Uprooting of populations goes back to the Sumerians / Babylonians (major reason for the 'Babylonian captivity' in Jewish history - and IMO the presence of what appear to be Babylonian legends and numbering in the OT, but that's off topic here).

The Romans did something similar to this, awarding land at the end of military service. As I understand it, much of what's now Romania was awarded this way. And the Russians consider themselves a third Roman Empire so it might fit exactly into their perspective.

Just thinking it through, pretty sure you're familiar with this backstory.