Russia’s deepening fuel crisis and overall collapsing economy are increasingly reminiscent of the dying days of the Soviet Union, when drivers queued for hours with ration coupons and a nation awash in oil could no longer fuel its own citizens. The parallels are stark: a powerful state losing control over its most vital resource.
Russia’s Fuel Crisis Revives Memories of Soviet Collapse Read Post »
Moscow’s opposition to the nations on its acquisition list finding refuge in NATO has never been new or creative. It is a well-worn strategy, dating back to the earliest days of the Cold War, and repeated each time a European democracy has sought to guarantee its security inside the Western alliance.
Russia’s failed methods to keep Germany and Baltics out of NATO now used on Ukraine Read Post »
Russia’s public finances are deteriorating rapidly, with the consolidated budget showing a staggering deficit of 4.95 trillion rubles ($61.9 billion) in the first half of 2025, according to preliminary data from the Federal Treasury. The collapse is stark: during the same period last year, the budget ran a small surplus of 126.1 billion rubles ($1.6 billion).
Russia’s Budget Deficit Again Surges as Spending Outpaces Revenues Read Post »
Russian President Vladimir Putin is pressing ahead with attacks on Odesa despite explicit warnings from Azerbaijan that further strikes on its assets would force a rethink in Baku’s position on the war. The destruction of a SOCAR oil depot overnight, following an earlier hit on a compressor station tied to Azerbaijani natural gas, shows Moscow’s disregard for regional sensitivities — and its willingness to escalate even at the risk of creating new enemies.
Putin Ignores Azerbaijan’s Warning, Destroys Azeri Oil Facility in Ukraine Read Post »
For Moscow, treaties mean nothing. They are pauses in conflict, meant to buy time, weaken the other side, while preparing for the next stage of war. Over the past century, the Soviet Union and modern Russia have signed dozens of agreements—all worthless, mostly functioning as mere means to disarm intended victims. The record shows a consistent pattern: agreements are tools of strategy, not commitments of principle.
Occupied Crimea is facing an intensifying fuel crisis as 95-octane gasoline has disappeared from most filling stations across the peninsula. Where limited supplies remain, sales are restricted to enterprises and organizations through coupon or card systems, leaving ordinary motorists with little or no access. Rationing Replaces Open Sales According to reports from the Telegram channel Crimean Wind, the majority of stations no longer stock 95-octane fuel.
Gasoline shortages grip Russian Occupied Crimea, rationing introduced Read Post »
In his column “Trump’s U-Turn” for Vot Tak, Vitaly Portnikov offers a searing analysis of Donald Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. His argument is clear: the encounter demonstrated not strength or diplomacy, but a collapse of Western unity and another successful manipulation by the Kremlin. Reading Portnikov, one is struck not only by the sharpness of his critique, but by the accuracy with which he dissects Trump’s political weaknesses.
Trump’s Retreat in Alaska: How Putin Played the American President Read Post »
Russia’s oil sector has absorbed its heaviest disruption of the year after a string of Ukrainian strikes in August forced shutdowns or severe reductions at six major refineries, collectively representing about 22% of the country’s total processing capacity. The attacks cut into one of the Kremlin’s most important sources of export revenue at a time when Moscow is already struggling to maintain output under sanctions. The campaign began on Aug. 2 with a dual strike.
Ukraine’s August Drone Strikes Disrupt 22% of Russia’s Refining Capacity Read Post »
