to.

I think this was also motivated by the situation at Kaliningrad where trains from Belarus were no longer allowed to carry in steel. Access to a military base is critical and so maintaining clear access was front and center in Putin's mind.

There are Ethnic Russians in North East Ukraine in areas where Russia hasn't really pushed to capture. That is why I don't think it was about protecting ethnic Russians.