"The latest polls never show a figure below 60%." Including the "Ukrainian Russian" territories?. And it is in fact irrelevant. Until Ukraine is reunited in a "peaceful" manner, even 100 % would not be enough.

"So news of them will find its way to the ears of the people. The problem is that most Russians seem to be ready to lump it. Until the casualties are too great to disregard them any longer." Agree, but it was a discussion I remember having with USA invasion of Iraq. And it change nothing.

"Not to mention it's a highly convenient tool to distract the Russian populace about the deteriorating Russian economy." Really? As much I watch BBC Economic News and the jokes about Roubles/rubles, and the weekly predictions of the fall of Putin in the Russian opinion (which will probably happen one day), it doesn't yet happen.
The worst is when you start to believe your own propaganda.
In fact, it is quite easy to blame everybody else for economic deterioration, look at EU unable to have a economical recovery (created by laws imposed by EU) and blaming all but its policy.