Russia just needs to do NATO another favor and drop a nuke, there'll be plenty more NATO room for expansion.
Though if Turkey has managed to leverage this for sooner membership of the EU the Russians may have a last laugh as Turkey's corruption levels are actually increasing, 101 now in the list. Probably even higher after the earthquake deaths and further related construction scandals. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index It would be somewhat like the US taking in México.
With Sweden in the fold, Kaliningrad is in for interesting times. Some musings here. KALININGRAD: IMPREGNABLE FORTRESS OR “RUSSIAN ALAMO”? Steve Wills | Monday, May 15, 2023 https://www.cna.org/our-media/indepth/2023/05/kaliningrad-impregnable-fortress-or-russian-alamo
Russian "auto factories" are very well known for just putting their own labels on foreign (today, Chinese) cars and selling them as "domestic". Well, they aren't even capable of doing that anymore. Avtovaz announced that new new Lada-X-Cross models (that are really Chinese FAW Bestune T77s) will have the Chinese label on the steering wheel. Because it sits right on top of the airbag and it is hard to replace it. Hilarious.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/10/europe/russia-putin-private-train-intl-cmd/index.html Leaked details of Putin's secret luxury train expose his "paranoia"
It sucks to be Oleg, apparently. Oleg Tsokov latest Russian general to die in Ukraine Oleg Tsokov latest Russian general to die in Ukraine (msn.com)
Russian commander shot on his morning jog. https://www.threads.net/t/CujzELTOw68/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
It does not take a genius to figure out that if you are attacking entrenched positions like the Wagner group did in Bakhmut, you will suffer heavy casualties. Your enemy is well protected, while, you are out in the open. Now, that Ukraine is counter-attacking, the shoe is on the other foot. It is the Russians dug in and the Ukrainians trying to dig them out. Russians put 3 layers of defenses over a 900 mile distance. Pretty long frontline to breach and attack. Those land mines are pretty treacherous to cross, KA-52 Alligator attack helicopters waiting to attack Ukrainian armor when they come out. It is wide open plains and no place to hide pretty much.