Again: look at the situation from Putin's POV.

....except that all the 'incompetents and liars' - all those convincing him Kharkiv is going to greet him like Rome once greeted Julius…

Again: look at the situation from Putin's POV. From his POV, what happened in eastern Kharkiv has shortened the frontline and thus freed lots of troops he needs elsewhere. He does not care beyond that point....

....except that all the 'incompetents and liars' - all those convincing him Kharkiv is going to greet him like Rome once greeted Julius Caesar, and costing him so much of 'his' money - now have to flee into a miserable emigration in Russia. A 'just punishment' for all of them...

And yes, shortening the frontline is favouring defender: this is, actually, Russia.