@Novichok
I mean it makes sense. Russians are dying in this war every day, and it wouldn't really do the government good to report much of anything but positive news.
Ukraine is much worse in that regard. They have something called the TV Marathon, since the start of the war, where essentially all channels have been shut and there is only one thing running on everyone's tvs all the time. After watching 30 minutes of it you'll be convinced that Ukraine is going to win, and you can go and relax.
I don't really remember Fox or CNN being particularly critical of the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq, until it became popular. At the same time, CNN International was a little more objective, since you couldn't just jam "MURICA!!!" down some Swedes throat, without lubing him up a bit.
So I think your instincts are right - RT is trying to be Uber-objective to the outside world, to make itself that much less vulnerable to criticism.