It’s normal for Russia to take more casualties than they have to. They have what it takes to win on the battlefield but the shocker is the level of civil issues with Russians protesting the war. I’m sure that was a shock to Putin. (Nobody likes to bring a dictator bad news so Putin probably wasn’t informed people felt this way.) Russia is a country where protesters get arrested and I’m sure a few bruises are normal with a typical arrest. So the protesters, which can only be the tip of the iceberg of unrest caused by the war are a huge drag on Putin. This may push Putin to seek a diplomatic solution which was easily in reach all along. The reason it wasn’t reached was Washington kept egging on the situation, probably thinking with normality bias that Russia wouldn’t attack. (Anyone who would think that obviously is examining their prostate with their nose.) I really like this “Task and Purpose” video about the situation on the ground. It’s far better than any reporting from the front lines I’ve ever seen. (Not my video.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKFSK_9e-g4
Dictators do isolate themselves. It's as stupid as breathing from a paper bag pressed to your face. Pretty soon you aren't thinking straight at all.
I don’t know why you don’t see Washington as being on Russia’s side in all of this. Everything the Biden administration has done has been to create this situation for Russia.
I don’t believe almost anything out of the “press” and that includes supposed Russian protests, and certainly not any hope that they will accomplish more than the Canadians.
The problem for Russia is they too have Millennials and Generation Z kids, raised on videos, stolen music, rap and video games.
Not as much the West, and certainly Putin has fought some of that but still, the younger generation is the problem.
They’re a generation or two behind us. Say where we were in 1968.
When the young women go out to protest the young men will follow. I’m sure this will lead to a Russian Kent State much sooner than it happened here, but who knows.