You either don’t understand, or don’t want to understand, what I was saying.
When I indicated that the Russians believe that this is a fight for their existence, I am not referring to the individual infantry soldier. I am referring to Russian leadership, which is extremely well aware that the population of ethnic Russians is declining, and will continue to decline for the foreseeable future. In addition, most of the former Soviet republics and Soviet allies have at best a neutral view of Russia, and in some cases are outright hostile to Russian geopolitical goals. Thus, Russia will never be stronger than it is now, and it is greatly weakened from the Soviet days. They simply do not have the manpower to have an effective army, and this ability will decline over time. The Russian leadership views their position as being extremely vulnerable to foreign enemies, and they are seeking to remake the map now, before it is too late for them to do so.
Note that while I can understand their point of view, I do not support their goals, or the methods that they have chosen to achieve those goals.
Russia certainly is in a long decline and it makes sense some of its leaders may view this as a last chance for effective survival. Russia already has the highest abortion rate in the world, over 50 per 1000 women per year. Over a million of the more capable young men of Russia have fled to another country because of the mobilization forced by Putin. Recently at a meeting in the Stans, a dictator (I think Tajikastan) gave Putin a seven minute tirade about failure to follow through with promised aid. Turkey is now making diplomatic moves in the Stans. Can China really be trusted to stay out of Siberia? In 2012 Ukraine had signed exploration contracts with US oil companies to develop large potential gas and oil around Crimea and in east Ukraine. This is what motivated Putin to invade Crimea in 2014 and foment conflict in east Ukraine. He did not want Ukraine to interfere with his European market. Now, since this thread began, Russia has suffered massive losses in several successful intelligence finds and military attacks on stationary Russian troops.
I do not believe that Russia will correct its many military leadership flaws to maintain the large call-up Putin threatens. Not enough food, warm clothes, communication equipment, etc. to maintain the troops already there. In addition General Winter has not cooperated by maintaining a hard freeze to facilitate troop movements. It has been unusually warm in those parts this winter. Maybe General God is on Ukraine’s side? Even though Belarus has ordered every 18 to 60 year old male to contact their draft board, this may just be a ploy of their dictator to maintain friendship with Putin. He lost an election to a woman candidate, and may have trouble getting effective military action in his own country. There are a number of steps from letting a draft board know where you are, and being inducted, trained, and deployed with proper equipment.
Therefore, given all these negatives, I don’t think Putin can win, IF western support continues to a reasonable degree. The biggest question I have now, is how much covert pressure and influence is being put on our elected leaders by Putin/Russia, especially on some Republicans at this point in history? Remember, the Speaker of the House is third in line of succession in case of disaster and assassination. Given the amount of Putin/Russia troll activity visible here at FR it is unlikely our politicians are being spared. Also, how much risk is there that some episode of insanity might occur in Russia regarding small or large nukes? The future looms.