History was conquer and subjugate, whoever did not do that were...

History was conquer and subjugate, whoever did not do that were enslaved or subjugated.

Russia was a tiny strip of marshy land before it became a nation in 1535. Russia became an empire by conquering land around Moskovy also thanks to Mongols who did the conquering, came to Moskovy and surrendered its empire. The process was no better or worse than what British did in Australia.
British unlike the Russian's handed over most conquered land also civilised the inhabitants in their own way and went back home.

Russian on their part still trying to grab land around, steal and drag civilisation backward.