He is the personification of Stalinist ideals, and Stalin set up Eastern Europe to be a prison state, pretend socialist, so that Russia would not have to fear another attack from the West, including Germany.
And now Putin wants to slowly, or not so slowly, do the same, murdering his way to power over the states ringing Russia, and putting in a puppet who would make sure the dictator in Moscow is safe. And yeah, if I lived in Finland or Sweden, even if I were a pacifist, would be voting to joint NATO and spending more on armament.
Good news, you boss wants to talk to you about strategy, bad news your boss wants to talk to you about strategy. If you disagree with him you go to jail, if you agree with his insane invasion you will lose the war, and a lot of your troops will die.
Nightmare time.