Putin is terrified of his nation's demographic crisis - and with good reason.
At the time of its dissolution, the Soviet Union was the home of 290 million people, 50 million more than the USA. Today, the Russian Federation has les than half that number - and less than half of the USA's current total.
...the Russian men who fell fighting the Germans in the Forties were from families of six or seven siblings; those who fell fighting the Afghans in the Eighties were from families of two or three. Those falling now, fighting in Ukraine, are likely to be only-children or one of two siblings.
Russia used to be a vast land of millions, with vast oil and gas wealth, and a military that was feared the world over. Now it is still a vast land, but now the nations of the world will only buy its oil and gas reluctantly and as a last measure. And its military is now no longer feared (except for its nuclear stockpile). Hundreds of thousands of Russia's youngest, best and brightest are fleeing Putin's Russia because of the war and the accompanying sanctions. A cynic could say that the only thing Putin will get from the war in Ukraine is the infusion of refugees to help bolster the dying Russian population. Too bad he forgot that he'd also need to feed the refugees and provide jobs.
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