21 Comments
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Constantin's avatar

The war isn’t yet truly affecting the twin cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow. As long as that center holds, VVP will likely be allowed to keep shoveling humans to their deaths along the western front by the general public.

The co-dependent relationship VVP has with his kleptocratic clique / entourage may be getting tested but honestly, the west could do a lot more to make life for the oligarchs a lot less fun. Better sanctions control, less freedom to travel, freezes of foreign assets, etc. would sharpen the cost/benefit rationale of the folk around VVP.

The west continues to fail at doing this, much of it likely due to corruption and cooption. And so this war has dragged on much longer than it should have, extracting a terrible toll at the front and at home.

Mark L's avatar

I believe that you are correct.

Jeff Purdon's avatar

Great. I don’t see how a country with 0 innovation can compete in any way

Flowgone's avatar

I often wonder if the Russian Military actually keeps their nuclear stockpile updated and operational when there is so much corruption. Like their manned space launchpad......

Jeff Purdon's avatar

Excellent thought. I honestly doubt they can pay for upgrades to keep them functional. I would guess they have plenty that work though

Flowgone's avatar

Yeah I imagine you are right about that.

Nick Jolliffe's avatar

Country with zero innovation? Tell that to those on the receiving end of hypersonics. Something that the West doesn't seem to be able to make.

Citizen J's avatar

Sounds Like A Man Being Scheduled To Jump Out Of A High Rise Window. . .

Velvet Dunn's avatar

My thoughts exactly

Abhcán's avatar

It's telling that Ivashov has spoken out at all, given historical consequences for open critics of the Putin regime.

There are definitely cracks appearing in the view from the Russian home front. Russian television and the "Z-Patriot" military bloggers get covered in these two pieces.

"It is unclear how long Putin can walk the fine line between blind faith and the need for more activity and involvement from the Russian population. He will need to continue to make the case that Russia is under threat, and this newscast provides a typically strange and typical example of how the Kremlin is attempting this."

https://open.substack.com/pub/thelvivskireview/p/russian-news-01012026

"In this episode of The Eastern Border, we dive deep into the "Dark Web" of the Z-Patriot sphere to uncover what the most fanatical supporters of the war are actually saying. Spoiler alert: They aren't celebrating.

"Recording from a snow-buried Pilda on the Russian border, Kristaps breaks down the latest despair-filled letters from the "Club of Angry Patriots.""

https://open.substack.com/pub/theeasternborder/p/24-the-doom-spiral-why-russias-super

JBO's avatar

Wow. I guess Balconville is on the itinerary for his next vacay.

Rood1's avatar

I hope they all fail and die horrible deaths

Robert Gillette's avatar

Great to see Paul Goble on this Substack!

THE END OF THE WORLD SHOW's avatar

Potempkin Empire. How come these autocrats and dictators are so crappy at just running an economy? Getting stuff built, crops grown? In Putin's paradise we're seeing Trump and USA in 3 years, if it lasts that long.

Iain Macintosh's avatar

Russia needs to just join Europe. I realise this will be post-Putin, but we actually need each other.

25thLightFighter's avatar

This is the future the US faces as its leadership emulates Putin’s kleptocracy.

Andersen's avatar

Ивашов - болтун и свисток, иудейский.

Sher''s avatar

Yep…the General is right.

Max P.'s avatar

The new world order that is being forced down everyone’s throats right now by Western think tanks about carving up the world into three distinct spheres of influence with the Republican Nazi Party of America controlling the Western Hemisphere, Xi controlling Asia and Africa and Putin controlling the former Soviet countries and Western Europe is just this, a lie.

The ones who are controlling everything are the multi-national corporations being protected by the international Epstein pedophile oligarch mafia and they do not adhere to borders, they adhere to natural resources and will do anything to steal them.

Ukraine, Gaza and Venezuela are just a drop in the bucket for them.

Inkpenart's avatar

YOU'VE BEEN IN TROUBLE FOR 4 YEARS LOL 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆