He's not upping any intensity because he has nothing left. You do realize the sanctions crippled Russia's defense manufacturing. Corruption and nepotism have left the Russian Armed Forces hollow, and they are fighting with equipment dating back to the '70s and 1980s on a 21st Century battlefield. Their logistics are practically non-existent, and nowhere have they stopped the inflow of weapons from the Western Ukrainian border in the last couple of months.
I suggest you read the book On War by Carl Van Clausewitz on what total war is and how conflict should be. I fear the Chinese if they clash with Russian thinking, any more delay on taking Taiwan, you will not be able to touch it; consider Ukraine a test bed for what NATO & Co. can do and will do.
The worst part about Russia & China's last 20 years is that you failed to bleed the West in the conflict hot zones in Africa and the Middle East. Just as the West called certain groups friends and armed them, you could have played the same playbook.
China thought of a peaceful rise with no war; there was no such thing. You have a competent army if the nation is at war.