Really good questions! I wonder if we have the answers or if there is any data on this. A good friend of mine is working for the Kyiv independent as a journalist, so I will try to ask her and get back to you on this. But my intuitions say that thus far we don't have data accessible to Western intelligence sources.

As to whether they are professional soldiers; I believe that the assumption is that they have some military background. When it comes to if they would switch sides because of Ukrainian heritage, I believe that would be a possibility.

Presently, I don't think an order from Putin on a tactical nuclear weapon would be carried out. Although, it's possible that a non-lethal nuclear weapon would be deployed in the Black Sea, for example, as a show of fource. Honestly, difficult to say and could go either way. More on the side of not, though.

And to your last question, I could picture the West not wanting to escalate in the media, and at the same time providing Ukrainians with increased weapons and humanitarian assistance (if need be) in order to continue in their month-long advancements. The media portrayal here is key. The less the West is perceived as informing and helping Ukrainians, the less Putin can use it to justify further escalation.

Thank you for the questions! Obviously, all would deserve long discussions and I am sure that you can provide compelling answers/ thoughts to all of them.

Hope you are doing well in these troubling times!