Russia's ability to fight a WW3 is being steadily eroded. Long term, the writing was on the wall before this: inverting population pyramid and declining popula

Russia's ability to fight a WW3 is being steadily eroded. Long term, the writing was on the wall before this: inverting population pyramid and declining population, rampant corruption, lack of significant industry beyond petroleum (which is becoming less relevant), diplomatic marginalization, rotting military. This was a last ditch play to try and restore Russian relevance. And the conflict has just directly exacerbated this: killed a bunch of Russian youth, destroyed a bunch of military materiel, brought in sanctions that hamper the economy's ability to fund their military over the long run. And it's encouraged Western Europe to invest in military and pay the significant costs necessary for energy independence.