In the end, Putins arrogance may have cemented this downfall. With the reports of regions looking to separate, which makes sense, it seems he didnt consider the long term effects. If Putin had just failed, declared they liberated the eastern part, and pulled back he might have had something to make up for all of his losses and retained power.
But the problem with him arrogantly insisting total victory must be achieved and being unwilling to cut losses is he can never reach his impossible goal. And that means it drags on, and on, and on. But he doesnt have the resources in Moscow to replenish what was lost, or keep fighting. Russia is such a vast country of many different people groups, the majority of which are no where near Mosocw and that Russia has always found it hard to control. For a long time it was done with a mixture of fear and promises. But now, who fears the Russian machine? What do they get from Moscow but dead children, high taxes, and stealing their hard earned money to send to a fruitless and vile war? If it had been a month those would have endured. But now that Putin has foolishly bled them dry, they no longer have the same fear, and that is combined with the anger they now have for what he has stolen from them, and a desperation as they become poor and beleaguered all to go a madman whos killing people. A 1 month war draining resources that Russia really doesnt have is a brutal loss, but one Putin could save enough face from. A 12 month war draining the whole country will crush Russia(what will be left of it) and him even more than they have already been and his enemies will reach their breaking point.
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