russians don't do anything "in response." they attack because they can, because war is their nature, because they want to kill and destroy. and it's not about putin and commanders, it's about rus soldiers and "ordinary, poor" russian people (who support bombs flying to Ukraine but start moaning once they get the same over their heads, not understanding the concept of cause and effect relantionship).

P.S.

I've recently shared the experience and reflections of the Ukr soldier from Donbas who is in russian Kursk now. Maybe you and your readers won't mind to take a look...

https://medium.com/@olesia-filipenko/ukrainian-soldier-on-war-kursk-and-russian-nature-2ebd9da413bb

Cheers!