Sanctions against Russia

[red750]

Saudi ASaudi Arabia could plunge the Russian economy into crisis by flooding the oil market and sending oil prices crashing. According to Business Insider, the kingdom has suggested that crude prices could fall to as low as $50 a barrel. 

View video here

[kgwilson]

Chinas power is in its economy. The last thing they want is to be drawn in to any conflict that will stop or severely reduce their European and American customers. Xi has been flat out garnering friends from the latest APEC meeting in Peru to oppose Trump & his proposed tarrifs. A major war is not good for business.

 

Putin is a megalomaniac and any attempt to use Nukes will result in him falling out a window at the vey least. His Oligarc mates will see to it.

[facthunter]

Medvedev is the Nut case. For all Putin's wealth his life is crap. He is tied to a Dogma and started something HE  MISJUDGED Massively and has no face-saving way out of it. Netanyahu is in a similar position in many ways.

  Trump can't be the Person He made himself out to be either. He will disappoint many and the adulation of Trump might fizzle away or the GOP Dump him by a death of a thousand cuts when the realisation that HE USED THEM sinks in.   Nev

[red750]

Russia's economy on the brink as the 'market is dead' and prices soar

 

Russia's economy is showing increasing signs of strain more than two years on from Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, with one insider gloomily admitting: "The market is dead".

 

Prices for essentials such as milk, potatoes, and butter are soaring, hitting ordinary Russians hard, according to a report produced by Western-aligned Russian broadcaster Current Time.

 

So serious is the situation becoming that retailers are even having to tighten up resorting security to combat shoplifting, while surging mortgage rates have caused a collapse in new apartment sales.

 

Such issues reflect deeper economic turbulence, with the Central Bank battling to curb inflation as the costs of war and sanctions mount.

 

The once-resilient economy, previously buoyed by wartime production and government spending, now faces stark challenges.

 

Read more here

[red750]

Russia's automated nuclear retaliation system

 

What's the "Dead Hand," Russia's last resort system if Putin and his top officials are killed?

 

It's an automated defense system that guarantees nuclear retaliation even in the absence of the Russian leadership, designed to ensure the survival of the state in the event of a devastating attack.

 

It's also an automated defense mechanism that allows Russia to respond to a nuclear attack even in the absence of its president or military leaders. Developed during the Cold War under the name "Perimeter," the system has been the subject of speculation and mystery, particularly after the fall of the Soviet Union and its continued existence in today's Russia.

 

The creation of this system was in response to the possibility that a US nuclear first strike would disintegrate the USSR's chain of command, leaving Russia vulnerable. Perimeter was designed to automatically launch intercontinental ballistic missiles, without human intervention, if the country was confirmed to have suffered a devastating nuclear attack.

 

Although Moscow has never officially confirmed its existence, in 2011, the commander of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, Sergey Karakaev, acknowledged its operation to the daily Komsomolskaya Pravda, claiming that Russia could destroy the United States in less than 30 minutes.

[red750]

Putin breaks nuclear taboo

 

In his solemn address last Thursday, the Russian president threatened countries that help Ukraine with nuclear retaliation.

 

In this respect, an extract from Vladimir Putin's speech about the new Russian doctrine is particularly illuminating: 

 

“In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons, on November 21 this year the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the objects of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex.

 

One of Russia's latest medium-range missile systems was tested under combat conditions, in this case with a ballistic missile fitted with non-nuclear hypersonic equipment.

 

Our rocket specialists call it the “Oreshnik”. The tests were successful, and the launch target was reached. On the territory of Ukraine, in the city of Dnepropetrovsk, one of the largest industrial complexes known since the days of the Soviet Union was hit, which is still producing missile and other weapons technology today.”

 

And Putin put on the pressure and threatens:

 

“We will determine the targets to be destroyed in subsequent tests of our new missile systems, based on threats to the security of the Russian Federation. We consider that we have the right to use our weapons against military targets in countries that allow their weapons to be used against our targets, and in the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will react just as decisively and in the same way.

[red750]

Putin Aide Reveals Russia's World War 3 Targets In West

 

View xideo here

[red750]

A new slap in the face for Putin

 

In recent weeks, arms deliveries, aid to Ukraine and an increased presence in Eastern Europe have shown that NATO is ready to contain Moscow. 

 

Deliveries of modern weapons, including long-range ATACMS missiles, have opened up the possibility for Ukraine to launch attacks against strategic targets on Russian territory, including airfields and ammunition depots.

 

After the Americans, and Joe Biden's agreement to use ATACMS on Russian territory, and the British go ahead for the Storm Shadow of Keir Starmer's government, it's now France's turn to authorize the use of SCALPs to bomb Russian territory.

 

This was yet another “slap in the face” for Moscow. In response, Putin carried out a demonstrative strike with an Oreshnik ballistic missile on the Dnieper, threatening the West with nuclear escalation. 

[red750]

Entire Russian regiments desert Putin’s war in Ukraine

 

In February 2022, Vladimir Putin shocked the entire world by sending Russian troops to invade neighboring Ukraine.

 

The Kremlin promised a quick war against Ukraine, swiftly taking over the Donbas region and encircling Kyiv, the country’s capital.

 

View slideshow here

[red750]

'Ukrainians got hold of Putin's plan'

 

Ukrainian intelligence has obtained a document that would reveal the plans of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

For now, it is difficult to verify the authenticity of the document. But according to the content, which may or may not be part of an official draft proposal, Putin would propose, among other things, dividing Ukraine into three. 

 

Ukrainian intelligence has obtained a document that would reveal the plans of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

For now, it is difficult to verify the authenticity of the document. But according to the content, which may or may not be part of an official draft proposal, Putin would propose, among other things, dividing Ukraine into three. 

 

The document that Ukrainians got their hands on was allegedly drafted by the Russian Defense Ministry, according to Ukraine's Interfax news agency. The exact author of the plan, is not known.

 

This is Russia's plan for Ukraine

 

If Interfax's sources are to be believed, Russia allegedly plans to annex the eastern regions of Ukraine - including partially and fully Russian-occupied territories. The western regions of Ukraine would become “disputed territories.” These could be claimed by neighboring countries, including Poland, Hungary and Romania. The remaining area, including Kiev, would become a puppet state controlled by Russia. In this way, Ukraine would be completely dissolved as an independent state.

 

In addition, the document would also discuss four possible scenarios for the development of the world order, according to the Interfax source.

 

Read more here

[red750]

Partisans Strike Again: Russian "Hideout" in Crimea Exposed

 

The Atesh resistance movement continues to monitor Russian military activities in Crimea.

 

Their latest findings have uncovered critical information about Russian air defenses at a military base on Cape Fiolent, near Sevastopol.

 

According to their report, the base is guarded by S-300 air defense systems.

 

"Our agent has examined the base on Fiolent. The 25th missile unit, S-300 air defense, and the 26th radar battalion are located there. These units secure the coast and airspace. We are tracking weak points and sending data to the Ukrainian army for further action," Atesh representatives announced on X (formerly Twitter).

 

The Russian S-300 is an advanced air defense system first developed during the Soviet era. Initially deployed in 1979, it is designed to protect military and infrastructure sites from aerial threats.

 

As WP Tech reports, the system is equipped with a range of radars and missile launchers capable of detecting and neutralizing aircraft and ballistic missiles at long distances. It plays a key role in Russia's air defense network, operating as a medium- to long-range system.

 

Features and Capabilities

• Range: Depending on the variant, the S-300 can target threats 150–200 km away.
• Altitude Coverage: Capable of hitting targets at altitudes up to 27 km.
• Missiles: Commonly uses 9M82, 9M83, and 9M83ME missiles, each weighing approximately 1,800 kg, including a 180-kg warhead.
• Targeting: Can engage up to six targets simultaneously with 12 missiles in flight.

This system is a cornerstone of Russia’s defensive strategy in Crimea, providing protection for both land and air operations.

 

The intelligence gathered by Atesh could prove pivotal for Ukrainian forces.

 

By identifying vulnerabilities in the S-300's deployment and radar coverage, Ukraine may develop strategies to counter this sophisticated air defense system effectively.

[red750]

Russia is collapsing

 

Russia’s economy has been showing signs of strain over the past two years, exacerbated by the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

 

According to Western-aligned Russian media outlet Current Time, the prices of basic goods such as potatoes, milk, and butter have skyrocketed, coinciding with a noticeable rise in theft-related crimes.

 

Interest rates in Russia have surged to a record 21%, while inflation has reached historic highs.

 

For nearly three years, the Russian economy has been heavily focused on supporting the war effort, prioritizing the mass production of missiles, tanks, and military uniforms.

 

Recently, several top executives from major Russian companies warned that many businesses might permanently shut down due to the country’s dire economic situation.

 

Although Russia is projected to experience economic growth in 2024, forecasts for the following year paint a much bleaker picture.

 

[red750]

Ukrainian drones obliterate oil depot in Russia

 

A Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s central Kaluga region ignited fires at an oil depot and a weapons storage facility.

 

The region's governor, Vladislav Shapsha, confirmed that the fire broke out at an industrial site but was eventually brought under control by firefighters.

 

Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, stated that the strike hit the Typhoon Instrument Manufacturing Plant. The facility is under European Union sanctions for producing weapons for the Russian military, including Bal-E and Rubezh-ME missile systems.

 

In addition to this long-range strike, Ukrainian intelligence also claimed responsibility for hitting a depot belonging to the Rosneft oil company. However, this information could not be independently verified.

 

Meanwhile, Moscow reported shooting down several drones over the border regions of Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod.

[willedoo]

It's only early days but there's encouraging signs for Ukraine coming from the Trump team.  First there was Senator Lindsay Graham's comments about backing Ukraine in return for business investment and now Trump's appointed special envoy to Ukraine has returned from a trip there with some positive comments. Lt. General (Ret.) Keith Kellogg is of the view neither side will negotiate and that the end game he sees is the US giving Ukraine the kit to kick the Russians out of all Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and the Donbass. He said the defeat would be the end of putin which would change Europe for a generation to come. General Kellogg served in Trump's first administration.

 

All positive thoughts but the challenge will be to get Trump fully on board. With Trump being so transactional, any loyalty to putin would last only as long as putin is useful to him. If Trump thinks there's more to gain by going with Ukraine it would shake things up. As it stands, US investment in Russia is not a viable thing and there's a lot of potential in Ukraine in that department. The other side is the political gain. If Trump could back Ukraine to defeat putin's forces it would be a sharp contrast to the failings of Biden over the last almost three years of drip fed defence against Russia. Biden's legacy on Ukraine will be one of failure whereas Trump knows he's only got four years to leave a positive legacy. Trump's main challenge will be to keep mad Donald suppressed which might not be so easy.

[rgmwa]

I read that Kellogg's starting position was to get both sides to negotiate by telling Putin the US would give Ukraine all it needed to defeat him if he didn't, and telling Zelenskyy that he wouldn't get any more aid unless he sat down as well. If that hasn't worked because both of them have refused to play the game, maybe he's seeing if he can make Putin blink first. I wouldn't get too excited at this stage. 

 

[nomadpete]

19 hours ago, willedoo said:

Trump knows he's only got four years to leave a positive legacy.

I like your post except for  this comment - I doubt yhat DJT has ever cared about leaving a legacy. He only cares about instant by instant adulation, wealth and power.

[facthunter]

WE wouldn't REALLY Know. His Neice Mary might . Nev