[ddalex]

It is very, very likely. Russian leadership see Ukraine as a Russian province, and the heart of the russian motherland, and they will treat western armies there as invaders - they are prepared to risk everything to keep that from happening.

[stickfigure]

NATO doesn't need to field armies, just aircraft. The Ukranians seem to do pretty well on the ground.

"A shame your tanks exploded. Perhaps their car warranty expired?"

For all we know, this is already happening.

[kergonath]

“Which aircraft? Oh, this one? It’s not a military operation, just our pilots doing some sightseeing. Just like your lads did in Crimea in 2014, you remember?”

[drran]

It's FUD. Russians don't want to see as their families dies in flames.

[ddalex]

It doesn't matter what Russians think, it matters what Dughin's fanboys holed up under Altai Mountains think.

Go back to 1986, and imagine what the Soviet response would be if NATO would have breached the Iron Courtain and would have fighter planes and tanks in Kiev. This is what we're dealing with here.

[vkou]

They probably think that being czar-for-a-week of a nuclear wasteland is something that's only attractive when literally all other options are exhausted.