Ah. Ok!
It is a fundamental tactic of leaders in trouble to rally their citizens against a common enemy. This pattern has repeated throughout history.
The common enemy distracts the citizens from internal problems and creates a “scapegoat” for the internal problems. (Are you following Venezuela lately?)
Putin will select one or more enemies to focus on. Just watch.
In fact, this tactic has been used successfully in the US to separate different demographic groups (of whatever nature, color, religion, whatever is useful at the time). Government to the rescue!
Even though Russia is in recent economic decline they are still dangerous.
That didn’t answer post 7.
What do you mean “dangerous” ? The “bear” died decades ago, Russia is a shadow of it’s old military power.
War would merely quickly destroy the remaining Russian military and leave them unable to defend themselves against the East and internal secession.
Why would they do that, instead of simply lightening up and lay off the invasions, and get back to trade??