For Those Who Might Be Wondering Why We Might Be In Ukraine

[ChloeTzang]

Putin promised to take Sumy — his paratroopers are trapped there instead​

What began as a Russian push toward Sumy ended with elite paratroopers cut off and surrounded.

Ukrainian forces in the sector have seized the initiative, moving from a defensive posture to a broad counteroffensive that is steadily reshaping the frontline and dictating the battle. The momentum shift is allowing Ukrainian units to dictate the pace of battle, breaking down Russian cohesion and allowing elite enemy forces to be encircled. Ukrainian forces started successfully advancing near:

• Kindrativka
• Andriivka
• Oleksiivka
• Yablunivka
• Yunakivka

They have been supported by a series of air strikes against Russian concentrations of forces and effective disruption of enemy reinforcement attempts, with the Russians trying to cross a local lake being targeted by drones. A Russian military analyst embedded with Russian forces in this sector reported that Russians are suffering from glaring issues with defensive cohesion:

• Fire coordination is ineffective against Ukrainian assaults.
• Requested reinforcements often never arrive.
• Counterattacks are delayed by several days.

Ukrainian commanders are exploiting these weaknesses with precision, forcing Russians into a defensive posture they cannot maintain. Nowhere was this more evident than at Sadky, where Ukrainian forces managed to encircle elements of the 51st VDV Brigade, a supposedly elite airborne formation that should not be prone to such breakdowns. Sadky itself remains under Ukrainian control, but reports indicate that Russian soldiers have been trapped and eliminated in the nearby forest spanning 15 square kilometers.

These events are not an isolated failure, but a symptom of a deeper, structural problem within the Russian military in the area. Russia’s operational mindset, long focused on continuous offensives, appears to have eroded its ability to mount an effective defense. In pursuit of gains during the summer offensive, Russian commanders committed vast reserves of armor and manpower, leaving little left to plug gaps when momentum stalled. The fighting in Kursk was particularly costly: armored vehicles were destroyed in huge numbers, forcing Russia to rely on infantry, motorcycles, and small assault teams. Now in Sumy, most Russian soldiers move on foot, taking them days to reach the frontline, and they can’t respond effectively when Ukrainians attack. Additionally, North Korean troops were annihilated by Ukrainian cluster munitions 200 soldiers at a time, and the Russian infantry that remains is exhausted, making the Russian Sumy front thinly manned and dangerously vulnerable.

Faced with this unfolding crisis, Russian command has attempted to reinforce the sector with a battalion from the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade, tasked with stabilizing Kindrativka. Yet this solution may only compound the problem, as this Russian brigade suffered devastating losses during the Kursk battles and is now believed to be operating at only 35 to 45% of its nominal combat strength. Rather than deploying a cohesive, intact battalion, the likely reality is a composite force cobbled together from remnants of different units, a halfhearted measure that further undermines cohesion and interoperability. While these reinforcements may slow Ukrainian advances temporarily, they lack the depth and organization to mount a meaningful defense.

Overall, in Sumy Oblast, the narrative has shifted entirely, and what began as a Ukrainian defensive effort has evolved into offensive momentum that is dismantling Russian positions piece by piece. For Russia, the situation is a bitter reversal, as it was just weeks ago that President Vladimir Putin himself issued aggressive statements about pushing into Sumy and even threatening the regional capital.

Without fresh reserves or a radical change in operational approach, Russia is poised to lose even more ground and with it, any lingering credibility in its ability to threaten the city of Sumy again. Ukrainian defensive plans not only absorbed the initial Russian pressure but have now turned the tide, enabling methodical counterattacks that are pushing Russian forces back across the sector.

Just as a comment, this same situation seems to be playing out n many different areas of the frontlines, maiing Trump's attempts tp force Ukraine to capitulate even more laughably pathetic. Trump may play wel to an American auidence on internal domestic issues, but on the international stage, he looks like a fool, and what is worse, a weak fool. President TACO indeed.

https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/08/23/putin-sumy-paratroopers-trapped/

 

[ChloeTzang]

Russia and Iran are combining to attempt to dismantle the emerging peace and trade alliance betweeb Azerbaihjan and Armenia...

....treating the US-brokered Zangezur Corridor as a direct threat to their interests. Both countries are signaling they will stop the project by any means, including the use of military force.

Armenia and Azerbaijan, once locked in decades of war over Nagorno-Karabakh, have moved to end hostilities, with a preliminary peace agreement signed in Washington. The deal paves the way for mutual recognition of borders and the creation of the Zangezur Corridor, a transport link managed by a third party running through southern Armenia, connecting mainland Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan enclave and on to Turkey.

For Azerbaijan, the corridor replaces its reliance on Iranian territory to mainland contact with Nakhchivan, cutting Iran out of a role it has used for years to exert leverage over Azerbaijan. For Iran, the project sidelines its influence in the South Caucasus entirely, additionally blocking access to the Armenian border it depends on for overland routes to regional markets and the Black Sea. It also threatens the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and associated gas-for-electricity swap deals, which have been pillars of Tehran’s economic influence northward. By giving Azerbaijan and Armenia a direct route that bypasses Iranian territory altogether, the corridor undermines one of Iran’s last strategic footholds in the region.

Tehran as now declared that it will block the Zangezur corridor’s construction, with or without Russian support. Senior adviser to the Supreme Leader, Ali Akbar Veleyati, called the idea of the US leasing the route to a private military company for 99 years impossible, warning that it would become a graveyard for Trump’s mercenaries. Iran has already held military exercises on its northwestern border to underscore its readiness to intervene, and possibly undertake military action against Armenia, Azerbaijan, and any who support the corridor’s construction. However, with the peace framework between Armenia and Azerbaijan now close to completion, and the construction of the Zangezur Corridor threatening to remove the need for Russian peacekeepers, Moscow is beginning to push back, even while still bogged down in Ukraine.

Russia has now launched a humanitarian mission in Armenia to provide aid to displaced Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, a move aimed at regaining popularity among the Armenian public while reminding the Armenian government that Russia will not give up its role and influence in the region. The effort also carries a veiled warning: that Moscow still has networks and presence inside Armenia, it could use to pressure the government. This is a sharp contrast to Russia’s earlier inaction, having failed to defend Armenia both before and during the Ukraine war, only to protest when Armenia sought guarantees elsewhere.

Notably, Russia and Iran are deepening their military cooperation in the southern Caucasus, signaling joint strength to two neighbors seeking to break free of their influence. In the Caspian Sea, they have just completed the Casarex 2025 naval and amphibious drills, bringing together warships, missile boats, and destroyers for coordinated operations. While officially framed as defensive, these exercises demonstrate capabilities that could be applied offensively. Regional analysts now warn of scenarios where Russian troops already stationed in Armenia seize strategic border crossings, or where Russian intelligence agencies fund and arm separatist groups, repeating the same playbook used in Ukraine and Georgia. Amphibious landings or missile strikes from the Caspian could target coastal infrastructure, while Iranian forces move in from the south, forcing the still infant friendship between Armenia and Azerbaijan to mount a joint defense against two major regional powers at once.

Overall, the alignment of Armenia and Azerbaijan under a US-backed trade and transit deal has forced both Russia and Iran to confront the disappearance of their influence in the South Caucasus. For Iran, the corridor represents a strategic bypass that cuts it out of the regional transit and undermines its energy leverage; for Moscow, it signals the loss of another former client to Western-backed integration. Their joint military exercises and hardline rhetoric suggest that, for all the diplomatic progress made between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Zangezur Corridor could still become the focal point of a new confrontation, one where the peace deal itself is the target.

Mind you, there's another very large player involved - Turkey! Also, besides Turkey, Azerbaijan has a lot of ties with Israel and surprise surprise, there is a large Azerbaijani ethnic enclave across the border in Iran. Go figure....it's also worth mentioning that Turkey and Armenia are busy strengthening their relationship (wow!, so Armenia does not have to rely on a small number of American mercenaries. ANd Turkey has made noises about a NATO base in Azerbaijan. Every move here that makes Russia and Iran weaker makes Turkey stronger, I doubt they would sit back on this opportunity.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Turkey signaled its readiness to deploy forces to Azerbaijan, setting the stage for a large-scale rebalancing of power in the South Caucasus.

In Azerbaijan, calls are growing for Turkish troops to serve as permanent peacekeepers and security guarantors against any future Russian move. The idea gained momentum after an Azerbaijani journalist asked Turkish President Erdogan when the Turkish Army would come to Azerbaijan, because without it, there is always the risk of a new Russian occupation. Azerbaijanis note that Turkish soldiers are the ultimate deterrent to Moscow, as Russia continues moving additional troops toward the Azerbaijani border and reinforces its military bases in Armenia despite Armenian protests. Turkish special forces and advisors already rotate through Azerbaijani units, and the private military company Sadat has an established presence, but the current push is for a permanent and full-on Turkish military presence in Azerbaijan. By joining and shaping public debate in both countries, Turkey is testing the waters for a permanent deployment that would complicate any Russian military action in the Caucasus.

At the same time, Azerbaijan is breaking with Soviet military traditions, because President Ilham Aliyev has ordered a full switch from Russia’s military coordinate grid system to the US-developed World Geodetic System, the standard used by NATO. This removes one of the last major Russian frameworks still embedded in Azerbaijani military planning, marking a decisive break from the Soviet systems that once structured Baku’s entire defense doctrine. This system integrates GPS and satellite imagery to ensure efficiency in targeting data and joint operational planning across allied forces. By adopting it, Azerbaijan can now receive and provide Nato-standard military coordinates, reconnaissance, and targeting data more effectively and without delay with Turkish and other allied units, and train in joint operations with no conversion gap. This directly supports Baku’s push for a permanent Turkish troop presence, ensuring both forces could operate seamlessly with one another from the first day of deployment. While the shift is technical, it carries a clear strategic signal: Azerbaijan is making genuine preparations for potential defensive conflict with Russia by aligning its mapping, targeting, and navigation infrastructure with the West and removing all dependency on Russian systems in wartime.

The sharpest warning, however, came after Russian missile and drone strikes deliberately destroyed facilities of Socar, Azerbaijan’s state oil company, with precise long-range attacks in Ukraine. Baku publicly threatened to respond by sending not just Humanitarian support or defensive equipment to Ukraine, but actual weapons. Notably, the Baku-based Avia-Agregat plant began producing 122 millimeter and 155 millimeter artillery shells using Turkish and Bulgarian production lines already in 2022. These are exactly the kinds of munitions Ukraine needs most: artillery shells to sustain defensive and offensive operations. If Baku scales up such deliveries, the geopolitical impact would be immediate; another former Russian ally would be openly arming Ukraine, signaling a deepening strategic defeat for Moscow. Russia’s attacks on Socar assets have therefore created the risk of provoking a stronger, more open Azerbaijani military role in Ukraine, a shift that Azerbaijan could make without fear of military retaliation if Turkey deploys its peacekeepers in the region.

Overall, what began as targeted strikes on energy facilities is now feeding into a broader realignment, with Azerbaijan openly seeking Turkish troop deployments, embedding Nato systems into its military to ensure full interoperability, and weighing whether to arm Ukraine more heavily. Each step is a response to Russian provocations and a move that further isolates Moscow. The irony is that by hitting Socar in Ukraine, Russia may have accelerated trends that were already underway, turning a wary neighbor into an active security partner for both Turkey and Ukraine. If these steps continue, the Kremlin could find that in trying to punish Azerbaijan, it instead pushes it firmly into the opposing camp with consequences that reach far beyond the oil sector.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Russia’s War Machine Is Cracking​

Russia’s war machine is cracking from the inside. Ukraine’s radio-silent drones are blinding the Black Sea Fleet and torching rail-side fuel depots, stalling trains from Crimea to Rostov. Inside Moscow, reshuffles, raids and ‘internal enemies’ reveal a regime losing control—and why the tempo of this war is shifting.

This Ukraine war update and military analysis covers the logistics collapse, drone warfare, and Kremlin infighting. We examine the Sevastopol Khersones hub strike and how Black Sea Fleet radar and surveillance gaps emerged; Crimea fuel depot fires and delayed trains; and Rostov and Voronezh power-line disruptions. The video focuses on Ukraine’s new radio-silent, terrain-following drones that avoid jamming and enable precision attacks on rail chokepoints. We also explore the signals of an inner crisis in Russia: FSB crackdowns, propagandist targeting, command reshuffles, and collapsing morale.

00:00 Vladimir Putin is Lost
01:05 Black Sea Fleet's Surveillance Struck
04:45 The Russian World / Russkii Mir, Dugin, & Revolution in Russia
07:43 Ukraine's New Martian Drones
08:04 The Kremlin's Panic Worsens
11:05 The FSB is a Mafia
13:14 Are Russians Realizing the Kremlin's Lies?
13:34 What Putin Truly Fears
14:49 Fixing Ukrainian Drones - Volunteer Optical Labatory
16:06 Why Ukraine is Winning & Russia is Losing

 

[Rightguide]

You haven't seen it because your eyes are closed. Russia doesn't occupy Donbas.

https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/INTERACTIVE-What-Ukrainian-territory-does-Putin-want-AUG-12-2025-copy-3-1755156367.png?quality=80
As of August 2025, Russia occupies significant portions of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, encompassing both Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. According to recent reports, Russian forces control approximately 88% of Donbas, including all of Luhansk and about 75% of Donetsk .ABC+1

There you go numb nuts.

 

[Pad_Foot]

Now? The Ukraine unlawful defense is making the US $$$! As it should be!
Next? Putin waves mineral rights under his puppet’s nose

 

[Rightguide]

Now? The Ukraine unlawful defense is making the US $$$! As it should be!
Next? Putin waves mineral rights under his puppet’s nose

Your insane TDS requires hospitalization.

 

[ll74]

https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/INTERACTIVE-What-Ukrainian-territory-does-Putin-want-AUG-12-2025-copy-3-1755156367.png?quality=80
As of August 2025, Russia occupies significant portions of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, encompassing both Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. According to recent reports, Russian forces control approximately 88% of Donbas, including all of Luhansk and about 75% of Donetsk .ABC+1

There you go numb nuts.

Russia wants all of it in other words they want to gain a quarter of the region and they want Ukranians to be ok with that

Fuck that.

 

[Rightguide]

Russia wants all of it in other words they want to gain a quarter of the region and they want Ukranians to be ok with that

Fuck that.

You were incorrect, Russia does occupy the Donbas, That was my only point. I don't give a shit what either party "wants." I do care about precision when discussing reality. You were wrong and need to get with the friggin' program when it comes to the facts of the matter.

 

[Baztrachian]

How relevant is the above today?

It's relevant because the Russians haven't given up on any of these demands.

 

[Baztrachian]

So, why don't we just send an army of European NATO troops into Ukraine, because nothing will happen?

That's what is starting to coalesce. The Europeans are getting themselves postured to send in peacekeeping forces in the event of a cease fire or truce. If the Russians don't violate the cease fire or truce then it won't matter if these troops are in Ukraine.

Myself I am not worried about this because the Russians will never agree to a cease fire or truce.

 

[ll74]

You were incorrect, Russia does occupy the Donbas,

Part of it

That was my only point. I don't give a shit what either party "wants." I do care about precision when discussing reality. You were wrong and need to get with the friggin' program when it comes to the facts of the matter.

They don't control all of Donbas.

That is reality.

 

[ChloeTzang]

You were incorrect, Russia does occupy the Donbas, That was my only point. I don't give a shit what either party "wants." I do care about precision when discussing reality. You were wrong and need to get with the friggin' program when it comes to the facts of the matter.

Russia occupies a majority of Donetsk. WHat they don't occupy are the strategic fortresses that are the key to the Ukrainian defenses and which they have NOT captured in over three years of trying.

Putin and Trump are trying to pressure Ukraine into govomh these up without a fight, and based on agreements with Russia and worthless words from Trump which have proved worthless in the past - and at a time when Russia is on the verge of imploding and it's military is beginning to crack at the seams.

Laughable.

 

[Rightguide]

It's relevant because the Russians haven't given up on any of these demands.

Then show me some that nothing in that list has changed in the last 5 years. I'll give you a reason why you need to reassess your statement. Russia now occupies significant portions of eastern Ukraine, including most of Luhansk and large parts of Donetsk, which violates principles like non-use of territories for attacks against the other party (Article 3). Russian forces have deployed missiles, heavy bombers, and other armaments near Ukrainian territory, contravening Articles 5 and 6 regarding deployment perceived as a threat. These issues alone indicate that Russian goals and understandings of the issues at hand have changed. I could go on, but my time at present is limited. You need to study the present reality on the ground in Ukraine and get back to me.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Myself I am not worried about this because the Russians will never agree to a cease fire or truce.

100%

And if you listen to or read some of what I have been posting it's clear that Russia is on the verge of imploding, along with the total destruction of it's oil reineries and industry.

All Trump really needs to do is send a thousand old Bradleys, or better yet, two thousand, along with another hundred F16's, STFU and come out of this smelling like roses.

Instead, he's going to act like Putin's bitch to the end and come out smelling of shit like the Quisling he's proving to be, having turned Europe from somewhat questionable allies into "not alies at all," and turned Ukraone from what could have been a loyal friend and ally into an outright enemy who will always remember that they were backstabbed by America.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Nowhere in the Occupied Territories is safe for the Russian invaders and their collaborators

On the territory of the temporarily occupied Luhansk region, a group of Russians was eliminated. They took part in the occupation of Bucha in 2022, according to the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence (HUR). On Friday, August 22, on the territory of the temporarily occupied settlement of Kalynove of the Kadiivka city community of Alchevsk district, an explosion rang out. It happened in the yard of a house where six Russian invaders were staying with their military transport. "In 2022, the mentioned Russian occupiers directly took part in committing war crimes in the city of Bucha of the Kyiv region," they note in the HUR.

In the Luhansk region, the occupiers were performing the function of a mobile air defense group to cover the enemy military-repair base arranged not far from the house. As a result of the explosion, two enemy pickups with machine guns were destroyed, a UAZ loaded with ammunition. Also, three invaders were eliminated, and two more Russian militants were wounded. In recent days, HUR special forces have eliminated over 90 Russian war criminals and collaborationists in the Donetsk region, and five more were taken prisoner.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/worl...S&cvid=2bbab79137d149a4bd25e1dd143472a6&ei=12

 

[Baztrachian]

Then show me some that nothing in that list has changed in the last 5 years. I'll give you a reason why you need to reassess your statement. Russia now occupies significant portions of eastern Ukraine, including most of Luhansk and large parts of Donetsk, which violates principles like non-use of territories for attacks against the other party (Article 3). Russian forces have deployed missiles, heavy bombers, and other armaments near Ukrainian territory, contravening Articles 5 and 6 regarding deployment perceived as a threat. These issues alone indicate that Russian goals and understandings of the issues at hand have changed. I could go on, but my time at present is limited. You need to study the present reality on the ground in Ukraine and get back to me.

The only thing I need to get back to you on is my fervent desire to the see the Russians crushed in Ukraine and exterminated if that is what is needed to secure peace from these bastards.

The world has put up with Russians being a persistent mass murdering mob for well over a century now. If they're not busy murdering each other then they have to go murder others. It's what the fuckers do.

And while you may see contradictions in their actions and their words I can assure you that they don't give a fuck what you think.

 

[ChloeTzang]

THE KREMLIN IS EATING ITS OWN. Pro-Putin political scientist Markov was declared a foreign agent. Who's next?​

Yesterday the funniest bullshit in the world happened. Pro-Kremlin pseudo-political scientist Markov was recognized as a foreign agent. So they took it and recognized it. Did he say some sedition? Not really. He always licked Putin's ass, supported the war, hated Ukraine. In general, he is an absolutely loyal person to the authorities, and endlessly appears on all television programs. Sometimes, however, he gently disagrees with the official position of the authorities. Casts doubt on it. But very carefully and blurring in compliments to Vladimir Putin.

But all this did not save Markov, and now Markov writes LITERALLY: "Comrade Putin, a monstrous mistake has occurred." LIke some of his colleagues, he himself, suddenly discovered that he was recognized as a foreign agent just like that - without any grounds. Now this truth of life has reached a part of the audience loyal to Putin. Well, the Z-military correspondents were very happy about the recognition of Markov as a foreign agent - because they did not like the way he sang the praises of Aliyev. And now they are delighted. However, apparently, they do not understand that they are also separated from the bottle or the list of foreign agents by someone's decision! Although some are aware of this, so they do not join the chorus of joyful colleagues.

This is in Ukrainian and you need to use the translate settingsm which can be a little iffy, but overall it's actually rather entertaining

 

[Baztrachian]

THE KREMLIN IS EATING ITS OWN. Pro-Putin political scientist Markov was declared a foreign agent. Who's next?​

Yesterday the funniest bullshit in the world happened. Pro-Kremlin pseudo-political scientist Markov was recognized as a foreign agent. So they took it and recognized it. Did he say some sedition? Not really. He always licked Putin's ass, supported the war, hated Ukraine. In general, he is an absolutely loyal person to the authorities, and endlessly appears on all television programs. Sometimes, however, he gently disagrees with the official position of the authorities. Casts doubt on it. But very carefully and blurring in compliments to Vladimir Putin.

But all this did not save Markov, and now Markov writes LITERALLY: "Comrade Putin, a monstrous mistake has occurred." LIke some of his colleagues, he himself, suddenly discovered that he was recognized as a foreign agent just like that - without any grounds. Now this truth of life has reached a part of the audience loyal to Putin. Well, the Z-military correspondents were very happy about the recognition of Markov as a foreign agent - because they did not like the way he sang the praises of Aliyev. And now they are delighted. However, apparently, they do not understand that they are also separated from the bottle or the list of foreign agents by someone's decision! Although some are aware of this, so they do not join the chorus of joyful colleagues.

This is in Russian and you need to uzse the translate settingsm which can be a little iffy, but overall it's actually rather entertaining

There is no honor amongst genocidal maniacs. Какой сюрприз. (What a surprise)

 

[ChloeTzang]

Awesome News from Pokrovsk direction! Major breakthrough of AFU​

Russian soldiers surrendering rather than retreating and being cancelled by their own commanders

According to Russian pro-govt Telegram channels linked to the MOnistry of Defense, due t improper actions of the command of the 5th Motorized Brigade, the Armed Forces of Ukraone managed to achieve a 4km breakthrough, as a result of whih fighting is now takung place in the center of the village of Myrba

If the offensive develops successfully, a large Russian force, repprtedly of more than 1000 soldiers, could face the threat of encirclement and about 130 sq kms could be regained, neutralizing Russia's ealier gains and securing the eastern flank of the city of Pokrovsk.

And Trump wants Ukraine to capitulate? He can go fuck himself, the chickenshit toad.

Here's the clip from a couple of the trapped Russian soldiers

https://twitter.com/x/status/1959385731157074032

 

[ChloeTzang]

HUGE COLLAPSE IN RUSSIA: PANIC SHOCK SHORTAGE​

 

[ChloeTzang]

Russian Revenues CUT IN HALF! ​

Today, Russia has suffered a massive defeat on the economic stage.

Here, Opec+ has cut Russia at the knees and offered India a cheap alternative to Russian oil to avoid further sanctions. With Russia desperately offering to sell its remaining oil at an even further discounted rate, revenues are dropping far lower than previously predicted, as Russia’s main economic crutch is being snapped in two.

India has been under a 50% tariff from the US since earlier this month, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil and weapons. While state-run Indian oil refineries had initially halted purchases of Russian crude, the complete halt of imports that the US was aiming for has not yet been realized. However, the Republican-led Sanctioning Russia Act, which promises additional tariffs of 100% to 500% already has an 84 senator majority in the US Senate, far exceeding the 67 threshold needed to override any presidential veto. The threat of an effective trade embargo by the US would cripple the Indian economy, which relies on the US for one-fifth of its exports, or nearly 90 billion dollars in 2024. Still, New Delhi has warned that making such a switch would be near-impossible, as it relies on Russia for almost 40% of its oil imports, meaning it would crash the global oil market and skyrocket prices through its sudden increased demand. However, US reports indicate that half of India’s oil imports from Russia are being resold on the global market at a profit, a scheme that can be easily halted.

Still it is not enough, but fortunately for India, Saudi Arabia’s Opec+ coalition is seizing the opportunity to replace Russia as India’s main oil supplier. Recently, Opec+ has announced it would increase oil production by 548,000 barrels per day, allowing India to immediately replace over half of their required imports from Russia, at a similar price and without crashing the global oil economy. Additionally, India’s largest oil refiner has already bought over 7 million barrels from the US this month, as other oil-producing nations and companies are likely to join in on the move made by Saudi Arabia and further replace Russia’s large share in India’s oil market.

Russia is observing these developments with wary eyes, as it is becoming clear that India will not choose to remain on Russia’s side if it means it would suffer major economic losses. India accounts for roughly 45% of total Russian oil exports, and a complete stop would be a hit to the Russian wartime economy that it is unable to sustain. This is why Russia is already desperately trying to find alternative buyers for nearly half of its oil exports. Notably, Bloomberg reports that Russia has offered China the oil that India has already refused, at an even further discounted rate. Analysts state that China is likely to take further advantage of Russia’s increasingly isolated position, as Russia has few further options.

Excluding the possibility of Russia finding buyers for its increasingly lower price of oil, if India stops buying Russian crude altogether, this could add an additional 27 billion dollars or 1.3% of GDP on top of an already 2.5% Russian budget deficit. Economists note that a possible deficit of over 3.8% or 91 billion dollars would even turn Russian nominal economic growth on paper into a full-blown recession, despite the Russian government actively pumping money into the system and high wartime casualty compensations and signing bonuses boosting local economies. Making this worse, despite Russia being a part of Opec+, its increasingly limited options in global export markets won’t allow it to profit from increased production, which could lower global oil prices further and hurt Russian revenue streams even more.

Overall, economic threats and secondary sanctions from the West are removing the sidelines many countries have been standing on for the past 3 years. And while some countries are choosing to side with Russia, many see this as an opportunity to take control of Russian shares in the global resource markets, including some of Russia’s former allies. With increased production by Opec+ giving India an alternative to Russian oil imports, Russia’s only choice is to let its remaining allies take advantage of it, as a budget deficit risks spiraling into a full-blown economic recession.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Zelensky Hasn't Blinked Because He Doesn't Have To

Ukraine’s new Flamingo cruise missile (FP-5) may be the weapon that reshapes not only the war but the future of Europe itself. Russia can not compete.

Here, a parallel history, comparing the Flamingo to history’s great game-changing weapons—the Greek naval ram, pike formations, and the English longbow—all of which transformed warfare in their time. But the Flamingo’s scale could bring consequences more like the Thirty Years’ War, whose aftermath saw economic collapse, famine, disease, and drastic population decline across Central Europe.

When mass-produced and targeted against Russia’s fragile war economy, the Flamingo could bring about a similar collapse within Russia, hastening the end of a despotic system that thrives on repression and war. Yet out of destruction may come renewal: just as Europe eventually emerged from the chaos of the Thirty Years’ War to build a more modern, stable, and cooperative order, so too could the fall of Russian despotism open space for a more peaceful, freer, and more prosperous future—not only for Ukraine, but for the world.

This will be a dismantling of the Russian economy. It is a turning point—where determination, innovation, and vision can transform tragedy into a chance for peace.

This guy appears a bit whacky but boy does he cover what can be done with the Flamingo - production is scaling up to hundreds a month by October and thousands in 2026.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Russia’s Economic Engine Is Breaking Down—IMF Sounds the Alarm​

Russia’s economy is spiraling into crisis, and the latest IMF report strips away the illusion of strength Moscow has been projecting. Behind the façade of wartime growth lies an economy collapsing under its own weight—skyrocketing interest rates, double-digit inflation, labor shortages, and a currency disconnected from reality.

The International Monetary Fund’s downgrade of Russia’s economic outlook for 2025 and 2026 is not just a minor revision—it is a warning. Growth is expected to plunge to just 0.9% in 2025 and barely crawl at 1% in 2026, far below the global average. For a nation sustaining one of the world’s costliest wars, these numbers are catastrophic.

Why is Russia’s economy breaking down? The artificial wartime boom fueled by state subsidies and defense spending has reached its limits. Now, businesses are suffocating under 18–21% interest rates, families are crushed by soaring prices, and the labor market is exhausted as hundreds of thousands of workers are sent to the frontlines or flee abroad.

The IMF’s message is clear: Russia is running out of time, money, and options. The collapse of Fortress Russia is no longer a distant scenario—it is happening now, and its shockwaves will ripple across Europe, Asia, and the global economy.

Will Moscow’s economic machine survive the next two years? Or has the cost of war pushed Russia past the point of no return?

 

[ChloeTzang]

Russia's Fuel Crisis Will Change the World​

Russia’s fuel crisis is spiraling out of control, spreading from Vladivostok to Moscow, while the Kremlin works to hide the true scale of the disaster. Gasoline shortages are deepening, export bans are in place, and the Russian economy is unraveling under the weight of war, sanctions, and internal decay.

Ukrainian drone strikes are crippling Russia’s oil refineries, setting off fires that disrupt fuel supplies and threaten Moscow’s war machine. Once a global energy powerhouse, Russia is now facing Soviet-style fuel lines and a collapsing oil sector that exposes its weakness to the world.

In this video:
• Ukraine’s precision strikes on key refineries
• The growing impact of fuel shortages on Russian cities and industries
• How sanctions and isolation are accelerating Russia’s economic decline
• Why Moscow’s energy empire is becoming its greatest liability

With fires raging at major facilities and prices skyrocketing, this is more than a temporary crisis—Russia’s economic stability is at risk.