That isn't really true though, in terms of the actual population, as amply demonstrated by the referendum in 1991: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Soviet_Union_referendum

The lowest result was in Ukraine and Russia itself.

The USSR broke apart because the elites wanted it broken apart.

Because the elites wanted what they got (massive wealth through corruption and graft and selling of privatized state enterprises for scrap, logistics control, etc. etc. etc.).

The elites were given this possibility because the USA basically promised them the possibility and provided bank accounts to store the wealth and yachts and houses in Italy to spend it on. Which is what I call being nice.

Russian elites today were instead promised pain and suffering instead of massive additional wealth. Given the stick instead of the carrot. Russian elites are pretty much 99% behind Putin and Xi, because anything is better than being a beggar under a bunch of whimsical sanctions applied willy-nilly by a bunch of fart-sniffing retards. And also they are ornery fucks who want revenge for having their stuff taken.

The war in Ukraine could have been won by the west in three easy steps 2 years ago, by being nice:

1. Remove all visa restrictions for all Russians everywhere
2. Give them all valid work/visa status
3. Completely free movement of all finance from Russia to anywhere