It’s not surprising that the Russians consider this a direct threat.
It’s also not surprising that they consider the expansion of NATO a direct threat.
Their worst case scenario is, “What would have happened if Georgia had been a NATO member?”
There are people in positions of power, or one election away from a position of power, in many of the former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact nations who would be inclined to be just as crazy as Georgian President Saakaskvili, only when they launch an assault on an unarmed populace that is inclined toward the Russians.