I don't think the Russian command are psychos. They are pursuing specific goals I disagree with. That doesn't make them crazy.

I suspect things are escalating because a peace deal seems possible, so everyone is trying to get into the best negotiation position possible, beforehand, and get some good photo ops in and launch all of their hail-mary plays. Approaching peace deals can lead to this sort of scramble. Like it's a game of musical chairs and everyone is frantically trying to get the last chair, before the music stops.