What were the reasons for the Crimean war? who participated in it? what were the goals of russia in this war?

There were several reasons for the Crimean War, which lasted from 1853 to 1856. Russia needed to consolidate its position on the Black Sea, namely on the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. Also, Russia was interested in the division of the Ottoman Empire, since it was close to collapse. The pretext for starting the war was a confessional conflict between Catholics and Orthodox Christians. It was for the protection of the Orthodox population that Nicholas 2. Later, England and France joined the war, which did not want the strengthening of the Russian Empire and its establishment on the Black Sea.