In 1956, (NINETEEN FIFTY-SIX!) Ian Fleming wrote

[yardwork]

33. The moral character of humans worldwide is about the same.

The fact is that Russia is currently ruled (yes, I used that word deliberately) by a sociopath who has the money and power needed to topple democracies via social media and bribes.

The fact that many of us were conditioned to reject fear and criticism of Russia as being misplaced hysteria makes it easier for Putin. He's not a communist. He's a dictator who wants to dominate the world. It's his mental illness, his character, and the fact is that he is in a position to exert a lot of harm.