In some ways Putin is probably worse than Stalin. They both use(d) mass murder as an instrument to advance policy. But I don’t see evidence Stalin had the lust for personal wealth that Putler does. No real patriot would rape the wealth of his people as Putin has.
Why would Stalin, from Tbilisi, have any “patriotism” for Moscow? He was an internationalist-type Communist even in spite of his “socialism in one country” publicized theories, which actually showed a tendency towards national socialism just to keep the people in relatively good spirits.
Communist one-party states are kleptocracies first and foremost.
Putin pretends to be a conservative and a christian, so the dumb and dumber buy in.