zlacker

EU in 2008 was extremely biased towards Russia too, the appeasement was going full tilt, just like the tasty gas in the pipeline, so they are not exactly impartial party. I'm generally inclined to believe a victim country, not the invading empire, but you do you. And inconclusive doesn't mean definitely ruled out. Can be lack of evidence for either outcome.

And if you are that suspicious of that date, we can pick another. In 1992 Russia invaded independent Georgia (among other countries), so any action was towards occupation force, in defense.

PS: and if look throughout the history, we will find very few cases, when a smaller country attacks much bigger one especially after already losing at least one fight against them. And the opposite is true, there are hundreds and thousands of cases when a bigger country attacks the smaller one, especially after already winning once against them. And countless times when a bigger country lied about pretext for such attack, to be seen as not crazy murderers outright, but muddy waters and sow doubt. Russia succeeded it seems.