I guess I haven’t really seen much about the casualty rate of their soldiers in Syria outside of those Wagnerites who got obliterated by the US army. Were they losing a lot of men there too?
Russia isn’t honest about their losses. Their age demographics show a crazy death rate among younger- middle aged men. Add in the mandatory military service and it’s clear what is happening. They just don’t want to admit it.
I think you're also underestimating the amount of street violence. Those oligarchs are little more than gangsters. It's not the wild '90's by any stretch, but it's not some peaceful paradise either. Lots of high up windows in Russia these days...