I can't figure out Putin's math. He didn't have enough people to fully occupy Russia before he started his wars, and the Russian population is in decline. So far, he's lost 800k troops in Ukraine and resorted to merc-ing North Koreans.
I'm not seeing where what he is doing is in the best interest of Russia, not to mention anyone else. Who's going to be left to enjoy any gains Russia might make? And who is going to be left to support and defend Russia?
If NATO had any balls and the ability to jam Russia's nukes (not impossible), now would be a perfect time to go after Russia. They're barely beating a non-nuclear, ragtag conventional army.
“When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.” Edumnd Burke