Then again their neighbors have to live with things worse than jail.

Do you think that's going to stop when probably already over crowded Russian jails fill up with dissidents?

Do you not think it's matter at all? Is history already completely laid out and unchangeable? Is the Russian people without any agency in their own lives and the life of their nation?

Damn, I wish I was a slightly quicker witted so I could have said something like:

No, I think you're delusional.

How much more agency do you think being in jail grants one?

No, I don't think Russians have much, if any, agency in the path their nation takes. For that matter, I don't think many Australians have much agency of Australia - all we get is representative democracy, and the selection of candidates seems to be almost entirely self-serving to the point of no longer even pretending to acting on behalf of those they represent. I understand that I'm able and capable to do more, I just not that interested in public life, I have an unsavoury criminal record, and the local media, owned by a media giant, already is quite fond of reminding everyone of things that happened nearly a decade a go any chance they get.

I think one of three things is going to happen in Ukraine: either Putin gets what he wants, and Europe are ok with that; he doesn't, and a protracted proxy & guerilla war carries on for possibly decades; or lastly he is deposed by what amounts to an inside job. In neither of these three eventualities does and one, or a group of, average Russian's actions have much, if any, impact.

My personal take is that within about three months Russia will have a new leader, although as often is the case in these situations, the new one will likely be worse than the old one.