I'm not happy rolling myself in doom and gloom, but with Russia and its centuries of brutalised treatment of its populace that makes it prone to a glorification of brutality and abuse I cannot see any other prospect. The best example seems to me the glorification of the Stalin era of the past 30 years. Every family suffered under the Stalin terror but at least the suffering brought meaning so that sacrifices cannot be allowed to have been in vain. This pathology in vast parts of the Russian society glorifies brutality and suffering and sees defeat only as temporary. I indeed think that a defeat in the Ukrainian war (should there be one), esp. without any chances of a deep change in society and politcs, will reinforce the authoritarian habits. That is: Russia will continue on its path.