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Russia never emerged from feudalism. It played at communism and it is now playing as a federation, but it remains essentially a feudalist political environment. I mean, sending Chechens to Rostov to put down a mutiny -- any old sultan would relate.

Russia's prestige has been fatally damaged. This is not a world leading nation, Global South has likely noted. But it is worrying that this turn of events increases the likelihood of runway escalations on various fronts.