I am unfortunately aware of the average Russians opinion on the war. That's what worries me. I fully expect Putin to go "scorched earth" rather than lose face by admitting any level of defeat. I am also aware of the Russians cultural and historic denigration of Ukrainians. Russians losing to Ukrainians is unthinkable for a large percentage of the population.

Putin is "all in" at this point. There is no future in which he capitulates and retains power. So he's going to escalate and escalate until he can't or he's dead.