@abcdw one take i read is that by annexing the occupied "republics", it 1. becomes legal to use conscripts on the front lines (as canon fodder), and 2. it becomes a defensive war which is legal and good and maybe it can finally be called war (and he can finally drop his precious nukes on, uh, i think he didn't think it through that far)

that said i'm hoping for a coup or at least major civil unrest in russia soon