Sounds like the difference between hapless conscripts (they lied to us) and mercenaries acting on behalf of the Russian state (we will kill everyone). Reports say that some very effective but brutal professionals are acting under shadowy authority to wreak havoc. Look up Wagner Group.

So typically Russian. On the eve of the Russian attack on Berlin at the end of World War II, Marshal Zhukov's order was: " Kill!! No man, woman, or even unborn child is innocent of the deeds done to us in Russia. Berlin and everything in it is yours for the taking. Kill! Kill!"

As they are willing to commit war crimes as part of their orders, that makes them the subhumans. Hopefully the PTSD tortures them to their graves.

All that will do is cause Ukrainians to do the same. They may kill more civilians but more Russians will die as well. Not good.