Wow, historically inaccurate and desperately reductionist. Russia has a very long history of expansion and imperial dominance of its neighbors (like Ukraine) and continues to use mercenaries to enforce its interests in distant countries - especially resource-rich African nations!

https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/what-russias-wagner-group-doing-africa

So much for your first question, and the second is just more of the same reductionist ideological crap. Sheep indeed!