The conventional thinking was that the Russian Steamroller would flatten Ukraine within 3-5 days. Absolutely no one suspected the war would last this long. In t

The conventional thinking was that the Russian Steamroller would flatten Ukraine within 3-5 days. Absolutely no one suspected the war would last this long. In that sense it is far from just a "propaganda war". I don't know why it should surprise anyone. People who make Putin unhappy end up with "accidental" polonium poisoning. Is there any reason to suspect the Russian military hasn't suffered some for that? Or that the Russian military-industrial complex hasn't suffered some due to looting, corruption, and incompetence? I'm not delusional. Russia has the resources (and human bodies) to waste on this for as long as it takes. If the leadership has the political will they will probably win eventually. It seems unlikely to be worth the cost but Russia would hardly be the first country to pay $100 for a penny in that regard.