This is actually a good sign, good in the sense that Putin still feels threatened by any objectivity. If Putin was orchestrating a shift in his PR machine to explain that the special operation is tougher than expected then that would give him a couple of avenues forward. If he only holds onto minimal objectives (annex donbas, inflict economic pain) then tampering down expectations will make that minor "win" more palatable to the populace. Or if he insists on holding out for bigger gains, then that is only possible through a full mobilization which again is only possible if their general populace feels threatened by Ukraine.
Instead they are still playing up super high expectations. All for a war with vague strategic goals. Plus having one of his PR staff go off-script in the first place means there is a lack of oversight with the message. As this war stretches on without major successes then there is going to be more and more opportunities for that war message to drift off point. Or eventually tuned out or recognized as the bullshit that it is.