“without the Russian masses”
It’s not really about the “Russian masses” but it can be about Russian military tactics. Yes, “drone swarms” and “drone warfar” have changed the battlefield. But when desparate dictators are trying to preserve the pretense they are the “defenders” through what they think might be some sort of “victory”, you never know for sure what they’d try in desparation. I have to belive their generals will prevent the dictators from committing their societies to suicide.
I like having tactical nukes and the modern weapons that duplicate much of the purpose without actually being nuclear, but I can accept less need for some the old versions we used to have, although in North Korea’s terrain some nuke artillery could be useful.