"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (1 Viewer)

[Denniss]

Is there really no ukrainian naval ops team in the med with some spare drones or other explosives? Some ships with russian equiment want to be sunk .....

NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 video Satellite images obtaiend by Svoboda radio confirm Russia is moving military equipment from Syria’s Tartus port. High-res photos show gear loaded onto Sparta & Sparta II ships. By Jan 27, Sparta II had left, while Sparta remains, now surrounded by containers.

mstdn.social

 

[Warspite63]

Russia issues school textbook saying it was 'forced' to march into Ukraine

Well, they WERE forced to invade .... by Putin

 

[buffnut453]

The end is nigh...you heard it here first. Putin's oligarch buddies are surely not happy about this. I don't see how Putin can hold onto power given the complete mess he's making of Russia's economy. Imagine the loan costs for a mortgage or to buy a car when interest rates are at 21%:

MOSCOW, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Russia could face a wave of corporate bankruptcies this year as the share of enterprises with risky levels of debt in total corporate revenue doubled in 2024, a leading think tank advising the government said in a research note.

The warning emphasizes the scale of high inflation and slowing growth, which have made President Vladimir Putin concerned about distortions in Russia's wartime economy.

"The Russian economy is facing the threat of a large-scale surge in corporate bankruptcies," TsMAKP researchers wrote.

They said that by the end of 2024, the share of companies represented in total corporate revenue, that had interest payments at a risky level of two-thirds of adjusted earnings, was likely at 20%.

The Russian central bank hiked its benchmark interest rate to 21% last year, the highest since the early 2000s, to fight inflation which hit 9.5% in 2024, exceeding the government's and the central bank's forecasts.

Many companies have complained about high interest rates, which raise their borrowing costs. Russia's largest mobile operator, MTS, in November blamed an 88.8% drop in third-quarter net profit on increased interest expenses.

The state-owned monopoly Russian Railways is facing a $4 billion rise in interest payment costs this year.

TsMAKP researchers also pointed to a surge in the share of firms experiencing non-payments from their counterparties for supplied goods and services, which rose to 37% of total revenue in the third quarter of 2024 from about 20% in 2021-23.

They said many firms preferred to deposit cash at banks amid high interest rates or buy risk-free bonds, which also offer attractive interest, while withholding payment to suppliers.

The research indicated that in the current high interest rate environment, the share of companies with working capital profitability that was lower than the risk-free interest rate also doubled to 66% of total corporate revenues.

This was stifling investment, the researchers said.

"A slowdown in the dynamics of investments in production facilities and a reduction in the potential for economic growth are already being factored in," researchers said, projecting a fall in investments to 1.7-2.0% this year from 7% in 2024.

 

[Snautzer01]

The end is nigh...you heard it here first. Putin's oligarch buddies are surely not happy about this. I don't see how Putin can hold onto power given the complete mess he's making of Russia's economy. Imagine the loan costs for a mortgage or to buy a car when interest rates are at 21%:

MOSCOW, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Russia could face a wave of corporate bankruptcies this year as the share of enterprises with risky levels of debt in total corporate revenue doubled in 2024, a leading think tank advising the government said in a research note.

The warning emphasizes the scale of high inflation and slowing growth, which have made President Vladimir Putin concerned about distortions in Russia's wartime economy.

"The Russian economy is facing the threat of a large-scale surge in corporate bankruptcies," TsMAKP researchers wrote.

They said that by the end of 2024, the share of companies represented in total corporate revenue, that had interest payments at a risky level of two-thirds of adjusted earnings, was likely at 20%.

The Russian central bank hiked its benchmark interest rate to 21% last year, the highest since the early 2000s, to fight inflation which hit 9.5% in 2024, exceeding the government's and the central bank's forecasts.

Many companies have complained about high interest rates, which raise their borrowing costs. Russia's largest mobile operator, MTS, in November blamed an 88.8% drop in third-quarter net profit on increased interest expenses.

The state-owned monopoly Russian Railways is facing a $4 billion rise in interest payment costs this year.

TsMAKP researchers also pointed to a surge in the share of firms experiencing non-payments from their counterparties for supplied goods and services, which rose to 37% of total revenue in the third quarter of 2024 from about 20% in 2021-23.

They said many firms preferred to deposit cash at banks amid high interest rates or buy risk-free bonds, which also offer attractive interest, while withholding payment to suppliers.

The research indicated that in the current high interest rate environment, the share of companies with working capital profitability that was lower than the risk-free interest rate also doubled to 66% of total corporate revenues.

This was stifling investment, the researchers said.

"A slowdown in the dynamics of investments in production facilities and a reduction in the potential for economic growth are already being factored in," researchers said, projecting a fall in investments to 1.7-2.0% this year from 7% in 2024.

That is easy. Those are not for the ones with great wealth. It is the same everywhere.
It seems those are beyond any law.

 

[buffnut453]

That is easy. Those are not for the ones with great wealth. It is the same everywhere.
It seems those are beyond any law.

Well, maybe...but an 88% drop in cell phone profits will definitely impact those with great wealth. Interest payments have also increased massively, as per the railways example, which also would impact any wealthy individuals or companies that have been investing to meet Putin's demands (e.g. retooling factories to increase arms production).

 

[GTX]

which also would impact any wealthy individuals or companies that have been investing to meet Putin's demands (e.g. retooling factories to increase arms production).

Aren't they also the ones afraid of windows...?

 

[buffnut453]

Aren't they also the ones afraid of windows...?

I suspect Putin, himself, may well be suffering from defenestraphobia (yes...that's the fear of windows).

 

[GrauGeist]

A North Korean Colonel Raced Into Battle With Two Automatic Weapons: One For Close Combat, Another For Shooting Down Drones

The Ukrainian 22nd Mechanized Brigade killed the colonel in Kursk Oblast and inspected his excellent kit.

www.forbes.com

I find this interesting.

The article states that the North Koreans have high-end weapons, however, the Ukrainians have stated (and shown) how poorly armed and equipped the NK regulars are.

Of course the Colonel would be well armed, as he would be top tier in a communist army heirarchy. Which is why the Ukrainians were surprised and took time to examine the Colonel's gear.

 

[GTX]

View: https://youtu.be/F6p5JvL-I5k?si=MrEXoDSdMLBtBS4E

 

[Snowman]

EU renews Russia sanctions after Hungarian delay

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-expects-renew-russia-sanctions-after-hungarian-hold-up-2025-01-27/

 

[GTX]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdJNsk-L9HQ

 

[Glider]

That is easy. Those are not for the ones with great wealth. It is the same everywhere.
It seems those are beyond any law.

Tragically you are right, we can see this in a number of countries.

 

[SaparotRob]

A North Korean Colonel Raced Into Battle With Two Automatic Weapons: One For Close Combat, Another For Shooting Down Drones

The Ukrainian 22nd Mechanized Brigade killed the colonel in Kursk Oblast and inspected his excellent kit.

www.forbes.com

That is a worrying bit of intel. A lot of people (me) have joked about the fitness of DPRK troops. Impeccable marksmanship didn't come to my mind.
A DPRK officer leading from the front is impressive and surprising.

 

[SaparotRob]

Russia issues school textbook saying it was 'forced' to march into Ukraine

 

[SaparotRob]

Another Ukrainian Brigade Is Disintegrating As It Deploys To Pokrovsk

The 157th Mechanized Brigade ‘did not undergo the necessary combat training.’

www.forbes.com

 

[SaparotRob]

Is there really no ukrainian naval ops team in the med with some spare drones or other explosives? Some ships with russian equiment want to be sunk .....

NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 video Satellite images obtaiend by Svoboda radio confirm Russia is moving military equipment from Syria’s Tartus port. High-res photos show gear loaded onto Sparta & Sparta II ships. By Jan 27, Sparta II had left, while Sparta remains, now surrounded by containers.

mstdn.social

I think our own Dimlee has already posted some interesting courses of action.

 

[MiTasol]

A couple of frogmen with limpet mines could possibly fit them while the ship is still in port so that it develops a bad leak or takes up smoking once at sea.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I suspect Putin, himself, may well be suffering from defenestraphobia (yes...that's the fear of windows).

I suspect his neck is on the block. His underlings are not stupid.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

That is a worrying bit of intel. A lot of people (me) have joked about the fitness of DPRK troops. Impeccable marksmanship didn't come to my mind.
A DPRK officer leading from the front is impressive and surprising.

Interesting that a colonel is packing such personal protection.

 

[GrauGeist]

Interesting that a colonel is packing such personal protection.

As I mentioned above, the higher-ups in communist armies have access to better gear beyond what grunts are issued..