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:Don't forget that the Russians are also excluded from running viable election campaigns against Vladmir Putin, engage in anti-war protests or have a free press (For example, "Almost 15,000 anti-war protesters have been detained since the invasion began, according to the Ovd-info website."[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60749064]). And if the war in Ukraine drags on sooner or later it will require drafting recruits from Moscow and Saint Petersberg which will be very unpopular among Russian elites. In the former Soviet Union, due to its low fertility rate (which Russia currently has), mothers whose only sons died in the Soviet-Afghanistan War protested against the war which contributed to the war ending sooner.  

:Don't forget that the Russians are also excluded from running viable election campaigns against Vladmir Putin, engage in anti-war protests or have a free press (For example, "Almost 15,000 anti-war protesters have been detained since the invasion began, according to the Ovd-info website."[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60749064]). And if the war in Ukraine drags on sooner or later it will require drafting recruits from Moscow and Saint Petersberg which will be very unpopular among Russian elites. In the former Soviet Union, due to its low fertility rate (which Russia currently has), mothers whose only sons died in the Soviet-Afghanistan War protested against the war which contributed to the war ending sooner.  

:The war in Ukraine is going to be very expensive as far as long-term economic costs due to it causing lower labor productivity and the medical costs of caring for wounded veterans (See: [https://warontherocks.com/2024/07/wounded-veterans-wounded-economy-the-personnel-costs-of-russias-war/ Wounded Veterans, Wounded Economy: The Personnel Costs of Russia’s War]). Russia's labor productivity, which is half of the United States, will be adversely affected. Vladimir Putin said the low labor productivity is one of the most serious problems affecting Russia (See: [[Essay: Low labor productivity is one of the most acute and important problems facing Russia]]).  

:As far as Russia, the war in Ukraine is going to be very expensive as far as long-term economic costs due to it causing lower labor productivity and the medical costs of caring for wounded veterans (See: [https://warontherocks.com/2024/07/wounded-veterans-wounded-economy-the-personnel-costs-of-russias-war/ Wounded Veterans, Wounded Economy: The Personnel Costs of Russia’s War]). Russia's labor productivity, which is half of the United States, will be adversely affected. Vladimir Putin said the low labor productivity is one of the most serious problems affecting Russia (See: [[Essay: Low labor productivity is one of the most acute and important problems facing Russia]]).  

:We can already see the adverse psychological and other adverse impacts the war in Ukraine is having on Russians.  "The increased demand for alcoholic drinks is partly due to “psychological tension” caused by the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. In 2023, the number of litres of alcohol consumed per person per year in Russia reached a nine-year high to eight litres, and may even be higher than that volume. Currently the per capita sales of absolute alcohol are growing in Russia. This clearly indicates an increase in consumption. This is how the population responds to difficulties,” said Evgeny Andreev, a leading researcher at the Centre for Demographic Research of the Russian Economic School (NES)."[https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2024/07/russia-expected-to-see-severe-recession-within-a-year/].  In 2021, Russia already had the highest alcohol usage among males and the third alcohol usage among females.[https://www.abbeycarefoundation.com/alcohol/alcoholism-by-country-statistics/] Russia's big alcoholism problem has clearly been made worse by the war in Ukraine.  

:We can already see the adverse psychological and other adverse impacts the war in Ukraine is having on Russians.  "The increased demand for alcoholic drinks is partly due to “psychological tension” caused by the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. In 2023, the number of litres of alcohol consumed per person per year in Russia reached a nine-year high to eight litres, and may even be higher than that volume. Currently the per capita sales of absolute alcohol are growing in Russia. This clearly indicates an increase in consumption. This is how the population responds to difficulties,” said Evgeny Andreev, a leading researcher at the Centre for Demographic Research of the Russian Economic School (NES)."[https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2024/07/russia-expected-to-see-severe-recession-within-a-year/].  In 2021, Russia already had the highest alcohol usage among males and the third alcohol usage among females.[https://www.abbeycarefoundation.com/alcohol/alcoholism-by-country-statistics/] Russia's big alcoholism problem has clearly been made worse by the war in Ukraine.