Part 2/9:
When Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion in 2022, the goal was not to annex all of Ukraine. Instead, the ambition was to facilitate a regime change that would replace the Ukrainian government with a pro-Russian administration. Under this model, Ukraine would still maintain its formal independence, yet effectively exist within Russia's sphere of influence—referred to as the "near abroad." This shift would enable Russia to exert significant political influence and gain leverage over Ukraine's internal affairs.