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☆ Navalny: mercenary boss visited his jail to recruit for Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 21 (Reuters) - Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said on Wednesday that Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner private military company that has taken a major part in the Ukraine war, had visited his prison to recruit convicts. He did not say when the alleged visit took place. The Wagner Group, which Prigozhin has said he founded in 2014, has become increasingly prominent during the Ukraine war, including during a brutal, long-running battle for the small city of Bakhmut. In his Twitter post, he said the recruitment of convicts to fight in Ukraine showed the corrosion of the Russian state. In his response, Prigozhin took issue with the fact that many of Navalny's supporters had been allowed by the state to flee abroad.

☆ Russian military releases propaganda pop song fantasizing about its nukes wiping out NATO and the US
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A branch of Russia's defense ministry released a pop song celebrating its vast nuclear arsenal. The song celebrates the power of the "Sarmat" missile, also known as the "Son of Satan." The music video for the song was published by ParkPatriot.media, an arm of the Russian defense ministry focused on propaganda. It shows images of the Sarmat missile being test-fired and, at one point, showed Maidanov watching Putin speak on TV. The Russian Sarmat is ready/ To strike our enemy," Maidanov sings in the video, translated by Insider.

☆ A Russian tank unit deliberately attacked another Russian position in Ukraine, report says, illustrating vicious rivalries within Putin's army
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Russian tank unit attacked another Russian position in Ukraine following an argument, the NYT said. The incident demonstrates the vicious in-fighting that has plagued Vladimir Putin's military. A Russian drone operator who said he witnessed the episode told the paper that a Russian tank commander drove his T-90 tank toward a group of Russian national guard troops, fired at their checkpoint and blew it up. The Russian military appears to have limited coordination with any of them, officials said, according to the paper. Prigozhin echoed the sentiment, the paper said, commenting about Russian military generals: "Send all these pieces of garbage barefoot with machine guns straight to the front."

☆ Zelenskiy says Ukraine preparing for all defence scenarios
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 18 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that protecting Ukraine's borders was a "constant priority" and that his country was ready for all possible scenarios with Russia and its ally Belarus. "Protecting our border, both with Russia and Belarus - is our constant priority," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. "We are preparing for all possible defence scenarios." In his address, Zelenskiy issued a new appeal to Western nations to provide Ukraine with effective air defences. He also said his forces were holding the town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, where some of the fiercest fighting has been seen.

☆ Putin's ludicrously long table was an anti-COVID-19 measure to ensure 15ft between him and others, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Vladimir Putin's long table was meant to protect him from COVID-19, The New York Times said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy poked fun at Putin's table during an interview with David Letterman that aired in December. "He even chooses to sit at that ridiculously long table. It was long speculated that the long table was a COVID precaution, and the Times reporting appears to confirm it. According to The New York Times, earlier in the pandemic Putin did not meet a single Western leader in person for 16 months.

☆ An elite Russian military brigade was basically 'wiped out,' taking so many losses in Ukraine that it will 'take years to rebuild,' report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An elite Russian brigade suffered so many losses in Ukraine that it will take years to rebuild. The 200th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade is one of many high-profile units that saw heavy depletion. But despite these advantages, the 200th suffered greatly in the months of combat that would follow. "Nothing of that brigade is left," Col. Pavlo Fedosenko, the commander of Ukraine's 92nd Mechanized Brigade, told The Post in a recent interview. That figure echoes a similar estimate from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, the highest-ranking US general, who said last month that over 100,000 Russian soldiers had been "killed and wounded."

☆ Ukraine defense minister rips Putin's 'meat grinder' tactics, says Russia is failing because it's still a 'big Soviet army'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

He said Putin's "meat grinder tactics" were failing, calling his troops a "big Soviet army." Reznikov cited Ukraine's nimble, hybrid tactics as the reason it could match even a larger and better-funded military like Russia's. "If it was meat grinder against meat grinder, we would lose," he said in the interview. "It was a mistake to perceive us as a small Soviet army [that] will fight a big Soviet army. Certainly, a big Soviet army would win and a small Soviet army would lose but we are not a Soviet army."

☆ Ukrainian forces are bracing for the possibility of another Russian invasion via Belarus: 'We have to be ready'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine is preparing for the possibility of another Russian invasion via Belarus amid military drills. Analysts are skeptical that the exercises are cover for an attack or that Belarus would send its troops to join the war. Belarus has already been used as a launching pad for Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and has faced sanctions from Western countries as a result. There's also been some speculation that Belarus might send its troops into Ukraine to bolster Russia's war effort, but analysts are skeptical the drills are more than exercises. "The exercise does not appear to be cover for concentrating Belarusian and/or Russian forces near jumping-off positions for an invasion of Ukraine," ISW added.

☆ Russia improves Q3 economic contraction to 3.7% y/y - revised data
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Summary This content was produced in Russia, where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine. MOSCOW, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Russia's economy shrank 3.7% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2022, revised data from the federal statistics service Rosstat showed on Wednesday, an improvement on the previously reported 4.0%. Officials and analysts have been gradually improving GDP forecasts for the full year, but suggested that the overall drop in output may be more prolonged, though less sharp, than first expected. After growing 3.5% in the first quarter, the Russian economy has now slipped into recession, with 4.1% and 3.7% contractions in the subsequent two quarters. Russia's economy ministry forecasts GDP to fall 2.9% in 2022 as a whole.

☆ Russian forces retreating from Kherson left behind booby traps — including a grenade in a washing machine and a street sign that directed people into a minefield
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia occupied the Ukrainian city of Kherson for eight months before retreating in November. But Russian troops left traps behind that Ukrainian demining squads are trying to disarm. Kherson, a regional capital, was the first major Ukrainian city seized by Russian forces after the invasion in February. The southern port city was occupied from March until November, when Russian officials announced a retreat and Ukrainian forces returned. Since the retreat, which revealed stories of potential war crimes and Ukrainian resistance, Russian forces have continued shelling the Kherson region.

☆ Newly freed Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout said he 'wholeheartedly' supports Russia's war in Ukraine and would 'certainly' volunteer: report
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout said he would "certainly" volunteer to fight in Russia's war against Ukraine. Bout is newly free after being swapped for Brittney Griner, who was detained in Moscow for nine months. Bout was imprisoned in the US on a 25-year sentence for conspiring with a terrorist organization. "If I could, I would share the skills I have and I would readily volunteer," Bout said on the Russian state television network RT, formerly known as Russia Today. While he was in prison, he said he had a portrait of Russian President Putin displayed in his cell, according to CNN.

☆ Russia wants 'hundreds' of ballistic missiles from Iran and is offering 'unprecedented' military support in return, UK envoy says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia wants more weapons from Iran, including "hundreds" of ballistic missiles. A top UK envoy said Friday that Russia is offering Iran "unprecedented" military support in return. In return, Russia is offering Iran an unprecedented level of military and technical support," Barbara Woodward, the UK's permanent representative to the United Nations, told reporters after a Security Council meeting. Woodward did not elaborate or specify on what, exactly, the military and technical support — or advanced components — might look like. Earlier this week, however, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a Facebook post that it shot down 14 Shahed-136 drones.

☆ Kremlin complains about Time magazine naming Zelenskyy Person of the Year, calls it 'short-sighted' and 'anti-Russian'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Vladimir Putin's spokesperson complained about Time naming Zelenskyy its person of the year. Dmitry Peskov said the accolade was "vehemently Russophobic" and attacked Western media. Time said that the choice of Zelenskyy was "the most clear-cut in memory." Speaking to reporters, Dmitry Peskov claimed the accolade was evidence of an anti-Russian Western media system. Time announced the award on Tuesday, naming not only Zelenskyy but also "the spirit of Ukraine" as its person of the year.

This year, Russia is on track to post a record high current account surplus after its imports of goods and services fell due to Western sanctions while globally high commodity prices boosted its export revenues. Exports rather than import compression are responsible for the majority of the rise, the Institute of International Finance has said. As an oil price cap and export embargo kick in, the surplus will likely decline in 2023. That drop could put further strain on Russia's economy, already saddled with subdued consumer demand, falling disposable incomes and the impact of President Vladimir Putin's partial mobilisation order on workforce numbers. Russia's economy is doomed to see a fall in productivity, with consumption and investments also expected to drop, Nadorshin said, predicting a 5-10% economic contraction in 2023.

☆ Russia's central bank just issued a warning about 'new economic shocks,' and it shows the new $60/barrel cap on oil is working
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The price cap on Russian crude and EU's oil embargo present "new economic shocks," the Bank of Russia said. They could "significantly reduce" Russia's economic activity in the coming months, per the bank. Russia is mulling options to counter the price cap, including banning oil sales to some countries. The European Union, G7, and Australia have set a price cap for Russian crude that kicked in on Monday. On top of that, the EU has also banned all seaborne Russian crude.

☆ Russian economy has overcome short-term slump caused by mobilisation - central bank
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SummarySummary Companies This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in UkraineMOSCOW, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Russia's economy has overcome the short-term slump caused by President Vladimir Putin's partial mobilisation order, but the disinflationary impact it had in reducing consumer demand has practically disappeared, the central bank said on Wednesday. Inflationary risks are set to prevail in the medium term, the bank said in an analytical report on macroeconomic and market trends, pointing to increases in budget spending and private lending. Reporting by Elena Fabrichnaya and Alexander Marrow;Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Russia has 3 oil moves reportedly in mind to hit back at the G7 price cap: a sales ban, a minimum price and maximum discounts
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Zahra Tayeb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia could strike back at the G7 price cap in three different ways, according to reports. G7 member countries hit Russia this week with the oil price ceiling in response to Moscow's unprecedented invasion of Ukraine. Under the measure, refiners, traders, and financers won't be allowed to handle Russian oil unless it was traded below the set price. A minimum price essentially means Russia would set a price floor for its crude, two officials familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Per Reuters, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that any measures in response to the price cap will come into effect by the end of the year.

☆ Russia appears to have run out of the deadly Iranian-made drones it's been using to terrorize Ukraine, Western officials say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia appears to be out of Iranian-made drones, Western officials said Tuesday. US officials had warned over the summer that Iran was preparing to send drones to Russia, and then the weapons first saw battlefield action in early September. A Russian drone, considered by Ukrainian authorities to be an Iranian-made Shahed-136, over Kyiv on October 17, 2022. These 440-pound weapons are relatively slow, fly at low altitudes, and carry a small explosive payload, according to Western intelligence. It's not immediately clear how many Iranian-made drones Russia had in it's arsenal.

☆ Moscow and other Russian cities are scaling back or canceling New Year parties to spend the money attacking Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's military is still struggling with a number of problems on the frontlines in Ukraine. As a result, some Russian cities have canceled or scaled down their New Year's celebrations. Moscow is still holding a New Year celebration — but it will not include fireworks, its mayor said. In Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said the capital would hold a toned-down celebration, forgoing the usual firework show and mass concert. Some Russian activists last week accused him of spending billions on Russia's military while many of them freeze back home, The Daily Beast reported.

☆ Russian state-owned bank VTB hit by largest DDoS attack in its history
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummarySummary Companies This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in UkraineMOSCOW, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Russia's No. 2 bank VTB (VTBR.MM) was hit by the largest cyber attack in its history, it said on Tuesday, warning of temporary difficulties in accessing its mobile app and website, but assuring customers that their data remained safe. "The bank's technological infrastructure is under an unprecedented cyber attack from abroad," VTB said in a statement. VTB said the majority of attacks had come from abroad, but that it was particularly concerned by traffic from Russian IP addresses. It said it would hand over all identified Russian IP addresses to law enforcement.

☆ A $200m superyacht seized from Putin's apparent choice for a Ukrainian puppet leader is being sold at auction, with Ukraine keeping the proceeds
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The yacht of pro-Kremlin Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk is being sold by Ukraine. Medvedchuk was said to be Vladimir Putin's top choice for a puppet leader in Ukraine. He was also believed to be Vladimir Putin's top choice for a puppet leader to replace Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the event Russia successfully overthrew the Ukrainian government. While Croatia seized the yacht in March, police only searched it on November 19 after a search warrant from the US justice department was approved, according to the Croatian Jutarnji list. It added that it's also searching for a $540 million yacht, which is owned by an unnamed Russian oligarch.

☆ It'll take months for the impact on Russian oil from the EU price cap to feed through – and how bad it is depends on these 3 things, PIMCO says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Zahra Tayeb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

It will be months before we know the real impact of the EU price cap on Russian oil, PIMCO said. These include how many ships Russia can procure and how many loaders abide by the rules. A European Union ban on seaborne Russia oil imports came in alongside the price cap Monday. Meanwhile, tanker charter prices are sky-high for ships willing to transport Russian oil amid sweeping sanctions, and Middle East and Asian buyers are opportunistically snapping up aging oil tankers to ship Russian fuel. Sharenow said the third thing to watch for is when sanctions on refined Russian oil products like diesel begin in February.

☆ Attacks on Russian air bases will have psychological impact- Western officials
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Michael Holden | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Attacks on airfields deep inside Russia will have struck a powerful psychological blow, senior Western officials said on Tuesday, saying it meant Moscow would have to think much more carefully about how to keep its long-range bombers safe. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attacks but has celebrated them, and Russia retaliated with a "massive strike on Ukraine's military control system". The senior Western officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the strikes were the deepest inside Russia since its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. PARTNERSHIP WITH IRANRussia has used the bombers in its campaign since October to destroy Ukraine's energy grid, attacks that the Western officials said reflected Russian President Vladimir Putin's growing desperation. Military analysts see the drone strikes on Russia as a response to its attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure.

☆ Russia's service sector contracts for second month running -PMI
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for Russian services climbed to 48.3 after hitting an eight-month low of 43.7 a month earlier - but remained below the crucial 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction. The latest PMI surveys - closely watched indicators of economy performance - show signs that Russian firms are tentatively recovering from the initial economic blow. A sister survey published last week showed Russia's manufacturing industry expanded at its fastest pace in almost six years during November. Export orders fell faster in November than a month earlier, S&P Global said, while domestic demand remained weak, with employment levels falling and prices for supplies and logistics on the rise. Reporting by Jake Cordell; Editing by Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Russian oil just got hit with sanctions and a price cap after months of lead up. Here's what it means and what happens next.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

If you take anything away from today's newsletter, let it be this: As of today, Russian oil faces a new European Union embargo, as well as a price cap. EU leaders have been debating a price cap for months, but on Friday agreed to a $60-a-barrel level. Some analysts predict Russian oil exports could drop by 1 million barrels per day, or about 20% of its seaborne volume. She told me over a video call from London that, ultimately, oil markets probably won't react dramatically in either direction. What do you think is the most likely outcome of the new sanctions on Russian oil?

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