You are quite right. Putin is unabashedly proud of the “glories” of the Soviet Union no matter what it cost other peoples, and he has plenty of support in that sentiment. It does not bode well for, especially, Russia’s near neighbors. The Russian incursion into Georgia in 2008 is proof enough of that, especially since Putin called a halt to the advance only after his forces had taken Gori. I am sure all the former Social Republics took note of that fact.
I think Putin is more partial to Imperialist Czarist Russia than to the Soviet Union.