Do not underestimate the degree of isolation for dictators in power. Nobody dares to bring the bad news, there is a fair chance that Putin is so isolated that he has no idea anymore what is really going on.
To bring bad news to a person like Putin is an act of bravery.
Have a look at that video of him belittling his chief of security and how the guy totally deflates. And that was only on the suggestion that maybe things weren't really going to plan.
I think there is a distinct possibility that Putin did not have all the facts before embarking on this invasion. And with every day that it continues Russia is more rather than less committed to see it through, whatever the price because they need to be able to declare victory in some way, even if that means that in the whole of Ukraine there isn't a single brick standing on another. Rationality went out the window last week, it likely won't be back for a while.
To bring bad news to a person like Putin is an act of bravery.
Have a look at that video of him belittling his chief of security and how the guy totally deflates. And that was only on the suggestion that maybe things weren't really going to plan.
I think there is a distinct possibility that Putin did not have all the facts before embarking on this invasion. And with every day that it continues Russia is more rather than less committed to see it through, whatever the price because they need to be able to declare victory in some way, even if that means that in the whole of Ukraine there isn't a single brick standing on another. Rationality went out the window last week, it likely won't be back for a while.