Are you aware of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflexive_control https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflexive_control and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_generatio

Are you aware of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflexive_control https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflexive_control and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_generation_warfare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_generation_warfare ? Russia has been playing that game for decades, sowing an image of "we are extremely powerful" and "you are all weak". They know they can't do nothing against NATO, and they opt for that strategy of bullying their small neighbors while avoiding a NATO response using reflexive control (i.e. make NATO believe they are weak).