Russia is fighting Ukrainian peasants armed by the West.
You can't have it both ways.
The UA is the best fighting force on this side of the Atlantic when they take a town. When they lose a town, they are peasants.
Also, the towns in U's hands are strategically important and worth defending to the last standing Ukrainian. A week later when in Russia's hands (that was a Polish metaphor since Russia has no hands) a reverse Midas touch turns the same town into nothing worth mentioning.
Did you notice the regularity with which it happens?
Russian fighters have crossed the Russian border from Ukraine - and are engaged in fierce battles with Putin's army.
If I can self-identify as a woman, Ukrainians can self-identify as Russians.