A Russian stooge in the Crimea is asking Putin for military assistance, which of course Russia says it will grant.

It also appears someone in the Crimea is fighting back.

A few days ago I suggested that the Crimea should hold a plebiscite in two years to choose whether to be part of Ukraine. I still think that would be the proper course. If the Crimea's inhabitants are determined to rejoin Russia, it would be wrong to stop them by force. However, if Ukraine gets its democratic act together, a couple of years' reflection may convince the Crimeans that being ruled by Putin is undesirable.

Putin does not want them to have a chance to reflect.