Ukraine and Russia: How Did a Widely Read Russian Newspaper Argue Russia's Case in 2014?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 had a significant preamble. In 2014, when then-President Yanukovych fled Ukraine amid the Maidan protests, the loss of its ally in Kyiv prompted Russia to instigate pro-Russian and military activities in Crimea. This culminated in Russia, after a disputed referendum, incorporating Crimea as a Russian republic on 18 March 2014. This article examines how the widely read Russian weekly newspaper Argumenty i Facty ( Arguments and Facts) portrayed events in the months prior to and following the annexation of Crimea. From December 2013 to March 2014, Argumenty i Facty published 122 articles and opinion pieces on the Ukrainian and Crimean events. A qualitative analysis of these articles reveals the narratives used to justify the annexation of Crimea, such as the plight of the sootechestvennik (literally "those who are with the fatherland"), referring to ethnic Russians residing outside Russia, and Ukraine's inferior quality of life compared to Russia's "powerful economy". While nostalgic references to a common history can be seen as 'velvet glove' enticement to split Ukraine and its eastern part to re-join Russia, an increasing number of articles also show Russia's mindset and determination to employ any means necessary to redraw borders to its ends.