> There's no perceived Soviet juggernaut and Russia can't even conquer Ukraine. It looks a bit like that to be the case, but legally Russia still isn't at war

> There's no perceived Soviet juggernaut and Russia can't even conquer Ukraine. It looks a bit like that to be the case, but legally Russia still isn't at war with the Ukraine, according to their own internal law. Hence the use of mercenaries and "volunteers" and the pinky promise that conscripts are not used near the Ukraine.