There is a great line in the Chernobyl mini-series from Gorbachev that "the Soviet Union's power comes from the perception of our power," maybe we are seeing that and Russia relies on the fear of its nuclear technologies? This entire operation appears to have been a massive clusterf--- from the beginning. U.S. and EU intelligence knowing and sharing with the public the entire Russian playbook - so either some Russian higher ups are leaking or the communication lines are seriously compromised. Strategy wise, Russia has just been dropping Spetsnaz all over Ukraine unsupported and assuming they will get the job done. Now Kyiv is surrounded by hundreds of older tanks which don't exactly fare well in urban warfare. All Russia's superior technology seemingly absent, like the S-400 systems that were supposed to help them rule the sky within a few hours. And a lack of justification where you actually have most of the world, including the Taliban and Pornhub, in agreement on something.
Putin is just so wild I wouldn't put it past him that this is a massive scheme to come back to the negotiating table a couple weeks later to make sure Ukraine, Finland, et al. don't join NATO. Or that he knows his time is almost up, has something health wise going on as multiple U.S. and EU politicians have hinted at, and is flailing to secure a legacy. Who knows, but Russia is looking quite weak and its citizens are going to seriously suffer when a loaf of bread costs 1,000,000 rubles.