The current defensive posture of Russia looks quite uncomfortable for the Capitol, they try to unballance and cause grievance to Russia to start an invasion.
Several months ago a member of Russia's Duma said there is massive media cover up from the Russian side to hide the extent of destruction that happened to the Russian towns near the border due to AFU shelling. one or two Russian citizens being killed every now and then may not seem like much but over the course of a year this starts to add up, I wonder how many total Russian citizens have been killed in Belgorod since the start of the war!
Ultimatedly, the target here is to kill as much Russian as possible, and destroying the cohesion/political support of the war.But it is not possible if the Russians defending, and destroying the Capitol equipment and manpower.
There is only 70k NATO (trained ) soldier left that capable to conduct any military manouver .
Reson of the castrating POWs, remarks/statements of the Ukrainan ministers designed to be as bullying/ offesnive as possible , terror attack and so on .