I have been living in Russia for over two decades. I know of the Putin phenomenon well. One of my Russia/Putin analyses.
https://medium.com/politically-speaking/putins-reactions-to-a-biden-presidency-66d6d93e68a6
Written by B Kean
The past holds the answers to today’s problems. “Be curious, not judgmental,” at least until you have all the facts. Think and stop watching cable news.