Russia has plenty on their plate and was content with stability and economic development within a zone around their own borders.
They commenced current Syrian operations more of necessity than desire.
Russian operations with more of an element of desire typically have an ethnic Russian population of concern involved.
Agreed but this statement:
They commenced current Syrian operations more of necessity than desire.
...is not all true.
Russia needed to “help” Syria in order to establish a foothold (and at least 2 big bases) in Syria.
She also needed a proving grounds for all her weapons system developed since 1980.
She has succeeded in both.
Just as Nazi Germany needed Spain in 1936 to test out her weapons of war, so too, Putin needs Syria to do the same.