Crimea is 70% ethnically Russian and the majority wanted to become part of Russia. Russia invaded and held a vote. Ukraine's response to that was that the vote should not have happened not because it was undemocratic, but because it was unconstitutional.
If the invasion involved limited or no violence and ended up with a democratic vote that was otherwise going to be suppressed, I'm not so sure that's such a bad thing.
The inability for countries to peacefully reorganise themselves with clear democratic mandates, both enabling the rights of the majority while protecting the rights of the minority, is a major problem, and one that could well define the 21st century.
Crimea is 70% ethnically Russian and the majority wanted to become part of Russia. Russia invaded and held a vote. Ukraine's response to that was that the vote should not have happened not because it was undemocratic, but because it was unconstitutional.
Their story was pretty solid.