Yes, this was a feature of the war in Ukraine for Putin, not a bug. He is using China as a template and I wholly expect Russia to be remade in China's image, u

Yes, this was a feature of the war in Ukraine for Putin, not a bug. He is using China as a template and I wholly expect Russia to be remade in China's image, using the war in Ukraine and resulting Western sanctions and aid as justification for doing so. That's what people don't seem to want to get -- Putin wins this either way. Even if he gains no territory in Ukraine after all of this, he will have still dramatically shifted the internal state of Russia toward totalitarianism, will have cemented himself as dictator for life, will have complete domination over the population in terms of information and economics and will use all of this to militarize all aspects of Russian life. And most Russians will support all of this.