Its quite simple, it would take FAR more than 800 thousand men to defeat NATO and conquer Europe. Two thirds of any modern military force consist of logistical, support, and command troops. That leaves Russia with only 266,000 trigger-pullers who would have to advance several hundred miles West and somehow hold one million square miles of territory. For perspective, it took the US Forces two weeks to reach Baghdad, and that was against a third-world foe and conducted upon ideal blitzkrieg terrain. The claim by Putin, that he could take Kiev in days, is ludicrous. Never mind the claim of five capitals! Even Hitler never made such a dumb statement!
The Russian Bear is no more, I’m more concerned about Russia’s rising Muslim population than I am about Putin and his weak-ass army. Even without the US, Western NATO states have more than enough force to create a “Highway of Death” for the Ruskies.
I think it was just intimidation tactics from Putin - pretending he is insane.
All of the analysis on this thread seems to ignore Russian nuclear weapons. It is no longer armies that determine the victory, but rockets, subversion of all kinds, and terrorism.