RF propaganda claims West is an enemy and most of the population is brainwashed. 70% of RF population supports "special operation". RF rectors supports war. RF military can't even defeat Ukraine, it specifically bombs civilians causing terror, thousands dead, millions displaced already. It is threatening to nuke. Extraordinary cases requires extraordinary solutions.

Are these actions solutions, though?

I find it hard to attribute the sad state of the academic freedom in academia (as in, none at all) to anything to do with Russia. It was dead long before Putin decided to mess with Ukraine for the first time. Right now censorship is just being deployed for a newly fashionable cause, but before that it was dozens of other causes, and no doubt once Putin finds his ignoble end, it will find dozens of new causes to pursue.