Is russia trying to start a war with the Ukraine just like it did with Georgia from last year?

Maybe not start a war because, unlike Georgia, Ukraine is heavily armed with a strong military. A tiger cannot change its stripes. Russia has been a bully throughout its history--whether tsarist, Communist, or "Democratic". It will continue to bully its neighbors and modern Russia will continue to try to rebuild its empire by any means possible. After all, Russia is being run by (former) members of the KGB.