Putin’s foreign friends Paid Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s long-standing foreign friends and how they are faring amid the Ukraine war. We also look at mercenary company Wagner’s new political ally, and the outlawing of Meduza, Russia’s top independent media outlet. Putin’s foreign friends
Putin’s foreign friends complain of bullying, wonder why they are “toxic” Paid Members Public
German newspaper Die Zeit last week published an interview with Matthias Warnig, head of the company that was due to take charge of the never-opened Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Europe. Warnig, who worked for East Germany’s Stasi in the 1970s, got to know Vladimir Putin
Putin’s got plenty of money to keep fighting Paid Members Public
One of the main aims of Western sanctions against Russia is to reduce Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ability to pay for his war in Ukraine. Since the invasion, Russia has lost access to about half of its reserves of gold and foreign currency — while economic links between firms, in
Putin won’t run out of money for his war any time soon Paid Members Public
One of the main aims of Western sanctions against Russia is to reduce Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ability to pay for his war in Ukraine. Since the invasion, Russia has lost access to about half of its reserves of gold and foreign currency — while economic links between firms, in
Russian oil price fall shows no sign of stopping Paid Members Public
Prices for Russian oil continue to drop and they are now about $46 a barrel — that’s almost half the price of crude benchmark Brent. At the same time, Russian oil exports have reached their highest level since April and Russian oil companies are preparing for Feb. 5 when the
The war reaches Moscow with the installation of anti-aircraft systems Paid Members Public
Videos that emerged on social media last week showed anti-aircraft defenses being installed on the roofs of buildings in downtown Moscow. Officially, nobody is commenting on this, but the clips were rapidly spread by — among others — pro-war and propaganda Telegram channels. In addition to any military need for the weapons,
Russia’s IT exodus and the Kremlin’s futile efforts to reverse it Paid Members Public
The outflow of IT professionals from Russia continues 11 months after the invasion of Ukraine. About 100,000 of them left last year — about 10% of the country’s total. So far, efforts by the authorities to lure them back have been largely unsuccessful. * In late December, the Ministry of
IT exodus Paid Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is on the ongoing flood of IT professionals leaving Russia and some unsuccessful attempts to tempt them back. We also look at the very public installation of air defense systems in Moscow and the dropping price of Russian oil. Russia’s IT exodus and
