"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (4 Viewers)

[MiTasol]

If you need another reason to give up smoking this is a good one. These companies need to be hit with a special tax for putting profits before morals.

Foreign firms in Russia continue to help fund Putin's war – DW – 07/04/2023

A study shows that only 17% of Western firms with local Russian units prior to the invasion of Ukraine have exited Russia. Those that remain are paying Moscow billions in taxes, indirectly bankrolling the Ukraine war.

www.dw.com

This law from the PNG Civil Aviation Act would make them wake up

281. ADDITIONAL PENALTY FOR OFFENCES INVOLVING COMMERCIAL GAIN.
(1) In addition to any penalty the Court may impose under Sections 276 to 278 (inclusive) and 280, the Court may, on convicting a person of an offence specified in any of those sections, order that person to pay an amount up to three times the value of any commercial gain resulting from the commission of that offence where the Court is satisfied that the offence was committed for producing a commercial gain.

Person includes companies

 

[WARSPITER]

I'm trying to come up with an Ikea joke.

I find most IKEA jokes usually fall flat.

 

[Mike Williams]

Useful Twitter work around site: Thread by @NOELreports on Thread Reader App

 

[Greg Boeser]

I find most IKEA jokes usually fall flat.

You are supposed to use wall anchors.

 

[GrauGeist]

You are supposed to use wall anchors.

Or a nail gun...

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I find most IKEA jokes usually fall flat.

Didn't find the Allen wrench?

 

[RogerdeLluria]

You all remember the pictures showing several bradley and Leo 2 damaged in a mine field. Yes the ones that Russian sources have been feeding from all possible angles .
You may be wondering why we have not yet seen pictures of these brads and leos exposed in Red Square.

Here is why:

Ukrainian Engineers Are Recovering The 25 Vehicles Ukraine Lost In A Russian Minefield, Starting With An American-Made M-2

Ukrainian forces have advanced far enough along the axis from Mala Tokmachka through Robotyne to Tokmak that it’s safe for recovery teams to work.

www.forbes.com

The Ukrainian Army Can Finally Recover Those Three Leopard 2R Breaching Vehicles It Lost

Breaching vehicles are a precious asset for any army that’s attempting to fight its way through enemy fortifications the way the Ukrainian army is doing right now.

www.forbes.com

 

[WARSPITER]

Didn't find the Allen wrench?

If it's IKEA you have to use an Anders wrench - the one's that can turn in Swedish.

 

[RogerdeLluria]

Useful Twitter work around site: Thread by @NOELreports on Thread Reader App

Of this July 4 thread I would like to highlight (put a lot of salt, since those are Ukrainian claims):
+32 (!) artillery pieces
And on today's one:
+36 (!) artillery pieces

Ukrainians may not be advancing a lot, but it seems they are working on it.
If half true, they may even win the Russians on the arty game.

 

[RogerdeLluria]

One more train with Russian T-54/55 tanks spotted in Voronezh region, Russia.


View: https://twitter.com/AndreiBtvt/status/1676309803117735951

 

[RogerdeLluria]

This seems to confirm that the Sukhoi Su-34, Sukhoi Su-35 fighter and two Mil Mi-8 helicopters downed well inside Russia where downed by patriots.
It's rumored that of the two patriot batteries in Ukraine, one sits in Kiev while the other on is itinerant closer to the Russian border.

A Ukrainian Patriot SAM Shot Down Five Russian Aircraft In Two Minutes

Eleven aviators died over Bryansk Oblast in what was one of the worst single-day losses for the Russian air force in the nearly 17 months of its wider war on Ukraine.

www.forbes.com

 

[Admiral Beez]

Didn't find the Allen wrench?

Who's Allan's wench?

 

[RogerdeLluria]

The Russian army has lost half of its combat effectiveness in Ukraine. (UK armed forces chief, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin)

Last year, the Russian army fired 10 million artillery shells, but their production is limited to only one million shells per year. Also, 2500 tanks were lost, while the annual production of new tanks is limited to only 200 units.

Russia has lost half its combat capability in Ukraine, says UK armed …

archived 5 Jul 2023 10:02:00 UTC

archive.ph

 

[Jabberwocky]

Fireworks start about 40 seconds in:


View: https://twitter.com/Tendar/status/1676503590268026883

 

[Admiral Beez]

Did Russia consider using its SSNs to attack cargo ships bringing arms to Ukraine?

Ukraine updates: Russia threatens to attack western arms shipments

Action would risk direct conflict with NATO

nationalpost.com

Just imagine a Russian nuclear attack sub torpedoes and sinks a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship in international waters purported to be carrying equipment for Ukraine via Poland. Or, perhaps a Russian warship intercepts and boards the cargo ship in the Atlantic.

 

[RogerdeLluria]

You may remember that at the start of the war the rouble crumpled to historic record lows just to recover by April 2022.

Reasons: Russia had stocked reserves to cover for western reaction. Plus the sudden drop of imports artificially inflated the ruble. In addition it became an intervened currency with litle to no international trade, so its official trade value didn't reflect its real value.

However things changed in 2023: Probably Putin's reserves are gone, plus it seems oil price cap made its impact. . This is how rouble looks now:

And it fares even worse against euro:

 

[SplitRz]

Did Russia consider using its SSNs to attack cargo ships bringing arms to Ukraine?

Ukraine updates: Russia threatens to attack western arms shipments

Action would risk direct conflict with NATO

nationalpost.com

Just imagine a Russian nuclear attack sub torpedoes and sinks a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship in international waters purported to be carrying equipment for Ukraine via Poland. Or, perhaps a Russian warship intercepts and boards the cargo ship in the Atlantic.

If they did, we'd have been on a short road to WW3. Putin knew that. But propaganda and testing resolve came first.

He still wants to present himself as hero and victim at the moment, as he needs to preserve at least *some* international support (or at least apathy). Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea may be of little importance - but he's clearly clinging to the hopes that India, China and some African states appeasement means he hasn't entered full pariah status. For the Chinese especially, interruption of world trade would simply end any support - for their own economic self-interest, if nothing else. An overt escalation beyond the borders of Ukraine would be a death warrant - either for himself and his nation, or potentially, for billions of people globally.

He might, *might* attempt sabotage or plausibly deniable attack on a vessel containing a significant arms delivery, but the risks would be enormous. Any loss of life of foreign nationals would clearly escalate a war he's already losing (thats if we discount his stated initial objective, which has already been defeated). I suspect this was more sabre rattling to try and ensure western naval powers and budgets were further stretched.

Note, that story was dated 2022 - his bluff was called AGAIN

 

[Admiral Beez]

I suspect this was more sabre rattling to try and ensure western naval powers and budgets were further stretched.

China can't be happy that Russia has provoked the West to increase its naval budgets.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-navy-to-have-more-frigates-and-destroyers/

 

[SaparotRob]

You may remember theat at the start of the war the rouble crumpled to historic record lows just to recover by april 2022.
View attachment 728361

Reasons: Russia had stocked reserves to cover for western reaction. Plus the sudden drop of imports artificially inflated the ruble. In addition it became an intervened currency with litle to no international trade, so its official trade value didn't reflect its real value.

However things changed in 2023: Probably Putin's reserves are gone, plus it seems oil price cap made its impact. . This is how rouble looks now:

View attachment 728362

And it fares even worse against euro:
View attachment 728363

As the rouble really doesn't trade against Western currencies, it may be more helpful to compare the Rouble to the Yuan (Remnimbi?) or Rupiah. I have been following this but not very closely. What I do remember, (sorry no hard data) is that against the Chinese and Indian currencies, the Rouble has similar performance. Even Putin's friends don't want Russian currency.

 

[Admiral Beez]

This Finnish firm grew tyred of Russia.

The Ukraine War Changed This Company Forever (Published 2023)

Nokian Tyres of Finland made 80 percent of its tires in Russia, where energy was cheap. After losing billions, it prioritized political security over business efficiency.

www.nytimes.com

Paywall free: The Russia-Ukraine War Changed This Finland Company Forever - The New…