I watched so many videos and podcasts about Ukraine that I can’t remember which one I saw this one on, but it was showing Russian meat troops that were not given body armor or even helmets to help them in their meat assaults.
Essentially, Russia is so broke and so out of equipment that the people they trick into signing contracts find themselves in Ukraine within two weeks without helmets, body armor, medical kits, sleeping bags, or any basic essentials of being in combat.
I would guess that the Russian mind in their military officer corp would realize that things are likely coming to an end soon. Unlike Dick Winters in Band of Brothers who told his men to get a good nights sleep and report to him in the morning that they had crossed the river to search for prisoners but failed to find any - because the unit was going off-line the next day and to kill a lot of them for a stupid ego mission was something to avoid, Russian officers will send the meat into the grinder without hesitation. Unlike Winters, they are probably stealing the equipment or the money for the equipment because they know the war will end quicker than later - and any grifting that has to be done needs to be done now while the grifting is still possible.
As winter approaches you have to believe that Russian troops will not have winter gear or any way not to freeze to death or lose fingers and toes for the next three or four months. If they can’t afford to give them helmets, or even the vests stuffed with plywood instead of armor plate, I see zero chance of Russian troops being able to get through the winter without significant losses and injury due to the severe lack of supply. Even a year ago I remember seeing videos were Russian troops complained that their officers made them purchase their equipment, and if the family didn’t spring for it they were screwed.
OTOH, I’m sure Ukraine’s NATO allies are rummaging through their older winter kit and shipping it all to Ukraine. I would bet that the site picture on a modern thermal site looking at a Russian trying to stay alive in -20 weather is an image that pops out.