Just a data-point from 10 days ago or so. So it is claimed anyway:
THE MSM IS LYING TO YOU ABOUT THE UKRAINE - LOOK AT THIS
https://www.bitchute.com/video/zERoYzWE9r9P/
One thing that Russia has had is outstanding psychological operations capabilities borrowed from the theater world. The 'West' has tried to emulate and/or just borrow talent from Putin's team. I continue to believe that even while at least some of the fighting is real, the outcome has already been agreed upon at the upper levels.
Here where I live, cock-fighting is big. The fighting and dying is quite real to the chickens, but the battle is staged and much money changes hands at the upper levels. (My main issue with cock-fighting is that the 'controllers' are basically in the same boat as the the chickens and they lose a leg to stand on if/when the figure it out and try to pitch a bitch.)
A year ago i considered passing through Ukraine. Did not take long to find out what kind of place it is and i've made shure to stay far away from it.