The normie masses cannot properly assess world events such as Russia invading Ukraine. Their perspective has been heavily warped by modern sensibilities and separation from any genuine conflict or strife that they do not understand what war means or why it happens.

Thinking in terms of "bad guys" and "good guys" in this war means you do not understand the nature of conflict. Everyone is acting in what they perceive to be their self interest. Nothing more.

These same people also do not understand the history of borders. Countries all got their territory from conquest and violence. Where many of the current borders exist are a result of some violence at some point, even if it is not in living memory.

So when Russia has been claiming more territory for themselves, this may be shocking to those who never thought about the history of every other border in the world. Borders also change, and often as a result of violence/war.

This is regardless of who is right or wrong in this conflict. Russia (or at least Putin) sees taking regions like the Donbass as a part of its interests. Most likely, Russia will keep this territory.

However, the counter offensive narrative wants to suggest otherwise. Because the "good guys" are supposed to win, just like all the WWII movies and history lessons have told us. But what happens when we lose? This does not even cross the mind of those with a Ukraine flag in their profile.

And this is where the prolonged period of relative peace has heavily skewed the perspective of those in the west. War is just something you see on a screen; either on the news or in a movie. And every time they see it, the US wins, because we are the best! And we are fighting for what is right (except when the media tells you otherwise).

But what if we are not as strong as we thought. Then what?

So many people are not ready for the "bad guys" to win. They do not realize that it is a very real possibility. Nor can they contemplate that Russia is not being uniquely evil for "invading a sovereign country." Territorial shifting is something that has happened many, many times. It is just not something that they ever thought would happen now. Not with the post WWII and post Cold War world.