The system is effective, but people are complicit. Why they still are, I don't know. I grew up on soviet union and we escaped the first chance we got. But them behind the border decided to accept whatever they did. A little explanation from our neighbors who also have to put up with the russian threat all the time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF9KretXqJw

Each country has the leadership it tolerates (or deserves, I guess). It is of course very hard to depose an entrenched rul(er|ing class), but not impossible. I'm not even demanding you do so, it makes sense to my mind that you would choose flight over fight. But that does not put you in the same position as fleeing Ukrainians.