It’s been widely reported that very few ethic Russians from Moscow and St. Pete are getting killed in Ukraine. Putin uses non ethic Russian cannon fodder from the economically depressed provinces instead. That is a blatantly racist policy.
Conscripted Ukrainian cannon fodder are not spearheading this war no matter how much Putininsts want to push that fairy tale. It was Russians from Moscow who stole Crimea at gun point. Putin gave them medals in thanks. The current situation is no different.
More than 1/3rd of the troops the Ukrainian government are fighting against are... Ukrainians.
You say it is hilarious nonsense, but it is an undisputed fact. You can dream and wishcast whatever reality you want, but that’s objective fact.
They are a mix of Volunteers and Conscripts, just like the Ukrainian government has.