I don't see NATO v Serbia as analogous to Russia v Ukraine....

I don't see NATO v Serbia as analogous to Russia v Ukraine. Ukraine a much bigger population, much bigger country, much bigger army than Serbia, and Russia a much smaller and shittier force than the combined strength of NATO. Milosevic never stood a chance against NATO.

As I said in reply to the same comment you were replying to, Russia mobilising larger forces than they did would have blown their charade that they weren't planning to invade, and they consequently would have met a better prepared enemy. There was a certain logic to Russia's method - what blew it is they faced an opponent more determined than they expected.