“he (Prigozhin) is admitting more casualties just by Wagner in the battle for Bakhmut alone than Russia has acknowledged for its whole armed forces in the entire “special military operation”.”
I think one of the effects that we will see this year, is a change in popular perception in Russia, as it broadly sinks in to the public that Russia is in fact taking a very significant beating, with real costs and risks to themselves personally.
It started out as a TV event for the people in Moscow and St. Petersburg, where they felt insulated from real downsides - like cheering for their team in the World Cup, or for the Russian guy in Eurovision.
By the end of this year, it should be quite clear to most that they really are stuck with a huge problem, and have to prepare for (or at least seriously consider) a loss in the war.
“You can’t fool all the people, all the time.”
There has been debate as to whether the incursion into Russia proper like the drone attack on kremlin was a good idea. It goes like this these attacks will galvanize the Russian people in support of the war er ah SMO, you go to jail if you cal it a war, but I have a different take and wonder will the Russian people see these attacks as weakness in their own regime. If a drone can get to kremlin or a small force can march into Russian lands….
Time will tell