https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4050773/posts?page=14#14
I don’t think Putin is after a “formidable barrier” against NATO. He’s after the oil & gas.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4050271/posts?page=123#123
Look at the Azov Natural Gas Preserves region, and then look at Russia’s Occupation Map. He has captured all the land mass of the preserve and all the access land to the underwater portion of that preserve.
Here is another map of those oil/gas fields
https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4051091/replies?c=23