The problem with that argument is that Crimea had been considered a part of Russia as far back as about the founding of the United States, and prior to that had

The problem with that argument is that Crimea had been considered a part of Russia as far back as about the founding of the United States, and prior to that had nothing to do with a Ukrainian National project. Crimea isn't even mentioned by name once in the Wikipedia article you linked. Why would they be targeted as Ukrainians at that time? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1954_transfer_of_Crimea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1954_transfer_of_Crimea