I do agree aleXander, re the war machine, however, what I was trying to put across (perhaps unsuccessfully) was my empathy for Russians as well as Ukrainians - particularly those having to flee to avoid conscription. This is where I was pointing when I tried to avoid placing the blame for all of this chaos on 'Russia' as a whole entity. I do believe that Putin, (the man who is even ignoring the saner advice and objections of some of his own ministers, advisors and army commanders by all accounts) is individually interested in increasing Russian territory across Europe again - and thus also increasing his own name and place in history. I understand the culpability of the profiteering war mongers, but some political leaders have to be recognised as somewhat more power hungry and meglomoniacal than others, surely?