Not sure he's sending "a message". Well, maybe. But it's out of desperation. Stop giving him credit for his intellect. He fucked up and his mind is fucked up. Some of his actions may come across as calculated but they are not, they are jerking movements of a deranged individual

https://alexeisorokinstories.medium.com/stop-giving-putin-credit-for-his-intellect-and-some-grandiose-game-plan-against-the-weak-west-c7ab9c2258ab