Really all these article are mainly speculation. The war has clearly not gone well for Russia overall. As you say they are using sheer numbers to grind out some gains in the east but will that translate to conquering all of Ukraine? Seems doubtful and if they did they would have a long and very large insurrection on their hands. I'm not seeing Putin as a genius here. He might get a chunk of eastern Ukrainian to annex but at what cost? Becoming cut off from Europe and the west, Sweden/Finland/and maybe a Ukraine remnant expanding NATO, a recommitment by NATO members to security focussed on Russia, an eternal hatred from Ukrainians, the Russian armed forces ground down, thousands of lives, and lots money and material expended. Doesn't seem worth it, we'll see.