Ronald, stop being so disingenuous. You know very well that there is a world of difference between using limited numbers of special forces for specific missions (everyone does it, including Russia) - forces that will be withdrawn from the country as soon as the mission is complete, compared to using your conventional forces to invade, seize, and hold the territory of a sovereign neighbour. Territory that is then either outright annexed or turned into a vassal state.
You know this Ronald.