Yeah, well, tactically he's not really at an advantage here.

It's clear Ukraine was doing it. We know they've got unhinged people doing unhinged things and quite intentionally. Torturing POWs is documenting. Shooting POWs is documented. Chem weapons (looked like sarin or similar nerve agent) is documented.

But, if Putin screams about it, what happens? The West claims he's escalating, plays the victim in their own propaganda. Tensions and rhetoric amp up. Putin's been very calm, deliberate, and careful in managing his PR. He makes his case through legal channels, uses the UN, etc.

Why? He's trying to avoid WW3. NATO is trying everything in its power to provoke Russia into doing something stupid, so they can play the victim, and start a full-scale war. NATO's ability to fight it is very much in question, but ultimately NO intelligent person wants to escalate this. Putin's been crystal clear about avoiding provocations of his own and accommodating NATO's. He's doing his fighting economically (and winning), geopolitically (and winning), and on the ground in Ukraine (and winning).