Even the Soviets could have done that...

... land troops almost at will on a global map, I mean. Why would the Russians not be able to as well?

Think about it... the Soviets left the Russians with the largest, most advanced submarine fleet ever to exist, and no fewer than 41 of those boats are amphibious-capable platforms that can put as much as a company of crack troops on any salt-water beach they can approach. The Soviets also had an impressive list of long-range transport-capable aircraft that were more than able to reach across both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Even the vaunted Tu-95 Bear could be fitted to drop 35 airborne troopers from a high altitude onto any continent on earth with nothing more than a single mid-air refueling.

No, I'm not saying they are a match for us (the US, I mean)... but I think they could give any other NATO member a run for their money, and that includes the UK, at least in their ability to project force. Only the US and UK have more surface vessels, and only the US has better carrier capability. They flat out lose in a shooting war with the US or Royal Navies... but they are a strong contender for #3 if we're looking at force projection capacity, I'd say.