Category: Russia

Russia

Russian Father Sentenced To Two Years For Child’s Drawing | Crooks and Liars

Russian Father Sentenced To Two Years For Child's Drawing

In a nation where walls have ears parents must be careful what they say in front of their children because it might be taken to school and reflected in their show and tell. When citizens can’t speak as freely Australians must seem naive. You can be sure Russians are great whisperers and  fucking great listeners. Unfortunately great, reporters and dobbers as well. East Germany the CFSR were once much the same when politics was never openly discussed. During the Spanish Inquisition there was the “accusation box’. Sadly India seems to be drifting in the same direction with the jailing of Raul Gandhi for 2 years.

For this awful crime of discrediting the Russian army, Alexei Moskalev was sentenced to two years for bringing up his daughter in the wrong way. The single father has since fled his home and authorities don’t know where he is. His daughter, then 12 at the time of the offensive drawing occurred, was sent to a children’s home.

Source: Russian Father Sentenced To Two Years For Child’s Drawing | Crooks and Liars

Russia

Activists, everyday Russians and a soldier punished for war talk | Russia-Ukraine war News | Al Jazeera

In another sign of Moscow’s punishing crackdown on those who question its war in Ukraine, the 69-year-old veteran human rights campaigner Oleg Orlov was detained this week on charges of “repeatedly discrediting the armed forces”.

Source: Activists, everyday Russians and a soldier punished for war talk | Russia-Ukraine war News | Al Jazeera

Russia

Why Much of the Global South Isn’t Automatically Supporting the West in Ukraine – scheerpost.com

+ For the 6.3 billion people who live outside of the West, 66 percent feel positively towards Russia and 70 percent feel positively towards China, and,

+ Among the 66 percent who feel positively about Russia the breakdown is 75 percent in South Asia, 68 percent in Francophone Africa, and 62 percent in Southeast Asia.

+ Public opinion of Russia remains positive in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, and Vietnam.

By Krishen Mehta / CounterPunch In October 2022, about eight months after the war in Ukraine started, the University of Cambridge in the UK harmonized surveys conducted in 137 countries about their attitudes towards the West and towards Russia and China. The findings in the study, while not free of a margin of error, are robust […]

Source: Why Much of the Global South Isn’t Automatically Supporting the West in Ukraine – scheerpost.com

Russia

Russia-Ukraine war: Putin accuses West of starting war in Ukraine in long, lacklustre speech

Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures as he gives his annual state of the nation address in Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of starting the war in Ukraine, but said that he would not start a nuclear war, in a lengthy and rambling speech to the nation on Tuesday.

Source: Russia-Ukraine war: Putin accuses West of starting war in Ukraine in long, lacklustre speech

Russia

Chris Hedges: Ukraine: The War That Went Wrong – scheerpost.com

Chris Hedges: Ukraine: The War That Went Wrong NATO support for the war in Ukraine, designed to degrade the Russian military and drive Vladimir Putin from power, is not going according to plan. The new sophisticated military hardware won’t help.

Source: Chris Hedges: Ukraine: The War That Went Wrong – scheerpost.com

Russia

Mariupol: the battle-scarred city – Pearls and Irritations

Mariupol

Putin’s Liberation Mariupol in Pictures

How has the battle-scarred Ukrainian city of Mariupol changed after eight months under Russian control? These images were taken by photojournalist Arseniy Kotov half a year apart, in summer and in winter, and show efforts to restore the Azov sea pearl It’s now over eight months since Mariupol – the second largest city of the Continue reading »

Source: Mariupol: the battle-scarred city – Pearls and Irritations

Russia

2023 will be make-or-break year for Russia – Pearls and Irritations

Vladimir Putin

The Ukrainian conflict has so far been a proxy war between Russia and NATO. However, the growing number of Western countries joining the conflict and aiming to “strategically defeat” Russia may lead to a direct clash between the Armed Forces of Russia and Western military units. If this happens, the Ukrainian conflict will turn into a Russia-NATO war. Such a situation will inevitably carry a nuclear risk. This is further aggravated by the fact that, acting out of desperation, Kiev authorities may provoke the US-led military bloc to directly enter the conflict.

Source: 2023 will be make-or-break year for Russia – Pearls and Irritations

Russia

‘Global Catastrophe’ Coming If West Keeps Arming Ukraine, Top Russia Official Says

​Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin

Simply put tanks and guns aren’t nuclear weapons

Russian lawmaker Vyacheslav Volodin threatened nuclear war as NATO members debate whether to send more tanks to Ukraine.

Source: ‘Global Catastrophe’ Coming If West Keeps Arming Ukraine, Top Russia Official Says

Russia

How Russia Destroys its Male Population – CounterPunch.org

People attend women's protest in front of the Russian embassy in Vilnius

 

The question today is how the Russian government will react to the protests. Russian wives and mothers have played a destabilizing role in other wars and they are now working to destabilize the current war against Ukraine. While many supported Putin’s initial moves, today they realize they are losing their sons and brothers for no reason other than to fulfill Putin’s maniacal desire to conquer Ukraine. Putin and his henchmen will attempt to assuage the women – while working to silence them as soon as possible. Putin needs their men to fight his ego war – even if it means he must destroy Russia’s entire male population once and for all.

Source: How Russia Destroys its Male Population – CounterPunch.org

Russia

Ukraine war: life on Russia’s home front after ten months of conflict – Pearls and Irritations

Russia, Saint Petersburg - December 13, 2022: New Year decorations on Nevsky prospect.

One of the biggest lessons from my trip is the huge gap between representations of Russia in the west and what you see when you arrive there. This gap in perception is likely to increase because of the lack of people currently travelling there from the west and the suspension of professional and academic links.

Source: Ukraine war: life on Russia’s home front after ten months of conflict – Pearls and Irritations

Russia

Russia claims it killed 600 in revenge strike, Ukraine says none hurt

Putin always needs to save face and keep Russians in the dark

Media attempting to verify Russia’s claims have found no obvious signs of casualities at the location.

Source: Russia claims it killed 600 in revenge strike, Ukraine says none hurt

Russia

Foreboding as Putin signals ‘fate of Russia’ depends on war

President Vladimir Putin has given a strong signal the war in Ukraine could continue long into 2023, with a New Year warning that the “fate of Russia” depends on victory.

Source: Foreboding as Putin signals ‘fate of Russia’ depends on war

Russia

Hacked Russian Files Reveal Propaganda Accord With China

Chinese President Xi Jinping, applauds as Russia's Sputnik news agency head Dmitry Kiselev, right, and head of Chinese Media Corporation Shen Haixiong shake hands, Vladivostok, Russia, Sept. 11, 2018.

Convenient News spread faster than any truth and it’s defended as Freedom of Speech

Disinformation is an old Russian government tactic. But this time Russia had help. Within days, Chinese officials and media outlets had picked up the lies and were amplifying and expanding on the biolabs yarn. The Chinese Communist Party tabloid Global Times created two splashy spreads, one sourced in part to Sputnik News, the other featuring a quote from Russian President Vladimir Putin. “What is the U.S. hiding in the biolabs discovered in Ukraine?” it screamed. 

“China jumped on the biolabs conspiracy theory,” said Katja Drinhausen, an analyst with the Mercator Institute of China Studies in Berlin. Chinese officials and media outlets had spent the preceding months pushing the notion that the pandemic might have originated in a lab accident outside China. “It was like, here’s the perfect conspiracy theory coming out of Russia to support our ‘everywhere but China’ main talking point of the last year,” she said.

Source: Hacked Russian Files Reveal Propaganda Accord With China

Russia

The Kremlin Goes Neocon – CounterPunch.org

Shirtless Vladimir Putin takes dip in icy Russian lake for ...

In establishing the neocon playbook as Putin’s blueprint, the goal is not to absolve his criminal regime of guilt by childishly pointing to other crimes against humanity carried out by the US. It is instead intended to establish Putin’s move into Ukraine as being rooted in a precedent established by the US and its imperial junior partners.

And so, you see an alternate reality where Ukraine is a Nazi state, where Russian speakers face a genocide, where aggressive war is a preemptive, defensive, “special operation.” But moreover, you see a reality where power reigns supreme over international law. And here, Putin is existing within the neocon-constructed reality, and is now reshaping it in his image.

Source: The Kremlin Goes Neocon – CounterPunch.org

Russia

Griner release is cause for relief but Viktor Bout transfer tough to stomach | Joe Biden | The Guardian

Joe Biden with Cherelle Griner, Brittney Griner’s wife, in the Oval Office on Thursday.

Last month, the Russian parliament mounted an unusual art exhibition with subjects ranging from the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin to a sentimental image of a kitten. They had been produced in prison by Viktor Bout, serving 25 years in America.

Brittney Griner in court in Khimki in August. The deal procured the release of the most prominent American detained abroad. Brittney Griner freed from Russian prison in exchange for Viktor Bout Read more History has shown that a sideline as an amateur artist is not much guarantee of moral integrity. Bout, known as “the merchant of death”, was the world’s most notorious arms dealer, selling weapons to rogue states, rebel groups and murderous warlords in Africa, Asia and South America.

That, for many, was what made his release on Thursday in a prisoner swap for US basketball star Brittney Griner difficult to stomach. Joe Biden has done a deal with the devil. But he may also have saved a woman’s life. As the president found in Afghanistan, the big decisions are seldom morally clearcut.

Source: Griner release is cause for relief but Viktor Bout transfer tough to stomach | Joe Biden | The Guardian

Russia

Russia Revives Its Botnet to Hit Swing-State Democrats – Mother Jones

There back those that Putin and Trump say don’t exist

Russian trolls and bots are coming back online ahead of the midterms—this time, amplifying right-wing vitriol on Gab, Parler, Gettr, and other minor social media platforms serving far-right audiences. Cybersecurity researchers have identified the reactivation of inflammatory accounts linked to the Internet Research Agency, a propaganda group associated with the Kremlin that has interfered in US elections since at least 2016, the New York Times reported on Sunday.

Source: Russia Revives Its Botnet to Hit Swing-State Democrats – Mother Jones

Russia

Russia’s illegal attack on Ukraine breaches the 1994 Budapest Memorandum – Pearls and Irritations

Bible children illustration. David and Goliath in single combat. Little David stands under huge shadow of Goliath

However insensitive and provocative NATO members may or may not have been and whatever weasel words Putin dredges up to justify his invasion of Ukraine, there can be no doubt that Russia is in breach of an undertaking it took not to use force against Ukraine in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.

Source: Russia’s illegal attack on Ukraine breaches the 1994 Budapest Memorandum – Pearls and Irritations

Informed Opinion, Russia

Could Russia collapse?

So is it speculative to talk about a future Russian collapse? Yes. Is there evidence it is imminent? No. But in many ways that’s the problem: when authoritarian regimes implode, they tend to do so very quickly, and with little warning.

Hence in the Russian case, it’s important to consider all possible eventualities, even if they might appear implausible at the moment.

And, if nothing else, it’s always better to be pleasantly surprised than blindsided by events we inconveniently decided not to foresee.

Source: Could Russia collapse?

Should the West negotiate with Russia? The pros and cons of high-level talks

Russia, Russia -Ukraine

Is this the beginning of the end for Vladimir Putin?

Putin

Vladimir Putin’s bizarre ceremonies formalising Russia’s annexation of some 15 per cent of Ukraine once again revealed the yawning chasm between Kremlin triumphalism and reality.

Never mind Russian forces didn’t even fully control the territories Putin brought under the Russian flag.

Never mind Russia’s “referendums” were a blatant fabrication – with voting often held at gunpoint.

Never mind that by now more people have fled Russia than the 300,000 extra troops to be “partially mobilised” in support of Putin’s flagging war effort.

And never mind that Russian forces are retreating in many of their newly acquired lands, with the key city of Lyman liberated by Ukraine less than 24 hours after its annexation was announced.

Putin’s vitriolic rantings to a decidedly subdued audience provided plenty of distasteful soundbites.

He referred to the West as Satanists with “various genders”, calling for holy war against the transexual Western bogeymen.

Eventually it will become patently obvious that the one man who isn’t permitted to be criticised – Vladimir Putin – is in charge of the mess.

Source: Is this the beginning of the end for Vladimir Putin?

Russia

Why it’s such a big deal that Alla Pugacheva, ‘the tsarina of Russian pop,’ came out against the war in Ukraine

Portrait of woman with curly blond hair and tears welling in her eyes.

On Sept. 18, 2022, she published the Instagram post. Addressing the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, Pugacheva asked it to designate her a “foreign agent” in solidarity with her husband. She added that her husband is “an honest and decent human being, a true and incorruptible Russian patriot who wishes his homeland a flourishing and peaceful life, freedom of speech, and an end to the deaths of our boys for illusory goals that are making our country a pasening the life of our citizens.”

Source: Why it’s such a big deal that Alla Pugacheva, ‘the tsarina of Russian pop,’ came out against the war in Ukraine

Russia, Russia -Ukraine, Russia/Ukraine

Russians Return to Streets to Protest Widening of Putin’s War on Ukraine

Police officers detain a man in Moscow on September 21, 2022, following calls to protest against partial mobilisation announced by President Vladimir Putin. - President Vladimir Putin called up Russian military reservists on September 21, saying his promise to use all military means in Ukraine was "no bluff," and hinting that Moscow was prepared to use nuclear weapons. His mobilisation call comes as Moscow-held regions of Ukraine prepare to hold annexation referendums this week, dramatically upping the stakes in the seven-month conflict by allowing Moscow to accuse Ukraine of attacking Russian territory. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP) (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images)

After Putin announced mandatory military service, demonstrators called the mobilization a “burialization” — and more than 1,000 were arrested in cities across Russia.

Source: Russians Return to Streets to Protest Widening of Putin’s War on Ukraine

Russia, Russia -Ukraine, Russians

Cannon meat. – by John Birmingham – Alien Sideboob

Image

Taras Berezovets is a Ukrainian analyst and reporter, now serving with one of his country’s special forces outfits, who keeps his hand in at his old gig with a lively feed on the socials. On the ninth of September, in the early days of the current offensive, he published a letter from an enemy soldier, V.V. Tarasenko, to his wife Valeria. Tarasenko is dead.

Source: Cannon meat. – by John Birmingham – Alien Sideboob

Russia

Fears grow for welfare of imprisoned Putin critic Alexei Navalny

The United States is deeply concerned by the Russian government’s treatment of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the State Department says.

While the world’s attention focuses on Ukraine’s fight to drive out Russian invaders, Vladimir Putin’s jailers have been been tormenting  imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny

Russian prison authorities have interfered with Navalny’s preparation of his defence and communication with his lawyer, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price says.

He also said Navalny has been repeatedly placed in solitary confinement for minor alleged infractions.

Price said Navalny’s treatment was “evidence of politically motivated harassment” and he reiterated US calls for the opposition leader’s immediate release.

Navalny, President Vladimir Putin’s most vocal critic inside Russia, is serving an 11-1/2 year sentence after being found guilty of parole violations and fraud and contempt of court charges.

He says all charges against him were fabricated as a pretext to smother dissent and thwart his political ambitions.

Source: Fears grow for welfare of imprisoned Putin critic Alexei Navalny

Russia

Journalist jailed for 22 years in Russia | The New Daily

Opponents of Putin are not just accident prone they’re dead shot in the streets assassinated and have fatal or near-fatal accidents. If they happen to survive they are simply jailed until at least another leader comes along.

Russia has jailed a journalist for “treason”, in a case widely viewed as politically motivated and designed to silence the media and Kremlin critics.

Source: Journalist jailed for 22 years in Russia | The New Daily

Russia, Uncategorized

Russia farewells Mikhail Gorbachev but state honours and Vladimir Putin are missing – ABC News

The man affectionately known as ‘Gorby’ in the West and who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his role in ending the Cold War is buried at Moscow’s famous Novodevichy cemetery alongside his wife Raisa, who died in 1999.

Some 8 influential Russians against Putin have now died under suspicious circumstances and others are incarcerated, Gorbachev ex-President hasn’t been awarded a State Funeral and Putin didn’t bother to attend. Nevertheless, Trump still is in awe of the Russian State and Putin’s power.

Source: Russia farewells Mikhail Gorbachev but state honours and Vladimir Putin are missing – ABC News

Russia, Russia -Ukraine

Ukrainians Describe Deportations and Filtration by Russia

MARIUPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 24: Civilians are being evacuated along humanitarian corridors from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol under the control of Russian military and pro-Russian separatists, on March 24, 2022. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

May, Russian forces occupying the village told residents that a corridor had been opened to Ukrainian-controlled territory. Nataliya and others boarded a bus that they were told was headed to Kharkiv. But when the bus stopped, she realized they were in Shebekino, a city just across the border.

“I suddenly realized that we were in Russia,” Nataliya told human rights investigators. “We didn’t even go through a border crossing.”

Source: Ukrainians Describe Deportations and Filtration by Russia

Russia, Russia -Ukraine, Russia/Ukraine

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky urges Russian army to ‘go home’

Russia says it has 2 mill troops. How many can they move feed and cloth with the onset of winter? How many can the convince their war is righteous? They lost and were demoralised by the Afghans and Zelensky learnt that it isn’t numbers that count but resolve.

In a late-night address on Monday, Mr Zelensky called on Russian forces to go home or be chased home.

‘‘If they want to survive – it’s time for the Russian military to run away. Go home,’’ he said.

‘‘Ukraine is taking back its own (land),’’ Mr Zelensky said, adding that he would not disclose Kyiv’s precise battle plans, but that his armed forces were doing thei

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky urges Russian army to ‘go home’
Russia

Kyiv vows to restore Ukrainian rule over Crimea to re-establish ‘world law and order’ – ABC News

Key points:

  • Russia showed no sign of abandoning Crimea
  • US urged citizens to leave Ukraine amid fears that Russia would step up attacks in the next few days 
  • Shelling continues in eastern and southern Ukraine
Kyiv vows to restore Ukrainian rule over Crimea to re-establish ‘world law and order’ – ABC News
Russia

Putin’s attack on the grain deal was despicable. It also shows he’s desperate | Hamish de Bretton-Gordon | The Guardian

The people of Ukraine have no trouble resisting Putin. Why do Russians?

In Ukraine, as in Syria, Putin appears to have no concern about collateral damage or the rules of war and appears to favour directly targeting civilians as the quickest way to strategic victory. Unfortunately for him, the Ukrainian people have shown that they have the stomach for this fight – Nato must match their bravery and back them to the hilt. We cannot forget that our failure to act in Syria, when up to 1,500 civilians were killed with the nerve agent sarin, no doubt emboldened Putin to invade Ukraine.

Source: Putin’s attack on the grain deal was despicable. It also shows he’s desperate | Hamish de Bretton-Gordon | The Guardian

Russia

Russia announces Bn. Investment in Iran Oil & Gas, as Khamenei Supports Putin’s invasion of Ukraine

Russia and Iran are both suffering from maximum pressure sanctions by the US, which is attempting to crash their economies and currencies and prevent their oil and gas exports. The two cannot be sanctioned more than they already are, so defying the US to team up makes good economic sense.

We may be seeing the limits of American economic power– trying to take on both Russia and Iran at the same time, plus threatening China, may be classical imperial overstretch.

Source: Russia announces Bn. Investment in Iran Oil & Gas, as Khamenei Supports Putin’s invasion of Ukraine

Russia

Putin fast-track more Russian passports – Michael West

Putin fast-track more Russian passports – Michael West

The Russian passport move appears to be part of Putin’s political influence strategy, which has also involved the introduction of the Russian rouble in occupied territory in Ukraine and could eventually result in the annexation of more Ukrainian territory into the Russian Federation. Russia already annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula on the Black Sea in 2014.

The Russian president set the stage for such moves even before Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, writing an essay last summer claiming that Russians and Ukrainians are one people and attempting to diminish the legitimacy of Ukraine as an independent nation. Reports have surfaced of Russian authorities confiscating Ukrainian passports from some citizens.

The passport announcement came hours after Russian shelling of Ukraine’s second-largest city on Monday killed at least six people and injured 31, prosecutors and local officials said. Russian troops launched three missile strikes on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, in an attack one official described as “absolute terrorism.”

Putin fast-track more Russian passports – Michael West

Russia

Scores Feared Dead and Wounded as Russian Missiles Hit Ukraine Shopping Centeriles,

“People just burned alive,” said Ukraine’s interior minister, while the head of the Poltava region stated that “it is too early to talk about the final number of the killed.”

Scores Feared Dead and Wounded as Russian Missiles Hit Ukraine Shopping Center
Russia

Western Sanctions on Russia Aren’t Working as Intended

The US-led sanctions on Russia were meant to force an end to Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine and weaken his hold on power. Instead, their main effect has been to exacerbate the West’s own economic problems and deepen its internal divisions.

Western Sanctions on Russia Aren’t Working as Intended
Russia

Europe eyes coal as Russia gas flows wane – Michael West

“But if we don’t do it then we run the risk that the storage facilities will not be full enough at the end of the year towards the winter season. And then we are blackmailable on a political level,” he said.

Source: Europe eyes coal as Russia gas flows wane – Michael West

Russia

Russia sanctions more Australians including ABC, Nine journalists

vladimir putin ukraine

You have to laugh Russia first hails Murdoch’s Fox News as the Republic’s propaganda heroes but then condemns it’s doppelgangers Sky News and Newscorp Aus as its enemies. It welcomes Tucker Carlson, Ingraham etal, but bans Lachlan Murdoch, Andrew Bolt along with, the ABC’s, Ita Buttrose and Patricia Karvelas.

Bet you Andrew Bolt is feasting on his new left-wing, anti-fascist almost ANTIFA status. He’s been declared a journalist something he’s always said he wasn’t but now seems he is. It’s a celebrity boost. Is he ringing the Murdoch’s assuring them Tucker and Fox No News are still his role models down under? We do live in a circus of fools don’t we? The Russians are watching the ABC, Newscorp, and a random mix of others and are sanctioning them simply because they are there without any sense of logic. Bolt isn;t critical of Fox News or the Murdochs but is named simply because he’s there sold as a Journalist which he’s not and hasn’t been since Christ played ruck for Jerusalem.

Russia’s foreign ministry has announced it is sanctioning an additional 121 Australian citizens, including journalists and defence officials.

Russia’s foreign ministry has announced it is sanctioning an additional 121 Australian citizens in response to what it calls a “Russophobic agenda”.

ABC’s chair Ita Buttrose is on the list along with journalists from her station and those working for The Age,The Sydney Morning Herald and Sky News.

Defence chief Angus Campbell is also on the blacklist, as is News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt.

Russia announced a similar move against dozens of British journalists on Tuesday.

  • See the full list here

Source: Russia sanctions more Australians including ABC, Nine journalists

Russia

Russia sanctions 121 additional Australians, including journalists, experts and business people – ABC News

Among the sanctioned individuals are journalists from ABC News, Sydney Morning Herald and Sky News, as well as various defence officials.

Source: Russia sanctions 121 additional Australians, including journalists, experts and business people – ABC News

Russia

China’s Xi Jinping backs Russia on security issues

China Russia

China sees Russia and Putin as a proxy satellite rather than a power unto itself and Putin is obliging them because without China’s silent support he couldn’t continue.

China has refused to criticise Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or even to refer to it in such terms while accusing NATO of provoking Russia into attacking.

Source: China’s Xi Jinping backs Russia on security issues

Russia

Alexei Navalny poisoning: Documentary captures confession by agents

Alexei Navalny flew back from Germany to Moscow even though he knew he would be arrested immediately in January last year.

Russian agents reveal the their plot to kill Navalny

While Roher filmed, Navalny starts phoning the agents one by one to ask why they wanted to kill him. They hang up immediately so he decides to pass himself off as an investigating official asking why the operation failed.

 Another agent, Konstantin Kudryavtsev, falls for the ruse and spends more than 45 minutes discussing the murder plot.

“We did it just as planned,” he says. “The way we rehearsed it many times.”

Kudryavtsev reveals the poison had been smeared inside Navalny’s blue underpants. He thought the operation failed because the emergency landing allowed Russian medics to treat him quickly with an antidote.

After Navalny revealed the phone conversation on social media, Kudryavtsev disappeared and is presumed dead. While he feels for Kudryavtsev’s family, Roher has no sympathy for the agent.

Source: Alexei Navalny poisoning: Documentary captures confession by agents

Russia

Russia-Ukraine war: Polish president Andrzej Duda says calls with Vladimir Putin ‘like speaking to Hitler’

Polish President Andrzej Duda.

Duda, in an interview with Bild first released on its YouTube channel late on Wednesday (Thursday AEST), said such discussions only legitimised an illegal war in Ukraine.

“Did anyone speak like this with Adolf Hitler during World War II?” Duda said. “Did anyone say that Adolf Hitler must save face? That we should proceed in such a way that it is not humiliating for Adolf Hitler? I have not heard such voices.”

The conflict in Ukraine, described by Moscow as a “special military operation” to stamp out perceived threats to its security, has flattened cities, killed thousands of civilians and forced more than 7 million people to flee the country.

Ukraine and its Western allies say Russia is waging an unprovoked war to grab territory.

Polish President Andrzej Duda has slammed the leaders of France and Germany over their phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Source: Russia-Ukraine war: Polish president Andrzej Duda says calls with Vladimir Putin ‘like speaking to Hitler’

Russia

Ukraine War: Europe declares Independence of Russian Petroleum, Looks to Mass Transit, EVs to Achieve “Freedom” Goal

Reliance on Russian Oil will steeply decrease and be over by the next decade.

In the first quarter of this year, Volkswagen and Mercedes — German carmakers said that sales of their EVs spiked, and increased by 65% and 37% respectively. Tesla sales were up 80%. In fact, the rush to EVs now is no longer hampered by consumer hesitancy, but by supply chain problems caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The German government now backs the goal that all new car sales should be EVs by 2035.

Source: Ukraine War: Europe declares Independence of Russian Petroleum, Looks to Mass Transit, EVs to Achieve “Freedom” Goal

Russia

Ukraine begs for help as Russian forces pound eastern cities

Meanwhile, the media attention to the Russian/Ukraine war seems to be in retreat. If that’s the case is the world surrendering to Putin?

Russia says it is waging a “special military operation” to demilitarise Ukraine and rid it of nationalists threatening Russian-speakers there. Kyiv and Western countries say Russia’s claims are a false pretext for war. Thousands of people, including many civilians, have been killed and several million have fled their homes, either for safer parts of Ukraine or to other countries.

Source: Ukraine begs for help as Russian forces pound eastern cities

Russia

Russia-Ukraine war: Sweden, Finland set to join NATO as Vladimir Putin appears to back off threats

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses a meeting at the Kremlin on Monday.

Putin backs off for now but wait for the American Midterms!

Vladimir Putin has appeared to climb down from Russia’s objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, saying Moscow had no issues with them entering the US-led military alliance they now aim to join in reaction to his invasion of Ukraine.

Source: Russia-Ukraine war: Sweden, Finland set to join NATO as Vladimir Putin appears to back off threats

Russia

Russia-Ukraine war: Putin may declare war on May 9, US warns

Declaring war would allow the Kremlin to conscript more soldiers for the invasion of Ukraine.

May 9 is known as Russia’s Victory Day. As Putin’s long-term Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov doubled down on the claim that the invasion was a “special operation” aimed at “de-nazifying” Ukraine, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Monday there was “good reason to believe that the Russians will do everything they can to use” May 9 to justify the war.

Source: Russia-Ukraine war: Putin may declare war on May 9, US warns