fellow gang members
That last bit has not seen much discussion. The only people that Putin listens to are his fellow oligarchs. There are those that believe that he answers to their desires, that he is their puppet.
They would love to get their hands on the coal and iron mines and the industries of Ukraine, especially in Donbas. Then they can loot those like they did in Russia. Those empty flats in London (or Brad Pitts' vineyard in France) don't buy themselves.