I presume its about what to „save“ as in „saving face“, i.e. keeping your reputation intact vs. „Saving ass“, i.e. staying alive/in power. Keeping up the facad

I presume its about what to „save“ as in „saving face“, i.e. keeping your reputation intact vs. „Saving ass“, i.e. staying alive/in power. Keeping up the facade of this being a „special military operation“ left alive the excuse of „we are not really trying all that hard to win this“ whereas (partial) mobilization more signlas towards „this is going south lets do whatever works to end this“