>Russian President Vladimir Putin has never hidden his nostalgia for the days of the Soviet Union. He worked as a spy at the KGB, lamented the end of communism, restored lyrics chosen by former Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin to the Russian national anthem, and marshaled Soviet-style military parades in Moscow. He's even restarted a national fitness program founded by Stalin.

The program, which began in the 1930s, would "pay homage to our national historical traditions," Putin said in March.

His most direct praise of the old Soviet Union came in 2005, when he shocked the west in a speech to the Russian people. He told them that the end of the USSR was essentially a mistake.

"Above all, we should acknowledge that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a major geopolitical disaster of the century," Putin said in an address to the Russian people. "As for the Russian nation, it became a genuine drama. Tens of millions of our co-citizens and co-patriots found themselves outside Russian territory. Moreover, the epidemic of disintegration infected Russia itself."

This speech shows that nearly a decade ago, Putin was planting the seeds of his current actions in Ukraine by referencing Russians who he claims are stranded in former Soviet bloc states. Since the invasion of Ukraine, he has repeatedly said that he would protect the interest of Russians and Russians speaking people outside of the Soviet Union.

It also shows that there are more parallels between Putin and former Soviet leaders like Stalin and Nikita Khrushchev than liberal reformers in Russia and Europe would like to believe. Putin's actions in Ukraine show that he is proceeding along the lines of many other Soviet leaders.

Here are three ways Putin is following in the footsteps of Soviet leaders.