Russia “strikes back” today. This might be a response to successful attacks on Russian oil infrastructure
Zelensky: over 60 "shaheds" and nearly 90 different missiles targeted at power plants, power lines, a hydroelectric dam, residential buildings 1/
This is the largest combined attack on the Ukrainian power system since the beginning of the full-scale invasion: Ukrenergo
100s of thousands of homes are in blackout 2/
Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa and Donetsk are in blackout and being stabilized
There are interruptions of internet and water supply in multiple regions 3/
-Russia hit the Dnipro hydroelectric power plant. There is a major fire but no threat of a dam breach.
Ukrhydroenergo reported two direct missile hits on the plant. One part is in a critical condition and unlikely to be repaired, Ukrhydroenergo director Ihor Syrota 4/
Ukrainian Armed Forces shoot down 92 out of 151 missiles and drones - Air Force.
Kennedy’s explosive analysis proves Russian economy is bankrupt. Craig exposes hidden defense debt and a credit bubble, aggravated by punitive interest rates and sanctions. It is not an economic fortress Russia but a house of cards. 1/
Russia funds its war through a dual system: the official defense budget and a covert bank financing scheme. Putin narrative of economic resilience is unraveling as financial instability mounts. 2/
Off-budget financing through forced bank loans equals $210-250 billion, matching size of defense budget. 3/
After Trump’s inauguration, Lavrov's rhetoric has grown stale, too coy to provoke Trump. Yet, today he said:
"The U.S. and Denmark should listen to the residents of Greenland just as Russia once listened to the residents of Crimea, Donbas, and Novorossiya" Lavrov said
1/
Scholz has said nothing in his talks with Putin that he hasn’t already stated publicly," Lavrov 2/
Trump was the first in the West to honestly admit that NATO lied about its promise not to expand eastward
Gazprom - the Russian gas giant that used to rule Europe - plans to cut 1,600 jobs, a 40% reduction in its central office workforce in St. Petersburg, marking the largest layoff in its history 1/
European gas sales halved in 2023, with revenues dropping 30% year-on-year to Rbs8.5tn ($93bn), leading to a record loss of Rbs629bn ($6.9bn). 2/
Explosions on the Nord Stream pipeline and Western sanctions on Gazprom's oil operations have significantly disrupted its financial stability 3/
Earlier Trump Jr and Musk implied thar Ukraine might have contributed to the fires as some do the surplus firefighting equipment was sent to Ukraine in 2022. 2/
I reject this narrative. The equipment sent to Ukraine would not have been helpful in LA now as the issues are different: water delivery, lack of firefighters etc. 3/
Anne Applebaum describes how to make sense of the new political reality: New Obscurantism.
In this worldview: anti-vaccine conspiracies replace science, mystical nationalism overwhelms law, and political influencers brand themselves as spiritual leaders. 1/
Trump's 2025 cabinet nominees exemplify trend:
Gabbard (Krishna sect member),
RFK Jr. (anti-vaccine activist),
Patel (COVID cure seller) combines fringe beliefs with Russian sympathy. 2/
Romania's 2024 election frontrunner Georgescu won first round through TikTok campaign.
Mixing New Age spirituality, anti-modernism with pro-Russian stance.
Election annulled after discovery of Russian cyber attacks and paid fake accounts. 3/