Putin might have weakened Russian forces in the area so Ukraine would attack and turn the unpopular war into a fight for the Russian motherland.
Many Russian troops learned with their last breaths how difficult an attack on a frontline can be.
This whole operation seems like Lee and Gettysburg in 1863. You reach out across your borders, trying to get your enemy off balance and defending their own turf.
That’s exactly what happened - the border was secured by a fairly elite force, and backfilled with recruits. The elite force was dispatched south about two weeks ago, leaving only the recruits and border guards. Ukraine appears to have figured this out and made their move
Yes Putin orchestrated an incredibly bloody two year stalemate on Ukrainian soil because he is a genius and orchestrated a Russian defeat on Russian soil because he is a genius. The genius keeps geniusing.