I don’t think territory and/or cities are a the main Russian target.
Putin is taking down the Deep State in Ukraine - this includes biolabs, chernobyl, and pockets of DS troops (Azov).
US funding of labs all over the former Soviet Union (including Russia) was a matter of public record: we didn't want anything leaking out, and we didn't want the researchers hiring themselves out to the Iranians, Saddam Hussein or other unsavory parties.