As a Russian, I can tell you that you're absolutely correct.

As a Russian, I can also tell you that almost no one in Russia cares because the prevalent meme running through the people's minds is simple: GOOD FOR RUSSIA!

Anything else--especially the deep moral discomfort we Russians feel in supporting Assad's torture state--is ignored because all these Russian "successes" make us feel better about being Russian. 

It's all about making Russians feel better about being Russian--and nothing does that more than winning.