The issue is much more complex than this post leads readers to believe.
Although the USSR collapsed "dead" in December of 1991 (
https://history.state.go v/milestones/1989-1992/collapse-soviet-union), its history exists and Russia's motives for expansion into Georgia and Ukraine are multi-faceted.
Since the end of the Cold War, it is true that many European Countries, including those in close vicinity to Russia such as Latvia, Poland, and many others (although not Georgia nor Ukraine) joined NATO. (
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_52044.htm)
Ukraine and Georgia both "received promises of future NATO membership" in a NATO summit in 2008. Shortly after, Russia attacked Georgia (
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/enduring-impact/). The reason is disputed: Russia claims it was trying to protect an ethnic minority (the Ossetians) it accused Georgia of oppressing, while the West points to Russian want for control. Further research (
https://www.vertic.org/media/Archived_Publications/Matters/Confidence_Building_Matters_No6.pdf) suggests that the conflict between Georgia and the Ossetians (largely spurred by nationalism) was most intense in the early 90's, and has not reached such violence in years since.
The correlation between Georgia's promise to join NATO and the Russian attack supports part of the original post's claim: That Russia's fear of a growing NATO inspired it to take over part of Georgia (and later part of Ukraine) to secure more Russian support and balance the scales.
The start of the tension that would escalate into the Ukraine War began in 2014 with the Crimean annexation. Although this can also be partially explained by Ukraine's promise to join NATO, it is important to note the extreme nationalism and want for territory that also plays a role. As researcher Emma Ashford notes, specific ideologies interpret the situation differently. For example, liberalists will tend to emphasize Putin's imperialistic tendencies and wants to conquer parts of former Soviet Russia. Realists, on the other hand, will tend to focus on the balance of power (the powers being NATO and Russia), and would likely agree with at least part of the claim we are discussing. (
https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA734610261&sid=sitemap&v=2.1&it=r&p=EAIM&sw=w&userGroupName=s8399535&aty=ip)
Because the conflict, its history, and Russia/Putin's reasons for expansion are all complex, an overarching statement like the claim above is misleading and much more opinionated than objective.
https://history.state.go v/milestones/1989-1992/collapse-soviet-union
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_52044.htm
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/enduring-impact/
https://www.vertic.org/media/Archived_Publications/Matters/Confidence_Building_Matters_No6.pdf
https://www.vertic.org/media/Archived_Publications/Matters/Confidence_Building_Matters_No6.pdf
https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA734610261&sid=sitemap&v=2.1&it=r&p=EAIM&sw=w&userGroupName=s8399535&aty=ip