The ruling Elite are former KGB members who were socialized during the Soviet era. They only know territory and power as currency and now that they own all of t

The ruling Elite are former KGB members who were socialized during the Soviet era. They only know territory and power as currency and now that they own all of the country they don't need to put a mask on (just watch some of the Tucker Carlson interview, where Putin goes back 700 years trying to justify his war in Ukraine). It's pretty well established by now that Putin (and his closest allies): 1: Fully believed bad-faith reporting from their security services about Ukraine. 2: Underestimated the extend by which the west was willing to help. 3: The sheer resistance of the Ukraine military. Especially #1 can't be easily disregarded, as the leading security office tasked with subduing UA had its upper leadership entirely purged after the first assault had failed. Before the war, Russia had two possibilities: Align further with the west or become a vassal of China. Edit: I would appreciate to know why I'm being downvoted. I'm all open to hear more substantial information on this topic.