Why do you think russia invaded Ukraine? Ukraine was working with Shell oil to extract vast oil deposits that are only able to be reached with modern tech. If they got that oil, it would make them the 14th largest oil state in the world. Ukraine also happens to be the main pipeline the USSR sold through. Ukraine, when it gets that oil will be able to side step russia and sell to Europe. Also of importance is that the independent zones that sided with russia happen to be right on top of deposits. The only thing russia has going for it is oil and they need to keep their monopoly. What this has to do with climate change is that russia would have to modernize all their soviet infrastructure to get costs down and also extend their pipelines to china, but it is easier to keep being dirty and crush the competition.