Here we go again-Ukraine once again

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

Russia has been forced to buy military hardware from North Korea as sanctions squeeze Moscow's ability to supply its military, US media have reported.

According to declassified intelligence obtained by the New York Times, Russia has bought millions of artillery shells and rockets from Pyongyang.

A US official said Russia would be forced to buy additional North Korean weaponry as the war dragged on.

Last week, Moscow reportedly received its first order of new Iranian drones.

Iran and North Korea, both the targets of significant Western sanctions, have sought to deepen ties with Russia since President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February.

Kim Jong-un's regime has blamed the US for the conflict and accused the West of pursuing a "hegemonic policy" that justified Russia's use of force.

Last month, North Korea recognised the independence of Russia's two proxy statelets in eastern Ukraine - the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics - and vowed to deepen its "comradely friendship" with Moscow. Russia's Vladimir Putin said the two countries would expand their "comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations", according to Pyongyang state media.

The exact size and scale of the new weapons deliveries revealed by the report remain unclear.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62804825

[Jimbuna]

Russia earned more from sale of oil, gas and coal than it spent on war with Ukraine

Russia still receives record revenues from energy sales that far exceed its spending on the war against Ukraine.

This is evidenced by a study by the Finnish Energy and Clean Air Research Center (CREA), Censor.NET reports with reference to UNIAN.

In particular, Russia's revenues from oil, gas, and coal exports in the first six months of the full-scale war against Ukraine amounted to about 158 billion euros, which far exceeds the costs of the invasion, which are estimated at 100 billion euros.

The European Union was the largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels, paying the aggressor country 85 billion euros, followed by China with 35 billion euros.

Among the EU countries, Germany became the largest client of Russia, which paid 19 billion euros. This made it the second largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in the world after China.

Despite the drop in energy exports, Russia is "still making record profits" from fossil fuels, CREA analyst Laurie Millivirta notes.

"To combat this, governments should introduce tariffs or price caps on imports from Russia and accelerate energy conservation measures.
First of all, it is necessary to reduce the consumption of oil and gas by accelerating the use of clean energy and electrification with the help of heat pumps and electric cars," Millivirta emphasized. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3365396

[mapuc]

A Russian taxi company that manages more than 700,000 drivers across Russia was hacked last week, causing a huge number of cabs in Moscow to be routed to the exact same location. When the taxis arrived, there were no passengers waiting there, just blocked streets and utter chaos from the angry drivers and police attempting to diffuse the situation.

https://www.iflscience.com/chaos-in-...gle-spot-65185



Markus

[Jimbuna]

European Commission proposes to completely suspend Agreement on simplification of visa regime with Russian Federation

The European Commission has officially made a proposal to completely suspend the Agreement on visa facilitation between the EU and Russia.

This is stated in a statement on the website of the EC, writes "European Truth", Censor.NET reports.

The proposal to suspend the agreement would put an end to all simplifications for Russian citizens applying for a short-term visa to the Schengen area. Instead, the general rules of the Visa Code will apply.

In practice, for Russian applicants this will mean:

Higher visa fee: The fee will increase from €35 to €80 for all applicants.

Extended processing time: the standard deadline for consulates to make a decision on visa applications will increase from 10 to 15 days. This period can be extended up to a maximum of 45 days in individual cases when additional consideration of the application is required.

More restrictive rules on multiple entry visas: Applicants will no longer have easy access to visas valid for multiple entries into the Schengen area.

Longer list of supporting documents: Applicants will be required to provide a full list of supporting documents at the time of visa application.

"A country like Russia, which is waging a war of aggression, should not claim visa facilitation as long as it continues its destructive foreign policy and military aggression against Ukraine, showing complete disregard for the rules-based international order," the statement said.

The European Commission added that the EU will remain open to certain categories of Russian visa applicants traveling with the main purposes, including family members of EU citizens, journalists, dissidents and representatives of civil society.

The EU Council must now consider and adopt the proposal to suspend the agreement. Once adopted, the decision will enter into force on the second day after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Russia will be notified of the suspension decision no later than 48 hours before it takes effect. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3365464

[Dargo]

[Dargo]

It's the microchips that look set to get Vladimir Putin in the end. Six months into its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is being throttled by a severe technology deficit inflicted by sanctions.

Having fired off (or lost in combat) way more of their missile firepower than they originally anticipated, Moscow's soldiers are now increasingly relying on ancient stocks of primitive Soviet-era munitions while Western-armed Ukrainian forces are battling to turn the tide in a southern counteroffensive with pinpoint strikes on munition dumps and key infrastructure such as bridges.

Kyiv is acutely aware that the outcome of the war is likely to hinge on whether Russia finds a way to regain access to high-tech chips, and is out to ensure it doesn't get them. In order to flag the danger, Ukraine is sending out international warnings that the Kremlin has drawn up shopping lists of semiconductors, transformers, connectors, casings, transistors, insulators and other components, most made by companies in the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, the U.K., Taiwan and Japan, among others, which it needs to fuel its war effort

https://www.politico.eu/article/the-...-war-machines/

[mapuc]

Day 195 of my 3 day war. The "world's 2nd most powerful military" has to buy ammo from North Korea.

I remain a master strategist

https://twitter.com/DarthPutinKGB/st...16080283648001

Those drones Iran sold us are so great we've been unable to spot Ukraine's attack near Kharkiv

https://twitter.com/DarthPutinKGB/st...22291674578945

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Dargo

It's the microchips that look set to get Vladimir Putin in the end. Six months into its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is being throttled by a severe technology deficit inflicted by sanctions.

Having fired off (or lost in combat) way more of their missile firepower than they originally anticipated, Moscow's soldiers are now increasingly relying on ancient stocks of primitive Soviet-era munitions while Western-armed Ukrainian forces are battling to turn the tide in a southern counteroffensive with pinpoint strikes on munition dumps and key infrastructure such as bridges.

Kyiv is acutely aware that the outcome of the war is likely to hinge on whether Russia finds a way to regain access to high-tech chips, and is out to ensure it doesn't get them. In order to flag the danger, Ukraine is sending out international warnings that the Kremlin has drawn up shopping lists of semiconductors, transformers, connectors, casings, transistors, insulators and other components, most made by companies in the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, the U.K., Taiwan and Japan, among others, which it needs to fuel its war effort

https://www.politico.eu/article/the-...-war-machines/

My heart bleeds for them.

[Skybird]

Why did we deliver them hightech in the first? Weapon components? Tank component upgrades? Complete weapon platforms, right down to small warships? We cannot do much regarding what Taiwan, China deliver them, but at least Western chip producers never should have started to deliver them chips and computers.



Same question regarding China. One does not deliver a potential or real enemy what makes him stronger, thats plain reason, or not?

[Dargo]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Why did we deliver them hightech in the first? Weapon components? Tank component upgrades? Complete weapon platforms, right down to small warships? We cannot do much regarding what Taiwan, China deliver them, but at least Western chip producers never should have started to deliver them chips and computers.



Same question regarding China. One does not deliver a potential or real enemy what makes him stronger, thats plain reason, or not?

They all thought Putin was a nice fella I suppose

[Skybird]

But we do with other questionable "customers" like this, too, or try to do so again in the future, thinking of Iran.
Why this enthusiasm to sell others what helps them to turn into rivals - economically, militarily - to us? I never understood this naivety. To me its stupidity, just this.

[Dargo]

Originally Posted by Skybird

But we do with other questionable "customers" like this, too, or try to do so again in the future, thinking of Iran.
Why this enthusiasm to sell others what helps them to turn into rivals - economically, militarily - to us? I never understood this naivety. To me its stupidity, just this.

Not naive it's greed you see all those leaders invite the worst and crazy dictators to sell arms those politicians all get their bribes and their world is ok with that.

[mapuc]

Is the Russian army collapsing in Ukraine ??

By following what is being written on Twitter there seems to be chaos among the Russian military all over the frontline
It's especially around Kharkiv and Bakhmut even in Kherson areas the Russian army seems to be collapsing.

It could also be Ukrainian propaganda-Which would be new to me if so.

Markus

[Catfish]

Originally Posted by mapuc

[...]
It could also be Ukrainian propaganda - Which would be new to me if so.