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 »
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 »
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 »
In another shift toward opacity, Russia’s federal statistics agency, Rosstat, has begun withholding key economic indicators for June and the first half of 2025— shortly after President Vladimir Putin ordered officials to “in no case allow an economic downturn.” Analysts at PSB, a major Russian bank, were among the first to notice the sudden absence of critical data from Rosstat’s latest publications.
Russia Begins Withholding Key Economic Data Amid Kremlin Pressure to Mask Downturn Read Post »
Russia’s industrial sector posted its steepest decline in more than two years in July, as new data revealed mounting strain across manufacturing. A sharp drop in key indicators points to a weakening wartime economy increasingly burdened by labor shortages, sanctions, and structural inefficiencies. According to S&P Global’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), Russia’s overall manufacturing PMI plunged to 48.2 in July, down from 52.4 in June. A reading below 50 indicates contraction.
Russia’s Industrial Activity Slumps to Lowest Level Since 2022 Read Post »
Ukrainian drones struck multiple targets in Russia’s Rostov Oblast early Friday morning, including a major railway station in Rostov-on-Don, in a direct response to Russia’s continued war of aggression and its use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes. The drone attack hit the Rostov-Glavny railway station, a critical transit hub used by Russian forces to move troops and weapons into occupied Ukrainian territories.
Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Rail Hub in Rostov, Disrupting Military Logistics Read Post »
In the past week, two of Russia’s largest steel producers have posted earnings showing losses of up to – 89%, as Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) and Severstal reported collapsing profits, falling revenues, and negative cash flow for the second quarter and first half of 2025. The reports confirm that Russia’s once-dominant steel industry is now grappling with structural decline under the weight of sanctions, rising costs, and a shrinking domestic economy.
