"#JPMorgan had handled some Russian #GrainExport payments for the past few months with reassurances from #Washington. However, that cooperation stopped this week, Russia's Foreign Ministry said Friday." #Ukraine
#Russia says JPMorgan Stopped Processing Its Grain Payments https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-says-jpmorgan-stopped-processing-its-grain-payments-/7212697.html
#BlackSea is becoming a decisive frontline after #Moscow pulled out of the UN grain deal and bombarded #Ukraine’s ports. #UkraineWar
Drone attack on tanker shows #Kyiv’s intent to hit Russian energy shipments https://www.politico.eu/article/drone-attack-russia-tanker-kyiv-hit-energy-shipment-naval-base-crimea-black-sea-ukraine-war/
"The Swedish authorities have accused #Russia of trying to influence how #QuranBurnings are viewed around the world through #disinformation campaigns written in Arabic. It is believed to be part of an attempt to disrupt #Sweden’s #Nato membership process, which is still waiting for approval by #Turkey and #Hungary."
Russia spreading false claims about Qur’an burnings to harm Nato bid, says Sweden
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/06/russia-spreading-false-claims-about-quran-burnings-to-harm-nato-bid-says-sweden
"The shift to stand-off attacks—all Ukrainian jets except the Su-25s can fire munitions from beyond the range of most of #Russia’s ground-based air-defenses—greatly has boosted the life-expectancy of Ukrainian pilots."
#UkraineWar #Ukraine
The Ukrainian Air Force Lost 62 Planes In 2022. So Far In 2023, It Has Lost Just Seven.
Border policing is not going to cut it, this will get worse.
"The #SwedenDemocrats have staked out a position as an immigration-sceptical party claiming to stand up for traditional Swedish culture. The party is especially culturally dogmatic when it comes to #Islam, which senior figures including leader Jimmie Åkesson have frequently suggested is incompatible with 'Swedishness' " #NATO #Turkey
#Sweden struggles to handle the fallout from repeated #QuranBurning protests https://www.euronews.com/2023/08/08/sweden-struggles-to-handle-the-fallout-from-repeated-quran-burning-protests
"Elements of the political system are pushing #Islamaphobia, and pockets of the Swedish media have produced an 'extremely negative' stereotype of #Muslims.
He also finds himself explaining why the #Quran is so important for Muslims to baffled Swedes, who are used to living in one of the most secular societies."
Chocolates and a chat: A peaceful response to #QuranBurnings in #Sweden
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/8/counter-protests-quran-burning
"These latest assessments represent a marked change from the optimism at the start of the #counteroffensive. These officials say those expectations were 'unrealistic' and are now contributing to pressure on #Ukraine from some in the West to begin peace negotiations, including considering the possibility of territorial concessions."#UkraineWar
Western allies receive increasingly ‘sobering’ updates on Ukraine’s counteroffensive:‘This is the most difficult time of the war’
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/08/politics/ukraine-counteroffensive-us-briefings/index.html
"The #ruble has weakened by 23% against the #dollar so far this year, placing it among the three worst emerging-market performers with the #TurkishLira and the #ArgentinePeso.
The ruble was trading below 97 per dollar on Wednesday and is nearing 100 to the greenback, a level last seen during the first month after President Vladimir #Putin ordered the February 2022 invasion." #Russia #UkraineWar #Ukraine
Ruble Weakens Toward 100 Per Dollar for First Time in 16 Months
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ruble-weakens-toward-100-per-081721407.html
Why is there a pyrotechnics warehouse within the grounds of a critical optical devices manufacturing plant???
---
"The #Zagorsk Optical-Mechanical Plant, referred to as 'ZOMZ' produces night vision devices and binoculars for the Russian military as part of #Russia’s defense conglomerate #Rostec." #ZagorskPlant #UkraineWar #Ukraine
A former #EuropeanCouncil President, #Tusk’s victory would see #Poland moving closer to European allies and reviving support for #Ukraine. His Civic Coalition (KO) party ran with Third Way and the New Left on separate tickets but with a shared commitment to restoring ties with #Europe. #EuropeanUnion
New era’: Tusk celebrates exit polls suggesting opposition win in Poland
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/16/new-era-tusk-celebrates-exit-polls-suggesting-opposition-win-in-poland?traffic_source=rss&utm_source=press.coop
The final count showed #PiS had received 35.4% of the vote, while #CivicCoalition, led by #Tusk, a former prime minister and #EuropeanCouncil president, had 30.7%. With the centre-right #ThirdWay, on 14.4%, and leftwing #Lewica, on 8.6%, the three groupings should be able to put together a coalition that would form a comfortable majority in the 460-seat parliament. #DonaldTusk #Ukraine
#Poland election: votes counted as country awaits Tusk-led coalition
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/17/poland-election-votes-counted-tusk-coalition-law-justice-party?utm_source=press.coop
The group brings together more than 160 intelligence units from around the world, including the US Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, to cooperate and share information on #MoneyLaundering, #TerroristFinancing and other related crimes. #Ukraine
#Russia Suspended From Global Financial Intelligence Group
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/russia-suspended-global-financial-intelligence-173808952.html
This is as good as done. Now it's Hungary's turn.
#Turkey's president submits protocol for #Sweden's admission into #NATO to parliament for ratification
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/turkeys-president-submits-protocol-swedens-admission-nato-parliament-104221981
Newsflash: The #BankOfRussia has raised its key interest rate from 13% to 15%, a larger rise than expected.
Announcing the 200 basis point hike, the Bank of Russia says current inflationary pressures have significantly increased to a level above its expectations. #UkraineWar #Ukraine
#Russia hikes interest rates to 15% to battle inflation
https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2023/oct/27/natwest-grows-profits-and-admits-serious-failings-over-treatment-of-nigel-farage-business-live?page=with:block-653b91ca8f0880c248190818#block-653b91ca8f0880c248190818
Two articles published this week give a stark assessment of #Ukraine’s prospects in its war with #Russia. One – by the commander in chief of the Ukrainian military – admits the battlefield has reached a stalemate and a long attritional war benefiting #Moscow beckons. The other portrays Ukrainian President Volodymyr #Zelensky as exhausted by the constant effort to cajole and persuade allies to keep the faith.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/03/world/ukraine-president-warns-long-attritional-war/index.html
The marines have secured a beachhead that could allow #Ukraine to reclaim more of the #Kherson region that lies between Ukrainian territory and #Crimea, seized by #Russia in 2014, a fillip for a counter-offensive showing few gains elsewhere, but only if they can find a way to bring armoured vehicles and heavy weapons across the wide river separating the two militaries.
Ukraine troops defend vital foothold on Russian-controlled #DniproRiver
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/03/ukraine-troops-defend-vital-foothold-on-russian-controlled-dnipro-river
The conversations have included very broad outlines of what #Ukraine might need to give up to reach a deal, the officials said. Some of the talks, which officials described as delicate, took place last month during a meeting of representatives from more than 50 nations supporting Ukraine, including #NATO members, known as the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, the officials said. #EU
U.S., European officials broach topic of #PeaceNegotiations with Ukraine, sources say
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/us-european-officials-broach-topic-peace-negotiations-ukraine-sources-rcna123628
U.S. and European officials have begun quietly talking to the Ukrainian government about what possible peace negotiations with Russia might entail to end the war, according to one current senior U.S. official and one former senior U.S. official familiar with the discussions.
First Dutch F-16s sent to #Romania for training Ukrainian pilots
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/nov/07/russia-ukraine-war-gennadiy-chastiakov-putin-zelenskiy?page=with:block-654a21c08f08c85ed0cfa967#block-654a21c08f08c85ed0cfa967
#Moldova, a country of about 2.5 million people situated between #Romania and #Ukraine, wouldn’t usually earn much international attention, but its vulnerability to Russian meddling has put it firmly on the #EU’s enlargement radar.
Like Ukraine, Moldova believes its future security lies with the EU,
EU expected to start process of Ukraine and Moldova becoming member states | #EuropeanCommission | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/07/eu-expected-to-start-process-of-ukraine-and-moldova-becoming-member-states
In a 1,200-page report on future enlargement of the 27-member bloc, the #EU said talks should formally be launched once #Kyiv satisfied remaining conditions related to stepping up the fight against corruption, adopting a law on lobbying in line with EU standards and strengthening national minority safeguards.
#EuropeanCommission backs talks on #Ukraine and #Moldova EU membership | #EuropeanUnion | The Guardian
My Mastodon feed on the #UkraineWar has slowed to a bare trickle.
With World’s Attention Locked On Gaza, Ukrainian Soldiers Fear Being Forgotten - The Moscow Times
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/11/08/with-worlds-attention-locked-on-gaza-ukrainian-soldiers-fear-being-forgotten-a83033
A Russian missile damaged a Liberia-flagged civilian vessel entering a Black Sea port in #Odesa region, killing one and injuring four people including three #Filipinos, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday.
#Ukraine says Russian missile hits civilian vessel in #BlackSea, injures 3 Filipinos
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/222278/ukraine-says-russian-missile-hits-civilian-vessel-in-black-sea-injures-3-filipinos?utm_source=(direct)&utm_medium=gallery
“I mean #space, including high-orbit assets, and new prospective types of weapons that will ensure strategic security of both #Russia and the People's Republic of #China,” Putin said without elaboration. #Ukraine
Putin calls for closer Russia-China cooperation on military #satellites and prospective weapons - ABC News
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/top-chinese-military-official-visits-moscow-talks-expanding-104714262
Russian President Vladimir Putin has told a senior Chinese military official that Moscow and Beijing should expand their cooperation on military satellites and other prospective defense technologies
Border defense? What border defense? 🙄
The #Ukraine conflict is overextending #Russia’s military and straining its ability to maintain secure defence of its borders, the #UK’s Ministry of Defence has said.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/nov/09/russia-ukraine-war-live-troops-avdiivka-encirclement-zelenskiy-putin?page=with:block-654cc0b48f0898cc3cb04266#block-654cc0b48f0898cc3cb04266
Attached: 4 images Ukraine update for the past week: Ukraine has retained previously captured positions on the Southern bank of the Dnipro and expanded its control within Krynky. South of Bakhmut, Ukraine has made advances around the rail line. West of Bakhmut, Russia has attacked along the edge of the Bohdanivka reservoir. Around Robotyne, Ukraine has captured positions on the Eastern flank of the salient.
Russian judge Kirill Gevorgian, who joined the #UN’s International Court of Justice (#ICJ) in 2015, has failed to win reelection, leaving the court without a representative of #Russia or the #USSR for the first time since it began working in 1946. #Ukraine
Russian judge Kirill Gevorgian, who joined the U.N.’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2015, has failed to win reelection, leaving the court without a representative of Russia or the USSR for the first time since it began working in 1946.
Medics work in makeshift conditions, even while targeted by Russian bombs, to stabilise patients before they can be taken to hospitals
‘We save 98% of our patients’: inside a frontline Ukrainian field hospital | #Ukraine | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/13/im-focused-on-my-work-inside-a-frontline-ukrainian-field-hospital
The last former #PrimeMinister to serve in one of his successor’s parliaments is believed to be Alex Douglas-Home, who served in #EdwardHeath’s government as foreign secretary six years after leaving Number 10. #Ukraine
How can #DavidCameron return as Foreign Secretary while not being an MP?
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/how-can-david-cameron-return-as-foreign-secretary-while-not-being-an-mp/ar-AA1jPKxU
Cameron posted on #X, formerly known as #Twitter: “We are facing a daunting set of international challenges, including the war in #Ukraine and the crisis in the #MiddlEast. At this time of profound global change, it has rarely been more important for this country to stand by our allies, strengthen our partnerships and make sure our voice is heard." #Israel
#DavidCameron returns to #UK government as foreign secretary | David Cameron | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/nov/13/david-cameron-returns-to-uk-government-as-foreign-secretary
European ex-PMs who went on to become foreign secretary welcome Cameron to their ranks
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2023/nov/13/suella-braverman-rishi-sunak-cabinet-reshuffle-conservatives-uk-politics-latest?page=with:block-65521a878f08e250e1dfc13b#block-65521a878f08e250e1dfc13b
#XiJinping and #Biden expected to discuss #UkraineWar at #Apec meeting; #Germany says aid to #Ukraine will be ‘massively expanded’ in 2024
#RussiaUkraineWar at a glance: what we know on day 629 | Ukraine | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/14/russia-ukraine-war-at-a-glance-what-we-know-on-day-629
With built-in radar and twin 35mm autocannons, the Gepard is the ideal mobile antidrone defense system. #DroneWar #Jordan
#US Secures 60 #Gepard Anti-Aircraft Systems for #Ukraine in $118 Million Deal - Militarnyi
https://mil.in.ua/en/news/u-s-secures-60-gepard-anti-aircraft-systems-for-ukraine-in-118-million-deal/U.S.
Ms Politkovskaya, an investigative reporter and vocal critic of #Russia's war in #Chechnya, was shot in a lift in her block of flats.
Her reporting for #NovayaGazeta newspaper won international renown for her dogged investigation of Russian abuses in Chechnya.
#AnnaPolitkovskaya: Russian convicted of journalist murder gets pardon fighting in #Ukraine - BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67414517?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA&utm_source=press.coop
image source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Politkovskaya
One of the world’s biggest accountancy firms helped #Russia’s “richest” #oligarch attempt to transfer £1bn in a public company on the day he was placed under #EUSanctions, leaked documents suggest. The disclosure raises serious questions about the role played by #PwC #Cyprus in a potential #SanctionsBreach.
#PriceWaterhouseCooper #Ukraine #UkraineWar #CyprusConfidential
PwC Cyprus moved £1bn for Russian tycoon on day he was put under sanctions | Business | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/14/pwc-cyprus-russian-tycoons-ukraine-invasion-sanctions
The role of the blue-chip accountants #PwC Cyprus and other advisers in managing transactions as Vladimir #Putin’s forces launched their assault has emerged from #CyprusConfidential, a cache of 3.6m files leaked by an anonymous source to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (#ICIJ) and Germany’s Paper Trail Media. #Russia #UkraineWar
#Cyprus to clamp down as investigation reveals oligarchs moved assets after #Ukraine invasion
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/14/cyprus-to-clamp-down-as-investigation-reveals-oligarchs-moved-assets-after-ukraine-invasion
The documents, and Seipel’s response, suggest the payments were for his work on a 2015 biography called #Putin: Inner Views of Power and a 2021 title, Putin’s Power: Why #Europe Needs #Russia, both originally written in German.
Seipel does not appear to have disclosed the payments to his publisher.
Top German journalist received €600,000 from Putin ally, leak reveals | #Germany
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/14/german-journalist-putin-hubert-seipel
The war in #Ukraine has backfired on #Russia in almost every conceivable way, from kickstarting #NATO expansion to affirming the Ukrainian national consciousness. If #Putin truly believes the future masters of #AI will be masters of the universe, the war’s closing of Russia’s narrow window to catch up in the field may be the most devastating consequence of all.
Putin Wants Russia to Win the #ArtificialIntelligence Race. Here’s Why it Won’t - The Moscow Times
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/11/14/putin-wants-russia-to-win-the-artificial-intelligence-race-heres-why-it-wont-a83103
It's also possible Russia doesn't have enough border guards anymore because of the war in #Ukraine.
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Russian border guards usually stop people without valid #EU visas from crossing into #Finland. But on Wednesday #Niinistö said he believed #Russia had started guiding asylum seekers towards Finnish crossing points in retaliation for #Helsinki’s plans to sign a defence cooperation agreement with #Washington.
Here are the latest developments:
#Ukraine says its forces have gained a foothold on the eastern bank of the #DniproRiver - potentially allowing it to transfer vital equipment across the river
#Russia has been focusing its efforts on eastern Ukraine with fighting continuing around #Bakhmut and near #Donetsk
Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia - BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60506682
Here's to hoping Kherson will have a bombardment free Christmas this year 🕊️
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The Ukrainian armed forces have said they have carried out “successful actions” on the east bank of the #DniproRiver.
The river has been the de facto front line in southern #Ukraine since Russian forces withdrew from the #Kherson region last November.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/nov/17/russia-ukraine-war-live-thousands-of-ukrainian-children-taken-to-belarus-yale-research-shows?page=with:block-655725788f08945e7e4d0eec#block-655725788f08945e7e4d0eec
#Girkin, who is also known by the alias #IgorStrelkov, has repeatedly said #Russia faces revolution and even civil war unless Vladimir #Putin’s military leadership fights the war in #Ukraine more effectively.
Pro-war Russian nationalist Igor Girkin says he wants to run for president
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/nov/19/russia-ukraine-war-live-wave-of-drone-attacks-on-kyiv-for-second-night?page=with:block-6559dd648f08ee81dbe5b004#block-6559dd648f08ee81dbe5b004
...cheerfully assisted by the Russian army who sells them bicycles and tells them where to go. Finland will have to seal it's Russia border soon. #Ukraine #NATO
Asylum seekers biking into #Finland from #Russia
https://euobserver.com/world/157712?utm_source=euobs&utm_medium=rss
Finnish prime minister Petteri Orpo spoke to reporters at a border post in #Kuhmo today, amid concerns about the arrival of asylum seekers via #Russia.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/nov/20/europe-far-right-victory-argentina-javier-milei-live?page=with:block-655b7cb28f086b1ccf455522#block-655b7cb28f086b1ccf455522
#HELSINKI (Reuters) - Dozens of #migrants stood behind barriers at two crossings on #Finland's border with #Russia on Saturday, the Finnish Border Guard said, after Helsinki erected barricades to halt a flow of asylum seekers it says was instigated by #Moscow. #Russia #Ukraine #NATO
Unlike other instances where #Congress tends to quickly approve urgently needed aid, lawmakers in both parties are now openly questioning whether an emergency package for #Israel and #Ukraine can get done at all. #US
Fears grow in Congress over Ukraine and Israel aid amid dispute over #immigration and spending cuts | CNN Politics
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/21/politics/congress-israel-ukraine-aid-border/index.html
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Wednesday that as of the end of Friday, only its northernmost border crossing with #Russia, Raja-Jooseppi, will remain open.
#RajaJooseppi is the northernmost [border crossing], and it requires a real effort to get there,” Orpo said at a press conference. #NATO #Ukraine
#Finland to close all but one of its border crossings with Russia | Migration News | Al Jazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/22/finland-to-close-all-but-one-of-its-border-crossings-with-russia
#EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said this week that the challenges on #Finland’s border gave her a feeling of “deja vu,” two years after #Belarus began driving migrants into #Latvia, #Lithuania and #Poland in what European officials said was an attempt to destabilize the 27-nation bloc. #NATO #Ukraine
EU sends border police reinforcements to Finland over fears that #Russia is behind a migrant influx
https://apnews.com/article/finland-russia-border-frontex-guards-2fc202b3a900d6887e0152b235a0a00d
The European Union’s border agency says that it will send dozens of officers and equipment as reinforcements to Finland to help police its borders amid suspicion that Russia is behind an influx of migrants arriving to the country. Frontex said Thursday that it expects a “significant reinforcement” made up of 50 border guard officers and other staff along with patrol cars and additional equipment to be put in place as soon as next week. Around 600 migrants without proper visas and documentation have arrived in Finland so far this month compared to a few dozen in September and October. They include people from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Kenya, Morocco and Somalia.
The Nordic country has already taken decisions to close seven stations, leaving open only the northernmost remote border point, #RajaJooseppi in #Lapland. #NATO #Ukraine
#Finland Warns Border to Be Sealed If #Russia Keeps Up Pressure
https://news.yahoo.com/finland-warns-border-sealed-russia-195403617.html
The many weaknesses in the Russian economy nonetheless remain apparent. #GDP has not grown above pre-2014 levels because of Western financial sanctions and its odious #kleptocracy. It is not very stable. The exchange rate of the #ruble jumps like a yo-yo. The underlying reason for this is massive #CapitalFlight, #Russia’s exclusion from international financial markets, and its limited liquid reserves. #Ukraine #UkraineWar
Why the Russian #Economy’s Luck is Running Out
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/11/21/why-the-russian-economys-luck-is-running-out-a83165
Russian authorities will transport 55 asylum seekers who were waiting to cross the now-closed #Salla border crossing with #Finland to the last open crossing in the north of the #Murmansk region, its governor announced Friday. #RajaJooseppi #NATO #Ukraine
#Russia to Transport Dozens of Migrants to Last Open Finnish Border Checkpoint - The Moscow Times
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/11/24/russia-to-transport-dozens-of-migrants-to-last-open-finnish-border-checkpoint-a83217
Russian authorities will transport 55 asylum seekers who were waiting to cross the now-closed Salla border crossing with Finland to the last open crossing in the north of the Murmansk region, its governor announced Friday. Another 200 foreign nationals who were unable to cross the border have decided to stay in Russia and will be provided with a bus connection to St.
Additional concrete barriers were placed on the bridge connecting #Estonia and #Russia on Friday evening as preparations continue for a possible future closure of the border. #Ukraine #Finland
PPA puts more barriers on Estonian-Russian border | News | ERR
https://news.err.ee/1609175470/ppa-puts-more-barriers-on-estonian-russian-border
The attack, which used Iranian-designed #Shahed kamikaze drones, reportedly began hitting different districts of #Kyiv in the early hours of Saturday, with more waves coming as the sun rose. The air raid warning lasted for six hours.
Air force chief Mykola Oleschuk said 71 of the 75 drones launched at #Ukraine had been downed.
More than 70 Russian drones hit Kyiv, wounding five: Ukrainian officials | #Russia-#UkraineWar News | Al Jazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/25/more-than-70-russian-drones-hit-kyiv-wounding-five-ukrainian-officials
@Norobiik Reminds me of the East German semiconductor project. They spent a huge amount of effort trying to catch up with the West in chips. Technically, they succeeded, matching the 1 Mbit DRAM which was the state of the art at the time.
They could not make them in sufficient quantity or with adequate quality to compete economically.
The Russians will at best copy Western AI efforts. They are not going to attract smart AI people from other countries, especially while under sanctions.
Just look at how their vaunted lunar polar visit went, very sloppy execution.
I honestly think the Russian Federation will inevitably break up. They've poured and are still pouring any remaining resources in their invasion of Ukraine while their infrastructure while their economy and border security crumbles.
It's just a matter of time.
Norobiik @
M. J. Page-Lieberman
DROP\ TABLE Hacker of Earthsea
mike805