What really troubles me about Putin is that he and his government is way ineffective. There are no brave people, only loyal. Their money are in the west banks, as are their safe retreats.

And what is much more troubling - almost every country with powerful ruling class is like that. As people say "паны дерутся, а у хлопцев чубы трещат" (=when those in power, the superiors, are in conflict, it is the common people, the subordinates, who suffer). And curse those Ukrainian officials who let it escalate to this.