Russia has no basis for this at all, hence all the pathetic excuses they've been showering the gullible with.
And yes, it's evil, and no, it has nothing to do with their border security, that's a ridiculous suggestion, in the same vein, you would be ok with Russia annexing Poland, Lithuania, Finland or Estonia because they are armed and bordering Russia.
As for the whataboutism, that wasn't the subject.