Russia has been pushing a little at a time to see what they can get away with for months now. It won’t be long before they drop all pretense and just take what they want how they want.
I think the pretense has worn really thin right now. I also think Putin has not been happy that the rebels couldn’t move the front without RUS soldiers doing the real fighting.
“It won’t be long before they drop all pretense and just take what they want how they want.”
If Russia openly invaded Ukraine at this point, they would be doing Ukraine a favor.
Winter is coming, the economy has collapsed, and the trees are already starting to turn.