According to US intelligence, the first signs of war mobilization and stockpiling equipment was detected in April 2021, which means Putin's decision to go to war was formulated months earlier during the height of pandemic in US.It may not be over, but the most advantageous point for russia to use it as cover will certainly be at the moment of the greatest social dislocation in the west, particularly United States. That was clearly last year, not this year. furthermore the fact that the peak of the crisis in europe and the US would very likely be in early 2021 was very clear all throughout the 2020.
The decision for war likely occured at the height of the pandemic (see US delta surge peak in Jan 2021), so it is not a coincidence that Putin made the decision to invade during the height of pandemic. The subsequent high inflation and supply chain issues in late 2021 is icing on the cake. However, it takes months to mobilize and stockpile to go to war and preparation, it's just doesn't happen overnight.