they've done similar and worse over decades

This is such a childish moral equivalency.

Next you'll tell me about all the journalists killed by the West.

You sound like someone who parrots Sputnik. Why would you equate the US to Russia. US has not done anything as bad as Russia has over the course of history.

All these things Russia has done but America has not:

• Killing journalists? Nope.
• Propping up puppets & American governors for colonialism? Nope.
• Coup to install communism? Nope.
• Mass-attacks on civilians while ignoring a terror group in the same region of Syria? Nope.
• Killing rivals and critics with poison? Nope.
• False-flag attacks to justify an invasion? Nope.
• Attempting to control Academicians & journalists to promote their countries propaganda in favor of autocracy? Nope.

port of utmost strategic locations.

If a port is strategic it's because it's a launching point for more attacks against neighbors.

When the US makes strategic bases it's to send jets to terrorist hideouts.

When Russia makes strategic basis it's to exert control over non-Russians.