Earlier quoted context omitted.
Isn’t this going to cost a ton of money, too much, and you can only move in so many of your own citizens. Russia can’t move too many of their own since Ukraine doesn’t have a small population. Voters still vote. Not sure why even with puppets, a majority vote to join your country would happen.
A military invasion costs more, especially if it doesn't go well. Better to buy, bribe, and bully.
I responded to a comment saying to pack Ukraine with Russians from Russia. That’s an incredibly expensive endeavor in every way. Russia doesn’t have that many people. Ukraine isn’t a low population country.