>>/51292/
> the Ukrainians would not fight back,
I read/heard Moscow counted on that. They thought it will be another Crimea where the AFU observed the events idly. They bought officials and officers to make sure they won't resist, at least won't resist where it matters (in the north) - it would have been like a coup. Little they knew the US bought the key players already, for a higher price.

> but it doesn't actually have the numbers in this war
Indeed. From the beginning their numbers is inflated by Ukraine and Western media. And comparisons were sometimes done with the whole Russian army, not the portion usable in the war.