Brief history Crimea - this is the first paragraph of its Wikipedia page :

"Status Internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory occupied by Russian Federation;
Population Increase 2,416,856

Crimea[a] (/kraɪˈmiːə/ (listen) kry-MEE-ə is a peninsula in Ukraine, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, that has been occupied by Russia since 2014. "

Well actually, Crimea became an annexed part of Russia in 1783 - it has continuously part of Russia for 170 years until 1954 when its control was transferred to Ukraine, then still then an integral part of the USSR. In 1992 it became a semi-automonous part of newly independent state of Ukraine, which after the US facilitated coup in 2014, was re-annexed by Russia. It is my belief that this re-annexation saved a possible civil war, with the US fomenting and supporting any rebellion, , and many thousands of deaths.

Urkaine's independent control of Crimea amount to almost exactly 30 years as compared to its being part of Russia/USSR for 210 years.

This history, and demographics, shows that, assuming a life expectancy of 70 years, that more than half the citizens of Crimea were actually born in the USSR. It would be natural that the majority would much prefer to be Russian, than living under a US backed corrupt puppet regime in Kiev

As for the Tartars? Well -- they might have other views.

This chart shows the demographics of Urkaine over some 250 years



Berletic explains a survey conducted by an American backed company as to the wishes of the citizens of Crimea prior to the re-annexation.

A survey or national referendum (Wiki claims "illegal" which is obviously nonsense as it took place in then Russian territory) strongly supported membership of the Russian Federation. But of course, the west doesn't recognise this because, we say, you cannot trust a referendum taking place under occupation. At this, you give a hollow laugh, and shout HYPOCRISY. Because didn't the West/USA organise so called free elections in Afghanistan and Iraq, not just once but many times, under its own occupation of those countries which they claimed was bringing democracy to these benighted countries. .

Again, the "rules based" order of US hegemony.

So, why in view of this history and the wishes of the Crimeans themselves, is Ukraine so determined to regain control? I think I see the guiding hand of Uncle Sam here, the strategic importance of Crimea to Russia, and the US, is enormous, home to Russia's warm water naval port. How wonderful to get control of these facilities by employing yet more Ukrainians to die in the process. The murderous cynicism of the US has no bounds.