The only ones paying the price for the proxy war in Ukraine are Western politicians that have supported it and citizens that have suffered because of failed sanction war.
Russia is the big winner in this war in every conceivable way.
“Russia is the big winner in this war in every conceivable way.”
Do you consider all the killed , maimed, disabled and traumatized Russians a big win?
50% decline in automobile production?
The long term loss of most of its Natural Gas export market - making Gazprom into a money loser, instead of a money maker?
Becoming the most heavily sanctioned country on Earth, and reverting to become a Soviet-style police state ?
Expending the bulk of the old Soviet Military arsenal, and the Government’s financial reserves?
I could conceive of more, but it is obvious.
Novo North Korea, Chinese subsidiary. Send more blonde girls.
Russia is the big winner in this war in every conceivable way. Ever since the Western F-16s arrived to the battle in The Ukraine, it's been a REAL game-changer. 
June 6, 2024, as I was engaged in "petty quibbling" over the F-16s which were almost a year late at that time::
https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4242435/posts?page=136#136
As for your "reparations", BeauBo - I believe that The Russia and The Putin will gladly accept the future Russian Federation oblasts of Kharkov, Nikolaev and Odessa to make up for the insolence of former Ukraine president zElensky.