If you haven't yet seen clips of the Russian new years TV special, you need to take a look. The videos below are not from an old Kids in the Hall or Tim and Eric Show sketch. It is really what the Russian government is putting on for nationalist propaganda. This makes it clear to me that there is continuity with the worst elements of the Soviet regime (Putin was KGB) and the current ruling class in Russia, except that they no longer have to know their Marx/Lenin and can openly embrace Russia's crony capitalism. But the messaging is significant. Russia is gearing for a sustained campaign against the West and is preparing to go well beyond its original claims about NATO expansion, Minsk agreements and de-nazification of Ukraine.
I think this may be the result of a recognition that the Ukraine war is going to fail and Russia is going to blame the West. There may be a significant Russian retreat in the works around Donetsk if Ukraine breaks through the Kremmina/Svatove line, which looks to be imminent. RU forces are unable to take any ground and struggle to hold ground against UA. RU forces are low on ammunition and morale is in the toilet.