The region needs people. Where to get them? People who are not a threat to Moscow and who can live in harsh climates. Geographically it may not be much bigger than the CONUS. Maps are deceptive and I’ll stand corrected with proof. Penal colony-the old Gulag. We pay for them to take our felons who in turn develop the region. The Gulag, like Devil’s island was a failure. Perhaps Guantanamo too due to costs. Capitol punishment on a mass scale? That would be genocide.
Over the past few years Russia’s been paying people to move to the Siberia area....additionally Russia’s building in the artic to create another trade route.