Actually I can understand Putin’s motives.
They are, in effect the actions of a classic expansionist empire. It is possible if the Russians handle it right that they can, should they ever relinquish their empire have fairly good relations with these ex-colonials as the British and Indians seem to get along well together
I realize this sound horrid but if the Russians were to go in there and convert all those South Siberian Muslims into Orthodox Christians it might even be a good thing in the long run
Russians are not carriers of Christianity.