Russian military vehicles on parade in 2010. Source: Alexander Kuguchin/iStock Editorial/Thinkstock.
It's now clear that Russia won't simply sit back and watch as its power slips away in neighboring Ukraine. On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin requested, and was granted, parliamentary approval to send troops into its former Soviet state. And sometime thereabouts, he proceeded to do so.
Why is Russia risking the condemnation of the international community by invading a country that's said to be "as poor as Paraguay and as corrupt as Iran"? Motley Fool contributor John Maxfield answers this question in the presentation below, laying out the 10 most likely reasons Russia mounted an invasion -- click here to see how the move could affect ExxonMobil (XOM 0.12%).
As you'll see, the list spans demographic and historical considerations, as well as interests that are more tangible and immediate in nature -- including, among other things, access to and control over Ukraine's considerable agricultural and energy resources.
