When talking about Putin, political analysts often distinguish between a "good Putin" (during the first two terms) and a "bad/evil Putin" (from the third term).
But this distinction does not make sense

The Russian president has made almost consistently bad decisions since the beginning of his term, in domestic policy and in foreign policy. He has come to power by unleashing a civil war. He has ignited nationalist passion and fueled it with resentment and paranoia, an explosive cocktail if ever there was one.
He has systematically eradicated all remaining niches of freedom in the country. He has centralized at all costs. It has confiscated power and wealth for the benefit of a clique. He has conducted a relentless war against European Russia (the fringe of Europeanized Russians), staging an illusory turn towards Asia.
He has pursued the ruinous chimera of the restoration of empire, to which he sacrificed Russia's relations with its neighbors, with Europe and with the United States.
He has subordinated the economy to his insatiable ambition for power and prestige.
He believed in restoring Russia's greatness by making his country a force for mischief everywhere. He thought he was asserting Russian sovereignty by behaving like a bully on the international stage.
He sacrificed Russia's true national interests (of good relations with developed countries and with its neighbors) to his will to take revenge on often imaginary enemies, to humiliate partners who were initially full of goodwill.
He has tried to destabilize the EU by inflaming nationalism and irredentism, without understanding that, exposed to potentially predatory neighbors to the south and east (China, Turkey, Iran), Russia would have a great interest in relying on a solid and prosperous Europe.
Finally, he has got his country into two dead-end wars, in Ukraine and in Syria, and has aligned Moscow with China.