The primary reason cited by Russia for its invasion of Ukraine was:
- To counter alleged Ukrainian aggression and protect ethnic Russians
Russia claimed that it intervened in Ukraine to defend ethnic Russians and Russian-speaking populations in eastern Ukraine from what it viewed as Ukrainian aggression. This rationale was used to justify its military involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
It's important to note that there were other reasons as well, such as geopolitical interests, historical ties, and strategic considerations, but the protection of ethnic Russians was a key justification provided by Russia for its actions.