The POINT of Russia occupying eastern Europe originally was simply to defeat the Germans.
They stayed for a while in order to rebuild, but also to ensure Russia would always have a neutral buffer, and not have enemies right on their border.
Russia never "grabbed" eastern Europe the way the US tried to grab China, Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Grenada, Chile, Nicaragua, Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, Libya, etc., in order to steal their resources and wealth.
The POINT of Russia occupying eastern Europe originally was simply to defeat the Germans.
Originally.
Were they still there to defeat the Germans when they crushed the Hungarian uprising?
What about when they invaded Czechoslovakia?
They stayed for a while in order to rebuild, but also to ensure Russia would always have a neutral buffer, and not have enemies right on their border.
Oh, they enslaved central Europe so they wouldn't have enemies on their border.
Was that a good idea?