Sadly I don't think it adds up. Perhaps Russia is low on troop carrying vehicles, even if true, sadly it wont matter...

Neither side can advance quickly w/o large loss.

Putin is digging in so even if he dies, conservatives will have an iron grip on the country. And their reason for living is the greatness of Russia.

They will not stop for any less than a decade. And the west will not continue for that long. Even now the ratio of artillery has again skewed heavily towards Russia. for a year or two the west may rally, but it won't be enough to displace Russia, then the same stalemate will resume, and Russia will again grind forward. Of course this is a disaster for Russia, but Putin's gang are willing to do it.