The only things Russia exports more than oil products are propaganda and corruption.

Many formerly Russian-occupied countries spent a few generations under a system that's run as a mafia rather than a government. Estonia is a great example of resisting that culture and rebuilding quickly after re-independence. Ukraine is also culturally distinct from Russia, but Russia entrenched itself much deeper in Ukraine, because i) the land is richer, ii) the population is larger, and iii) Kyiv is 'their' place of origin.

It was much harder for Ukraine to sever the ties. Estonia had the non-violent singing revolution, while Ukraine had the bloody Euromaidan, which resulted directly in the 2014 invasion. Corruption is still an issue (and not unique to Ukraine), but at least their government listens to their people now.

Ugh, McConnell... (shakes fist gerontocratically)... I need a drink 🥃