I don’t realize their plans and timeline were published. Got a link?
Trying to land paratroop units (the VDV) on enemy airfields 50 and 100km deep behind the enemy border, far beyond the reach of a relief force, if it had to fight through enemy opposition, tells me that they expected their columns just to drive through and link up in a day or two. Otherwise it was madness to throw away valuable professionals like that.
That was the fate of at least two of the colonels whose deaths the Russians have announced. They were paratroop officers. You dont lose elite units regimental and battalion commanders just like that.