Prologos, but this is not war on Russian territory and mean little to average population, because Syria is distant country. While Russia seek out revenge for terrorist bombing of its airplane in Sinai, it has not much to gain to occupy Syria. USA did not gain much with occupation of Iraq, and it was very costly military adventure. The war in Ukraine is far more strategic risk for Russia and much more close. It is in their backyard in territory which Russia consider a birthplace of its nation.
Recession in Russia is a big deal because it will undermine Putin legacy. One has to look what ideology Eastern European have after the fall of communism. I can tell you the primary ideology there from Czech Republic to Russia is to hoard as much of material possession because entire generations were deprived of consumer goods. This region is not Western Europe where Green party ideology and environmentalist movement brainwashed many under 40 that it is nice to be poor/materially challenged, have bicycle instead of car, and live in closet size apartment as it is necessary for the environment. If Russia for prolonged period of time cannot experience steady consumer growth, the ideology of monetary self-gratification will suffer. Cumulative years of negative economic performance will wear down the society. Furthermore, recession had already undermined modernization of Russian armed forces. During the Great Recession in USA, military spending suffered as well. So waging a war in the middle of economic crisis can only impoverish population further.
