My personal look at what is what inside Russia is from travel vloggers trying to make money on youtube. The videos posted before and even after February of last year do not agree with most western assessments.
1) They are not technologically backwards. This is first on my list because it is so bizarre that the west has this presumption. Russia was the only way for astronauts to reach the ISS for about 10 yrs when the Shuttle was scrapped. This is not a reality one should wave away. It is real. Their tech is superb. Just accept that.
2) I have seen precisely zero efforts at polling of any kind, from any biased or unbiased source in Russia, that says anything other than overwhelming support for Putin. Again, the tendency is to wave this away or decide it’s because this techno backwards people do not understand something. It’s just insane to go on thinking this. They strongly support Putin. The opponents get the same media amplification as Never Trumpers get, increasing the impression of their numbers beyond the 5-10% of reality.
3) This is the first war in the history of mankind in which excellent satellite recon is available to both sides. There are no surprises. If forces mass and a decision is made not to oppose that particular mass, there will be essentially bloodless retreats. This is profoundly different from warfare of the past and deludes everyone about what goes on.
Thought I would revisit your previous remarks.
Is there something going on in Russia? Who will prevail and what will Ukraine policy look like after?
I find it odd that the Russians are entrenched in a year long war, and now internal political groups are attempting to gain power. Seems like I have seen this story before-1917. I don’t think it ends well for the average Russian.