Putin’s invasion was premised on the idea that Ukraine was not a nation.
Even if the country is eventually defeated militarily in this war, the Ukrainian people have proven themselves willing to fight and die for their flag.
No different than what Hitler said about Czechoslovakia in 1938, it was created after WWI by Britain and France to keep Germany in check.
Russia will no doubt conquer the government, but the people?
They will remember.
I believe the Russians will have to brutalize the Ukrainians constantly or there will be a Resistance to oppose them.
Horrible times. People rounded up by truck at night. Show trials. Execution and exile to the Gulag.
Opposing that? Assassinations, murders, bombings, ambush in the dark, back-alley knife in the back, honeypot traps, to name a few.