I read the local news sources in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republic, so you don't have to. Some of it is brain-damaging Russian propaganda. Some of it is what you would read in your local news. And some of it provides hidden military intelligence.
A shortish 🧵
1/7
Residents of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic are complaining as the price of gas/diesel is skyrocketing, and supply is tight. They don't have shortages, but a station might be out of fuel one day, then another the next.
The Ministry of Coal & Energy was interviewed.
2/7
The spokesperson explained that motor fuel for the DNR is bought from the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange using spot market pricing. The reason?
Local fuel depots in the DNR have been degraded to the point they can't make margin purchases. They have to buy just in time.
3/7
If you're buying commodities, that's the most expensive way to purchase things. Logistics disruptions are causing additional problems, but of course, they assured: "There will be and are no fuel shortages."
What does this tell me as a journo/analyst?
A lot.
4/7
Ukrainian strikes on fuel storage facilities in the occupied territories are having a material impact. Fuel moves through the same logistics networks for the military, and the Russian military has to get its fuel from further and further away.
5/7
Which, ironically, burns up more fuel when you get to the metaphorical "last mile" moved by trucks that have to travel greater distances.
If continued Storm Shadow strikes push large logistic hubs further back, that will consume more fuel in the occupied territories.
6/7
Reading the local news in the DNR informs me:
1) Ukraine strikes on fuel depots are working 2) Russian fuel supplies are fragile 3) Further disruption could impact Russian logistics 4) The more you can make Russian dependent on trucks traveling longer distances, the better
7/7
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Last week we sounded the alarm on Twitter and the daily Situation Report that while the overall chance of an intentional accident at ZNPP is low, current threats should be taken very seriously
1/21
ZNPP has 6 Soviet-era designed VVER-1000 nuclear reactors and is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe
It can produce 5700 MW of power, and the reactors were commissioned between 1985 and 1996, Reactor 6 is the newest
2/21
To dispel some myths, the only thing ZNPP has in common with Chornobyl is it uses radioactive fuel to produce steam that turns turbines that make electricity
VVER reactors are very different from RBMK reactors and are much closer in design to Western PWR reactors
In 2015 Mexican drug cartels used RPGs and .50 caliber machine guns to shoot down a Mexican government Blackhawk helicopter, ultimately 9 were killed in a failed raid
Pro-Ukrainian channel Crimean Wind, which also posted this video almost 9 hours ago and has been posting all day long this is "real" and this is "fake" on pics and videos - is saying Ivan Khurs is back in port
The situation with @PeImeniPusha aka Donbass Devushka goes further than her not being a Ukrainian from Luhansk
Allegedly a woman from Oak Harbor, WA USA
Donbass Devuskha appears to be a US Navy Clerk who was just discharged and allegedly shared Teixeria stolen docs
1/7
Others have identified her name, and recent court filing to change her name, and identified her alleged connections to a tropical fish business - being intentionally vague so as not to dox, Donbass Devushka deleted her LinkedIn and Facebook, but the Internet is forever
2/7
LinkedIn listed her as a clerk with the United States Navy and a check of military records confirmed that a person that shares their name, DOB, address, and LinkedIn dates of entry and exit of the Navy aligns with the DoDMDC