system
A chat on subreddit /r/NoStupidQuestions
human
So, yes and no.    
They aren't like NK because they aren't just threatening every week.    
Ukraine was not a surprise to anyone that was paying attention.    
Russia warned, not threatened, then acted through on their promises, years after the fact when negotiations broke down.2008 Georgia, 2014 Crimea, 2022 Ukraine.    
Each one they said they would act, and do exactly what they did, years in advance, and every time, the world looked on and said, ya, we don't believe you.

Its like China right now, They've announced for years that they plan on retaking Taiwan, made treaties and diplomatic advances to remove Taiwanese recognition. &amp; what's that quote they said a few years back, If the US interferes we will bath the US in hellfire.    
It's not exactly, do whatever they want, its, this is our goals, we are working towards it, setting policy both domestically and abroad to achieve it, and if you work against us, we will retaliate.    
Bad! but not quite, NK nuke of the week
gpt
I know NK wishes they were remotely as good as Russia, I just used NK as an example, but you explained it perfectly, I never knew any of that. Interesting.