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 »
Romania’s state of emergency has cast a harsh spotlight on Europe’s energy vulnerabilities, with suspicions of Russian sabotage tainting Azerbaijani crude oil via the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline. The contamination, detected at Ceyhan, Turkey, with organic chlorides, has idled the Petrobrazi refinery, signaling a bold escalation in Russia’s hybrid warfare.
Russia Expands Terror Operations In the EU, Targeting Oil Supplies Read Post »
August is turning into a deadly month for Russia’s oil industry. In the space of little more than a week, Ukrainian long-range drones have hit four major refineries across the country, temporarily knocking out units and cutting into a combined capacity equal to nearly 14% of Russia’s national refining potential. The latest strike came on August 10, when explosions rocked the Saratov Oil Refinery, a Rosneft-owned plant on the Volga River.
Ukrainian Drones Strike Several More Russian Refineries as Gas Crisis Deepens Read Post »
President Trump appears to have been drawn into another Kremlin trap — one that would grant Vladimir Putin not just the territories Russian forces currently occupy, but regions they have failed to conquer and cannot take militarily. These areas, heavily fortified and defended at enormous cost by Ukrainian forces, remain out of Moscow’s reach. For Mr. Putin, the only viable path to securing them now runs through the White House. Mr. Trump is expected to meet the Russian leader in Alaska on Aug.
Trump seeks to Gift Putin Lands Russia Cant Seize on the Battlefield Read Post »
In a new effort to bypass Western sanctions, Russia asked Ethiopian Airlines to provide passenger jets under a “wet lease” arrangement that would include aircraft, crews, maintenance, and insurance. The request was made during a high-level visit to Addis Ababa by Russian Trade Commissioner Yaroslav Tarasyuk, who met with officials from Ethiopia’s Civil Aviation Authority to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in aviation.
Ethiopia rejects Kremlin’s Plea to Save Russia’s Airline Industry Read Post »
