No Stupid Questions

The answers already mentioned are great but I want to add a bit as well. Remember that just like you or I grew up in the countries or culture/group(s) we grew up in and have some allegiance, hold dignity in or have warm feelings for, so do Russia/USSR/KGB about their countries or culture/group. Unfortunately It doesn't seem to really matter for most people if you are in the "wrong" or not. Human nature, society and our baser instincts tell us that betraying, speaking ill, or leaving these places or things are not only bad, but a hugely taboo thing that is one of the most shameful things possible. it runs counter to the baser instincts that have allowed humans to survive as a species. Whats more in a more practical way the majority of the Russian population that the most powerful people are scared of are not really seeing the full damage wholesale. So it's easier to dismiss concerns and issues as exceptions or "one offs" even when life is hard it's easy to compartmentalize it. especially if your culture has an attitude of "Shut up, it could be worse!". unfortunately Russia seems to be shaping up their population to get rid of the people that pose no risk, trying to solve the problem until they win or they cause their society to shatter. the unfortunate thing is that Russia doesn't even fully understand all they have lost yet (no one ever truly does until it's over and they can look back), but they may have already sealed their own fate. There is no amount of children or resources to loot from Ukraine that will undo the damage done by the current war even in the best case scenario. Russian leadership has pretty much dug their own grave as they sacrifice more and more to build their own gallows(the wartime economy that crushes nations and weapons they have neither the people, or allies to sell to).