This explains why Russia is hostile to the West/Europe.
Russia is in bind. The way out? Conquer Europe and thus increase its population problem against China.
That is really the only hope they have in the long run of maintaining territory.
Russia is having a hard time conquering anything and holding it. The Soviet Union fell apart because Russia was spread too thin. There are simply too few of them. They are learning to project their influence with fewer personnel. But there are limits. Georgia and the Ukraine are not Western Europe. Russia is trying to take back everything that NATO won’t defend. They are carefully testing NATOs resolve to see where they will act, and where they won’t. Their main goal is to keep strategic connections to trade routes through ports. Watch the Baltics.