I'm not sure your average Serb would agree ...

An average Serb or an average Yugoslav..? :-P

I don't think the desire to maintain a little Balkan empire counts here.

Just that Russia's actions are perfectly understandable as defensive and reactive in nature.

I don't think so. Do tell, what Russia is defending against? And is the threat to Russia or to Mr.Putin's thoroughly corrupt state?

an explicitly anti-Russian coalition on Russia's doorstep

Show me that coalition and show me how is it "anti-Russian".

a country concerned for its survival and who possesses few natural defenses

I am sorry, this passed into the realm of unadulterated bullshit. So, right now, in the XXI century Russia is "concerned for its survival"? A country of "few natural defenses" that was last conquered by Genghis Khan?