All is coming down to what "data" or data are allowed to be presented to Putin. After 20+ years of yes men gathering around him we may doubt his ability to take rational decisions, hence the "three days SMO". We simply don't know and anything is on the table. We may expect, based on history, that such dictators usually go all in, total war, regardless of casualties and costs. For me, the most frightening part will be at the very end.