Attitudes in Russia are changing.
Soldiers (conscripted) have been sneaking cell phones to the front lines in Ukraine and calling home to friends and family.
Between the dead and disabled and the ones calling home to report conditions and training and equipment....attitudes are changing quickly.
The Russian people have been afraid of their government for so long its habitual at this point....
But that doesn't mean that they don't really understand what is happening...they don't have the courage to do anything about it...but they don't hate the west.
Too much biased speculation on your side - and therefore you are IMO too one-sided in this issue. Speculations should go or apply in both directions
Fact is; the vast majority of Russians are aware that the outcome of the Ukraine issue is vital for the existence of Russia, a Russia that again in majority is favored in its present sociopolitical layout.
Fact is; the vast majority of Ukrainians do not want to be ruled by Russia and are therefore willing to put up resistance. Up to what degree?
Fact is; that 20-25% of Ukraine's territory are under Russian occupation/control, now since almost 14 month. Zelinsky has been promising/propagating a free Ukraine now for 14 month without ever coming close to such a scenario. Ukrainian's in vast majority are living in desolate conditions now for 14 month, 25% of their population living outside of their country and another 40% displaced within their own country, more then 60% without a job and regular income. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian children having been deported to Russia - leaving desperate parents and relatives behind.
More and more of their draftees are getting younger and younger - and due to Ukraine's corrupt culture - it is the "underprivileged" that are being sacrificed. Ukrainian losses are getting far higher then in the first 6 month. All of this is something that Ukraine has not much experience in at all - in contra to Russians.
So placing this in perspective; the majority of Ukrainians are certainly without question longing for the time before the war, they are likely to be ready to accept a ceasefire/peace proposal even if
it beholds the present loss of territory. The only ones clearly objecting to this in majority are NATO, Zelinsky and his friends in the middle to upper class. (less then 10% of Ukraine's population).
Because the latter ones are those, rightfully fearing to loose their $ and privileges. Something that the vast majority of Ukrainian's have already lost or never had.
The chances therefore for a civilian unrest in Ukraine, including a political change of direction, are far higher then the same happening in Russia.
Russian's aside those having lost family-members or having to take care of wounded, crippled family members, are nowhere near to the personal or economic suffering that Ukrainians are now experiencing for 14 month. Ukrainian's are therefore being exposed to relentless false propaganda, far more then Russians are.
And this very likely "revolution" in Ukraine is IMO exactly what Putin is betting on. Independent of NATO maybe reducing it's support towards Ukraine.
boring
