On some level it is also a huge insult from Russia by leaving just enough bread crumbs, intentionally or not, to essentially say "look, we're doing this and get

On some level it is also a huge insult from Russia by leaving just enough bread crumbs, intentionally or not, to essentially say "look, we're doing this and getting away with it; else we're not doing it". And it is part of their strategy for both cases to be equally plausible rather than to be overwhelmingly without blame. It is disinformation-as-policy to bolster their political might without flexing their full military. The finest example of Hypernormalization. Embarrassed that their government represents people of my heritage. Путин просто хуйло.