There may be something to that with specific regards to jet aircraft, but even then I'm not convinced. More generally with regards to manpower, I think you're

There may be something to that with specific regards to jet aircraft, but even then I'm not convinced. More generally with regards to manpower, I think you're probably wrong. VDV have been ground up like cannon fodder repeatedly, and there are reports of redoubled conscription of Russian students. I don't think they're holding their best men back, I think they've already gotten their best men killed with little to show for it.