Yes, they can be.
Russia has a few brigades that are relatively well trained and equipped. The Russian armed forces are rife with corruption-- training budgets are used to have soldiers build dachas for officers or work in side businesses, vendors either don't deliver equipment or deliver stuff that doesn't work, etc.
Its difficult for us to image just how bad it really is, but the heavy casualties they suffered against the equally bad Ukrainians is a good indicator.
Thanks for the response. I would hope you’re right.