Putin with the Russian far-right motorcycle gang the Night Wolves. On this day in 2014, this gang would help the Russian "little green men" seize government buildings in Crimea and block access to key areas of the peninsula, paving the way for the Russian takeover of Crimea.
When Putin talks of his pretexts for invading Ukraine always know that it is projection. He is quite cozy with the far-right. The Night Wolves, like the Wagner Group, received substantial financial support from the Kremlin. He's quite willing to use far-right extremists as propaganda tools and paramilitary arms of his regime.
The leader of the Night Wolves is currently under US sanctions.