The generals who planned both current Russian offensive and defensive tactics and defenses were trained by many of the individuals who, during WWII, fought multiple offensive and defensive operations on this very ground. I always thought this would be a substantial positive for the Russian military. One key similarity between WWII and the situation today is the predominance of various artillery systems on the battlefield.
If hardened, elite Ruskiy generals and professors with WWII experience are planning the war of liberation, they really miss the historical and existential point, IMHO.
Conquering a neighboring slavic state sounds more like being pi$$ed about losing the CCCP, (Ess-Ess-Ess-Ehr) than helping russian expats. The real enemy is surrounding their entire southern/
eastern flanks. Islamic respublicks and China plus Iran and Turkey are fat more a.danger to european Russia and russian culture. Putin needs to wake the hell up and stop dreaming of his time as KGB chief in the Soviet nightmare and prepare for the real battles ahead.
Poland and Hungary are the tripwire of Russian Suicide. The USA and Russia can avoid societal collapse but this soexial operation only helps Haji, IMHO.