https://www.greatpower.us/p/there-is-no-way-back-part-1

This whole article seems very good. I tried to grab some excerpts, but I wound up quoting half the article. Just go read it.

I’ll go back to something I alluded to earlier: this whole discussion might be well-informed by consulting former victims of domestic violence and the ones who work with them, helping them. Putin is using the language and tactics of abuse.