Ukraine

India is not exactly siding with Russia. They will of course buy Russia's discounted fuel but they're not exactly in bed with Russia.

I was watching something on DW recently. If I remember right, India is kind of stuck with Russia to some extent because they bought a load of Russian military hardware years ago, and so need Russia for maintenance support. But apparently they've since built up their own military hardware companies and starting to transition to home produced kit. Not enough yet to replace their older Russian hardware, but heading in that direction.

 

Ok, so they are stuck with Russia.
Done out of spite and repenting at leisure.

 

The same article explained how lots of countries that used to buy Russian kit have placed orders with the US and Germany following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They speculated that the reason is partly because they're seeing NATO kit perform better, and partly because they have lost trust in Russia.

 

I still maintain - the war will end this year - it will be won through economics not force of arms.

Putin is draining his piggy bank - I'm not surprised that he wants goods to be traded on the world stage using Roubles.

The Russian ruble slid past 100 against the dollar Monday, its lowest level since March 23, 2022 -- weeks after Moscow unleashed full-scale hostilities in Ukraine.

The ruble has shed around 30 percent of its value against the dollar since the beginning of the year, as the country imports more and exports less.

The ruble could sink further to 115-120 per dollar, Alor Broker analyst Alexei Antonov warned in a note published by financial firms on Monday.

 

Russia is circumventing the oil price cap on oil it sells to India. By meeting the cap on price but charging a huge increase in transport costs.
An FT analysis of ships running directly from Russia’s Baltic ports to India suggests that this overcharging, combined with fees earned from shipping the oil on Russia-linked vessels, may have been worth $1.2bn in the three months to July.
Russia exploits billion-dollar oil cap loophole | Financial Times

 

I've been out of the loop for a little while. All the media is just telling of the recent stuff. Who can tell me what I've missed? How is the counter offensive getting on?

 

A high five to the US and their Humvees. Just watched a video where a Humvee drove over a land mine - followed by a massive explosion. The Ukrainian soldiers inside simply got out of the wreck - took cover and started shooting.

That's one tough vehicle.

 

The counter offensive is going fine. The Ukrainians have found a weak spot north of Mariupol and are pouring in a load of armour - including Challenger 2 tanks - first time UK supplied tanks have been spotted on the battle field.

Some commentators reckon the advance is too slow - but it's no different to the speed of the D Day advance.

Putin has now signed up a law where if your name in on the call up database - you can't leave Russia or buy/sell property or use banks etc. This will be a new large mobilisation - where the normal Russian can't just brush off the war as something that's happening miles away.

Russia central bank increasing interest rates to try and prop up the Rouble - it's not working very well.

US using more specific language - military support will continue until Ukraine is victorious - they had said for as long as necessary.

 

WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - The United States has approved sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands to defend against Russian invaders as soon as pilot training is completed, a U.S. official said on Thursday.

 

It's kind of extra urgent now, as it's come to light that the Russians have built a factory to build thousand of copies of the Iranian drones they've been using.

Apparently it's based on the Iranian design, but with enhancements. Interestingly, although this bit might be poo stirring propaganda, they're apparently saying they're using upgraded higher quality electronics instead of interior cheap Chinese electronics. That should upset the Chinese government, unless, like I said, it's just poo stirring to try to weaken the Russia/China relationship.

 

China are apparently in a worsening economic situation - I suspect that any support that they are giving to Putin will be minimal. The CCP will look to their own interests above all else. Putin is just a handy source of cheap oil.

Energy prices coming down again at the next OFGEM price review - stick that in your pipe Putin - think you can blackmail Europe - think again.

The US are about to send a load of new weaponry to Ukraine - it's a Frankenstein mash up of an artillery shell with a rocket booster bolted onto it - to give it more range and greater accuracy. Just what Ukraine needs to get to the rear of the defensive lines.

 

According to Russia, a Ukrainian drone managed to "damage" a Tupolev TU-22 bomber at Soltsy-2 airbase, south of St Petersburg.

 

Obviously a museum piece.

 

Ukraine are getting F16s next year. Russia sees this as an escalation. They're moaning that it shows Ukraine don't want to stop their aggression.

I mean, I kind of see their point. All Russia wants to do is steal another nation and its industry and resources and force an entire change of language and culture and the inconsiderate Ukrainians just won't stop hurting them for it. It's so unfair.

I wonder if anyone in Putin's government realises just how silly they sound when they make statements that express shock that Ukraine is actually fighting back.