As has been stated many times, hundreds of pages ago, it was an attempted coup backed up by a military invasion. When it didn't work Putin was stuck. So he just keeps mass murdering Ukrainians and throwing RU lives at it until he can get some kind of face-saving outcome. Meanwhile he'll keep undermining western political systems w disinformation and bribery -- cheap and effective. And once he's rebuilt he'll be at it again in the next ex-soviet republic, or in Moldova, or wherever else.
Actually I'd like to see UKR take a brigade or so and overrun Transnistria (sp?). That would be fun. I know they probably can't right now but would be dang good punch in the nose for ol' Putin.