Look at this. 1) Russian invasion of Ukraine 2) Russia throwing elections in Georgia 3) Russia interfering in Moldova referendum 4) Wagner in Sudan / Central African Republic 5) Wagner in Mali and wider Sahel 6) Russian submarine and naval activity off west coast of Ireland (and Iceland gap) 7) Russia in Syria

At the beginning, it was a reasonable strategy for both sides to take: - Russia felt, after the withdrawal from Afghanistan (and other things), that the West had no staying power and would give up - The West felt that they could collapse the Russian economy with unprecedented sanctions and international pressure. Both turned out to be wrong.

The war in Ukraine is the centre of the Russian story. It has settled down into an incredibly costly stalemated war, where both sides are waiting for the other to collapse. (Black is internationally recognised borders, Red is the limit of Russian expansion into Ukraine, Blue is the Ukrainian limit into Russia)