It's Putin's Port Now

a pro-Russia rally outside Crimean parliament building, Feb. 28            Reuters

Verbiage about protecting Russian citizens aside, there are some very real and tangible reasons Vladimir Putin wants Crimea back, and they have as much to do with history as they do with geography (story, audio version): http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-03-03/here-s-why-russia-won-t-let-go-crimea