Could Russia Be Planning Another Invasion? But is it possible that Vladimir Putin could move to invade another neighboring country, likely one that was part of the former Soviet Union Back in early 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine, shortly after Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich went into exile. Russia took control of the Crimea region, ultimately annexing it the following month. The United States and other countries responded with sanctions, leading to a period of strained U.S./Russian relations, culminating in the Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. But is it possible that Vladimir Putin could move to invade another neighboring country, likely one that was part of the former Soviet Union?