The Russians thought the war would be over in a few weeks. In fact, they didn't expect much of a war. Just an invasion. Maybe a few battles. The military brass was reserved about the possibility of a quick strike and a quick end. But the politicians in Moscow were adamant. The Russians denied their obvious bombing of civilian cities, no matter what the pictures showed. They were just packages of humanitarian aid! So the locals, being bombed, sarcastically called the falling ordnance "bread baskets."