Sharing a bunch of stuff with you... first a rather prescient article from within Russia speaking against the hubristic tide.
https://russiandefpolicy.com/2022/02/07/
Second, I thought I'd transcribe a recent intercepted call I heard on Youtube leaked by the SBU. There is no English version so you'll have to bear with my translation. It is a occupier in Kherson talking to his girl back home. We start in media res... i.e. we don't get the whole conversation, but it seems she has maybe asked him whether he kills civilians... or at least asked him about how things are.
Soldier: Nastya, I don't want to tell you I'm there shooting civilian people, killing there, breaking knees. What is it to you?
Nastya: I don't know...
S: What did you want to know from me? I will not tell you, Nastya, how it is really. Nastya...
N: I hoped that you were not fighting.
S: Nastya, my darling, of course I am fighting. What are you thinking?
N: ...
S: Nastya, you know, I can take a person, and go "BAM" in the head with a Kalashnikov machine gun, riddle a person with PKM ammo, yes. Tear the head off. You what? You don't believe this? I've become a dumbfuck, I've gone completely mad.
N: How will life with you be?
S: Well, I can kill people. In general, in the head. I simply kill in the head. I am not scared.
N: Are you proud of this?
S: I am not proud of this. I just don't give a fuck. I will come home. I will come home alive and well. And everything. I'll bring up a son...
N: [tries to say something but is cut off]
S: Nastya, I'll bring up a son, that's how it is, that's how it needs to be. Nastya... when there were civilians, I threw the civilians in a ditch. Shot them all in the head. Killed them all. They cried.. begged me. I shot them all the same. Nastya, you don't see me. That I am your such "good" (??). I am yours, as I am, I will come as I am. Nastya, I will perhaps be a dumbfuck, but I will come to you.
N: You said so already. Good that you will come. Now talking...
S: I never told you any lies, and I will not, Nast. I put these khokhols on their knees. They beg me, they say 'Russia forever'. And I force them all to say 'Russia forever'. I have them on their knees, these khokhols. I make them. So you don't need to talk to me.
edit: better translation here
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FSob9glX0AA ... name=large