Events in Russia

[iamthatis]

John Helmer with a sober analysis of Russia's economy, focusing on high consumer inflation and the infamous Nabiullina, as well as Putin's balancing act of trying to appease voters, the General Staff, and the oligarchs. There are also proposed solutions, such as curtailing speculation on the rouble and legislating lending streams to manufacturing.

COST OF POTATOES, COST OF BLOOD – WHEN INFLATION IS LETHAL

by John Helmer, Moscow @bears_with No government can survive when it fails to control the cost in blood on the battlefield and the cost of p

johnhelmer.net

 

[Ca.]

Ukrainian Drones Attack Russian Infrastructure. With a bit of help from the usual suspects

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882545057565466782

Fire reported at oil refinery in Russia's Ryazan Oblast amid drone strike

A fire erupted at the Ryazan Oil Refinery in Russia after a mass drone attack targeting several regions, Russian Telegram channels reported on Jan. 23.

kyivindependent.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882550599230599331

But as you said, there may not be a choice, but to go with Medvedev, or not enough time. He appears to be a default option if there would be a need for a quick and controllable change of power. And he also has the required experience. If it's true that there is a strong and capable "Putin's team", then having Medvedev as a head won't be a tragedy. I trully hope that there is a capable and trained team, and that Putin doesn't hold all the "keys" by himself.

I have to wonder if the Team is all systems go

Today, 09:22
Medvedev discusses increasing production of air defense means with special commission
The issues of ensuring protection of industrial infrastructure facilities and the storage facilities were discussed at the meeting as well

MOSCOW, January 23. /TASS/. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev has discussed increasing production of Russian air defense means and enhancing protection of industrial and other facilities against enemy attacks at a meeting of the special group of the military-industrial commission in the Bryansk Region.

"We will discuss the issues of ensuring protection of industrial infrastructure facilities and the storage facilities of the Federal Agency for State Reserves," he said in a video published on the VKontakte social network.

He noted that during a working visit to Russia’s borderline Bryansk Region "during a meeting of the special group of the Russian military and industrial commission, we reviewed the issues of additionally increasing production of air defense means in order to protect civilian facilities and the facilities of industrial and military infrastructure."

Medvedev also pointed out that he visited a chemical plant in Bryansk which earlier was attacked "by various munitions and drones." "It was necessary to check out the situation there," he explained, adding that the plant continues fulfilling the state procurement order.

According to him, members of the commission earlier agreed to return to the matter and quite recently he reported on it to the Russian president who issued "relevant directions.".
Tags

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882521340370198653

 

[Evan]

"Liberal" is becoming a slur in America
24.01.2025

Iskender Dugin

Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential elections, the inauguration process and the events in the US following the transfer of power show that we are witnessing a rapid conservative revolution in the US. The value system is changing in a direction almost diametrically opposed to its previous trajectory. The principles declared by Trump and his team, together with their first steps, are completely at odds with the left-liberal ideology that supports the orientation, strategies and actions of the globalists.

Essentially, what is happening today is a profound transformation and even a division within the West, divided into two poles. One of these poles remains left-liberal and globalist. This was embodied by Biden and almost all of his predecessors, including Republican George W. Bush Jr., who offered no alternative to the left-liberal agenda.

The second pole is Trump and Trumpism itself. This is conservative America, which completely rejects left-liberal ideology, defending instead right-conservative principles. In particular, it is no longer even right-liberal, but distinctly right-conservative, because many representatives of the Trumpist camp speak of post-liberal values and openly reject liberalism as such.

The word "liberal" is becoming a slur in America. These changes are happening so dynamically and rapidly that many people have not yet grasped how significant these transformations are for both the West as a whole and American society in particular.

Globalist left-liberal values are being replaced by traditional values. There is a shift from liberal progressivism to conservatism and even traditionalism. In fact, Trump and the Trumpists are promoting a value system that is closely aligned with the system declared by Russia. In this context, Putin’s Decree No. 809 on traditional values, Russia’s ban on the promotion of perversions and gender politics, the emphasis on patriotism, the prioritization of the spiritual over the material, and many other fundamental principles are now being implemented by Trump.

What is striking is how quickly he implemented these changes. Not so long ago, those who held such views were completely ostracized, ostracized under the so-called cancel culture and labeled with provocative labels such as “canceled,” “far-right,” “fascist,” etc. But after Trump came to power, they suddenly found themselves at the center of political and social discourse. The support for right-wing conservatives and traditionalists in American society is overwhelming. Unlike Trump’s first term, this has now become a significant socio-political trend.

It is very important for us Russians to understand how to act in this emerging situation. One of the fundamental aspects of our civilizational identity - our defiance of globalization - is now, in a sense, being co-opted by the Trumpists. Against this background, we no longer appear as pioneers or pioneers, with the dynamism, determination, extravagance and courage of the changes that are emerging in the United States.

No, we are not giving up our leadership in this area, which remains one of our greatest strengths: the proclamation of traditional values, the rejection of gender politics, and many other good and important initiatives that Russia has adopted in recent years. However, we have not succeeded in bringing vitality and dynamism to our own approach to identity, traditional values, and conservative ideals.

Our process has been long, hesitant and full of constant retreats, concessions and concessions to liberalism. Moreover, it is clear that a significant part of our elite has been forced to accept the policy change towards traditional values, perceiving it as something temporary and formal, with the hope that it will soon be over.

This is why our deep conservative pivot today feels muffled and uncertain, as if it were happening in a muffled and half-hearted way. In reality, we must boldly introduce these ideas, presenting them in an engaging and vivid way. This includes creative media formats, new television programs, debates, art, and more.

It is essential that we are not afraid of anything, that we defend our values, interests and ideals, and that we defend our identity. The emphasis and implementation of Decree Law No. 809 in every aspect is certainly commendable. However, it seems that we have not yet fired up the ruling class with these traditional values. Most of them seem to have been done out of duty. Those who are charged with this responsibility either partially believe in the necessity of this value change or do not believe at all, they only pretend to agree. This is obvious and clear - especially when compared to the dynamic, bold conservative transformations of Trumpism. Therefore, we should not lose momentum under any circumstances.

On the contrary, we must raise our conservative-ideological strategy to a fundamentally new level. We must fearlessly declare our values, interests and ideals, defend our identity and speak more about the greatness of the Russian people, our Empire and the importance of Orthodoxy. In doing so, we must emphasize that, in addition to the Russian people who constitute the state, our Empire also has a place of honor for our other glorious Eurasian nations. And besides Orthodoxy, which is our primary and fundamental religion, there are other traditional beliefs.

And yet we continue to bow, apologize and make excuses. This is not an honorable trait. Enough of this left-liberal, Western, secular, modernist and postmodernist nonsense that even the Americans have abandoned. We are Russians; God is with us! We preserve our traditional values and do not need any WHO directives or capitalist procedures that we have been subject to since the 1990s. Let's build Great Russia, establish our state, revive and restore the Empire in all its glory and power. We must ruthlessly fight against nihilistic tendencies, perversions, rot and corruption that plague society.

It is time to gather our strength, instill our patriotic reforms and return to traditional values with renewed dynamism. To achieve this, we need both the rotation of the elite (perhaps through the creation of an analogue of the American DOGE - Department of Government Efficiency - currently headed by Elon Musk) and the unleashing of the creative potential of ordinary people, our entire nation. Without this, we cannot be truly convincing even to ourselves.

Otherwise, we risk losing the brilliance, avant-garde nature and relevance of our advantages and unique strengths. Not that they will disappear, but that they may be overshadowed or surpassed by those who not only will not be our friends or allies, but will use their conservative turn to strengthen their own global hegemony.

Here, it is crucial that we draw a clear line between what we embrace and applaud in Trumpism and what remains a force of opposition. If Trump succeeds in making America “great again,” as he promises, then we have no choice but to make sure we do the same for Russia. We don’t need an acronym like MAGA, but we must awaken from a long social and cultural slumber and revive Russia’s greatness in every sphere. Either we rise now, leap into the future, or we face a difficult reckoning.

 

[Evan]

Sorry, I didn’t know how to attach a link to X with the translation. Here’s the original link in Russian:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882803535542108252

 

[SummerLite]

"Liberal" is becoming a slur in America
24.01.2025

This is unfortunate, another word that will need to be rescued at some point. Before those of liberal character where artificially pushed so far to the left (and globalism) they where decent in their values over all. I often think of the psychological studies that have been done on people who fall into the categories of conservative or liberal and they both have redeeming qualities that are appreciated in society and are necessary. Liberals are often the artists as an example. Common sense is what needs to be restored mainly.

I appreciate what this man has to say. Strength to the Russian People! The American people where pushed very hard in the last 4 years which caused this dramatic uprising of the Trumpists, so a pressure was there the Russians don't have at the moment. I would like to see our two countries as allies and friends. May The Golden Age come to Russia and America!

 

[youlik]

Sorry, I didn’t know how to attach a link to X with the translation. Here’s the original link in Russian:

"Liberal" Amerika'da bir hakaret haline geliyor
24.01.2025

İskender Dugin

Donald Trump'ın başkanlık seçimlerindeki zaferi, göreve başlama süreci ve iktidarın devredilmesinin ardından ABD'de yaşananlar, ABD'de hızlı bir muhafazakar devrim sürecine tanık olduğumuzu gösteriyor.… pic.twitter.com/rgiJiDk4K9— Adnan DEMİR (@adnancanidir) January 24, 2025

I do not know where you got this from, in the sense that I do not use Twitter, instagram, telegram, etc., but what you have given is not in Russian at all, but rather in Turkish. I just clarified.

Spoiler: Russian spelling

Я не знаю откуда вы это взяли, в том смысле, что я не пользуюсь твиттерами-инстаграммами-телеграммами и пр., но то что вы привели совсем не на русском, а скорее на турецком языке. Просто уточнил.

 

[Evan]

I do not know where you got this from, in the sense that I do not use Twitter, instagram, telegram, etc., but what you have given is not in Russian at all, but rather in Turkish. I just clarified.

Spoiler: Russian spelling

Я не знаю откуда вы это взяли, в том смысле, что я не пользуюсь твиттерами-инстаграммами-телеграммами и пр., но то что вы привели совсем не на русском, а скорее на турецком языке. Просто уточнил.

It was quoted from Dugin by some other source, who I presume was Turkish.

I do not know where you got this from, in the sense that I do not use Twitter, instagram, telegram, etc., but what you have given is not in Russian at all, but rather in Turkish. I just clarified.

Spoiler: Russian spelling

Я не знаю откуда вы это взяли, в том смысле, что я не пользуюсь твиттерами-инстаграммами-телеграммами и пр., но то что вы привели совсем не на русском, а скорее на турецком языке. Просто уточнил.

It was pinned on Dugin’s page on X

 

[Ca.]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884654247024714191

The European Union is preparing a sanctions package targeting Russian aluminum exports while the U.S. continues efforts to enforce its latest restrictions on Russian oil shipments. Despite new Treasury sanctions blacklisting several Russian tankers on January 10, Moscow has continued shipping crude to India using these vessels, testing its ability to bypass Western restrictions. At least five shipments of Arctic and Pacific crude are en route to India, which has stated it will only accept oil from sanctioned tankers if loaded before January 10 and arriving before February 27. However, all five shipments departed after the cut-off date

While Western measures aim to curb Russia’s revenue from oil exports, Moscow has maintained shipment levels, shifting more crude to Asian markets, particularly India, China, and Turkey. Russia’s crude exports in the week ending January 26 rose by 11% to 3.07 million barrels per day, though overall shipments in early 2025 remain slightly below 2024 averages. A decline in oil prices has slightly reduced the total value of Russia’s exports, but its revenues remain significant, reaching $1.43 billion in the last recorded week.


Turkey has increased its imports of Russian oil, with shipments reaching a post-2022 invasion record of 730,000 barrels per day in mid-January. Meanwhile, Western officials continue monitoring Russian crude flows, particularly through ship-to-ship transfers, as Moscow seeks new ways to circumvent sanctions. European leaders are expected to push further measures, including potential restrictions on Russian aluminum exports, as part of their ongoing economic pressure campaign against Moscow.

"The Eurocratsare keeping busy digging a deeper hole for the bloc's economy".

Russian senators highlight growing risks of AI election interference
"The commission believes that apart from the subversive tools used in every election process in Russia, the use of artificial intelligence in the upcoming elections poses a special danger and growing risk," the document states
MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. The Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Commission on the Protection of State Sovereignty and Prevention of Interference in Domestic Affairs has noted the increasing threat of artificial intelligence technologies being used for election interference, according to an annual report.

"The commission believes that apart from <...> the subversive tools used in every election process in Russia, the use of artificial intelligence in the upcoming elections poses a special danger and growing risk," the document states.

Many countries "are coming to recognize that image synthesis technologies known as deepfakes clearly carry significant additional risks," the senators asserted.
Tags Russia's domestic policy


The European Commission said it is introducing duties on the import of certain agricultural products and fertilizers from Russia and Belarus
According to the statement, the transit of all agricultural products and fertilizers from Russia and Belarus to third countries will remain unaffected by the measures
BRUSSELS, January 28. /TASS/. The European Commission said it is introducing duties on the import of certain agricultural products and fertilizers from Russia and Belarus.

"The European Commission has adopted a proposal to impose tariffs on a number of agricultural products from Russia and Belarus, as well as on certain nitrogen-based fertilizers. The agricultural products affected by the new tariffs constitute 15% of agricultural imports from Russia in 2023 that had not yet been subject to increased tariffs. Once adopted by the Council, all agricultural imports from Russia would be the subject of EU tariffs," the European Council said in a statement.

According to the statement, the transit of all agricultural products and fertilizers from Russia and Belarus to third countries will remain unaffected by the measures.

HA

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884552682368573497

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884624126351958203

 

[Voyageur]

I would like to see our two countries as allies and friends. May The Golden Age come to Russia and America!

Agree with you, if only Americans knew it and let off the gaslighting, as Russian and American friendship has spanned centuries with much unfortunate meddling in-between.

 

[Possibility of Being]

Russian economist, academician and politician, former Minister of Foreign Economic Relations of the RF, former Advisor to the President of the RF, with long experience in Eurasian economic institutions, AND consistent critic of Russian Central Bank monetary policy, Sergei Glazyev has been appointed Deputy State Secretary of the Union State. He will also continue his work as the Academic Head of the University of the EurAsEC IPA.

From bielros.tv, machine-translated:

Economist and academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergei Glazyev was appointed to the post of Deputy Secretary of State of the Union State of Russia and Belarus. This position involves active participation in the development of financial relations between the two countries, which is an important step in strengthening economic relations.

Sergei Glazyev is known as a prominent economist with extensive experience in the field of economics and finance. The Russian statesman is the author of more than 300 scientific, educational and methodological works. Also Sergei Glazyev - Doctor of Economics (1991), professor (1999), corresponding member (2000) and member of the Academy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (2008).

[...]

The appointment of Sergei Glazyev to the post of deputy head of the Permanent Committee of the Union State opens up new prospects for deepening the integration and joint development of Russia and Belarus, which could have a positive impact on the economic situation in both countries.

Not wasting any time, already at work:

 

[Possibility of Being]

Another terrorist attack/ assassination in Moscow. This post may belong to the SVO thread, but it's too early to tell even though it has the usual Ua-made-murder marks.

Several individuals behind assassination of DPR Boxing Federation chief

The Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on charges of murdering two or more people, and illegal possession of arms

tass.com

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Several individuals were involved in the assassination of Armen Sarkisyan, head of the Boxing Federation of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), a spokesman for law enforcement agencies told TASS.

"According to preliminary data, the plot to kill Sarkisyan involved multiple people. They all had their designated roles. Some were tasked with keeping tabs on him, others with carrying out the explosion," he said.

Early on February 3, a deadly explosion shook the Alye Parusa residential complex in Moscow. According to preliminary reports, the blast targeted head of the DPR Boxing Federation Armen Sarkisyan. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later died. One more person was also killed and two others were wounded.

The Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on charges of murdering two or more people, and illegal possession of arms.

Very quick translation (browser in-built) from aif.ru

Blood feud? The assassination attempt on Sargsyan may be connected with his daughter

On Monday, February 3, an explosive device went off in the «Scarlet Sails» residential complex. Head of the DPR Boxing Federation Armen Sargsyan the explosion tore off his leg and he died in intensive care. Last year, Sargsyan's name appeared in the press in connection with the conflict. Then Sargsyan sent his armed guards to defend his daughter’s honor Emilia.

Courier or utility worker?

The emergency occurred in the elite residential complex «Scarlet Sails», located on the banks of the Moscow River in the north-west of Moscow. At the moment when the head of the DPR Boxing Federation and his guards entered the elevator hall, an explosive device went off. According to operational services, its power was up to 1 kg of TNT equivalent.

As a result of the terrible explosion, Sargsyan's leg was torn off, one of his guards was killed, the rest were seriously injured. All survivors were sent to intensive care. A few hours later, Sargsyan died without regaining consciousness.

Law enforcement officers believe that the bomb could have been brought into the house by a courier or an employee of a utility organization. Because it’s easy for strangers to get into the residential complex, where many famous personalities live, including the singer Anna Sedokova, leading Alla Dovlatov and a skater Sergei Zhorin, they couldn’t, he’s guarded, and concierges check everyone in the entrances. However, just as the security might not have noticed that someone left an unknown object in the elevator hall equipped with cameras, the investigation will look into it.

Patriot with a rich past

Sargsyan — is a well-known personality. Both in Moscow and in his native Donbass. He was born in the city of Gorlovka in 1978, and from early childhood he was involved in professional boxing. As the media wrote, after reaching adulthood, the young athlete entered the service of an influential Gorlovka businessman Yuri Ivanyushchenko, which controls the alcohol business, taxi drivers and rolled metal in the city. Subsequently, Sargsyan created a private security company in Gorlovka «Authority».

As the media wrote, by 2014 Sargsyan had become a very influential person in Gorlovka. He took the post of vice-president of the Gorlovka Boxing Federation and gained control over the leading enterprises of the region.

During the Maidan, it was Sargsyan’s fighters who dispersed Ukrainians who went to rallies against the authorities, both in Gorlovka and Donetsk, and in Kyiv. But after the events of 2014, Sargsyan left his hometown for many years. They say he went to Russian Crimea — to build his new business there, falling out of the media field for a long time.

And in 2022, when the SVO began, Sargsyan returned to his homeland. As the Donetsk press wrote, it was then that he founded the special unit «ArBat» — «Armenian Battalion», which brought together residents of Gorlovka with Armenian roots. He became its commander Hayk Gasparyan.

The name of Sargsyan, who has already become the head of the DPR Boxing Federation, appeared in the media last winter. In February, his daughter Emilia, a student at the Sechenov Medical University, drove her «Gelentvagen» with her boyfriend Ilya Dushka it was on Moscow's Plyushchikha Street that they got into an accident. On a narrow street, she collided with a «Lexus» car belonging to an MMA fighter Rasul Ochaev. His driver was driving Vitaly Chebotar.

As aif.ru wrote then, Emilia called her father, who was in Gorlovka that day. Armen ordered to send his guards to the scene of the accident. A few minutes later, «Toyota» arrived on Plyushchikha with two Sargsyan militants. And the shooting began. As a result, Ochaev and Sargsyan’s guards were wounded. It is unknown who started the shooting first. But Sargsyan said in an interview with the media that, according to his daughter, Ochaev was a car setter and extorted money from his daughter for alleged damage in an accident, which is why he sent his fighters to help her. The Khamovnichesky Court of Moscow sentenced Ochaev in December; he was given 3.5 years in prison for hooliganism with the use of weapons. Sargsyan's guards got away with it.

Is today's assassination attempt on Sargsyan connected with this story? The investigation will find out.

 

[Ca.]

The FSB prevented the terrorist attack at the station in Pskov – the radicals were eliminated

The FSB prevented a terrorist attack in Pskov, where citizens of one of the countries of Central Asia were going to blow up the railway station. This is reported by the Public Relations Center (CPS) of the department.

According to the FSB, these citizens were members of a cell of an international terrorist organization banned in Russia. It is specified that on the instructions of the emissary of the emissary who is abroad, they “tried to blow up the building of the railway station in Pskov”.

The attackers conducted reconnaissance of the area, bought components for the manufacture of an explosive device and have already begun its assembly. After the attack, they planned to escape to one of the countries of the Middle East.

“During the arrest, the terrorists put up armed resistance to the FSB of Russia and as a result were neutralized by retaliatory fire,” the FSB said.

At their place of residence were found firearms, ammunition, as well as parts of the explosive device. The investigative department of the FSB of Russia in the Pskov region opened a criminal under Part 1 of Article 30 para. 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Recall that in December it was reported that in 2024, law enforcement agencies and special services prevented in Russia 190 terrorist attacks, while 6 of them in educational institutions and crowded places.

At the same time, it was reported that the court in Dagestan for 2 months arrested 12 people in the case of the preparation of a major terrorist attack. According to the materials of the case, the suspects were in a terrorist group banned in Russia. They made improvised explosive devices that they wanted to use on objects of military units in the buildings of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB located in the republic.

A similar situation occurred in Dagestan at the end of November last year. Then local security forces detained two residents who planned to commit a terrorist attack in one of the state institutions of the republic.

In October 2024, unknown persons fired at employees of the center "E" in Ingushetia. Then, when the attack on the car of the deputy head of the center “E” of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the region of Adam Khamkhoev, a policeman and four civilians were killed.

In early August in Dagestan, a man fired at police officers during the verification of documents. After committing the crime, he had to hide, moving in the niqab. Then a 41-year-old native of the village of New Life of the Shali district of Chechnya Ali Demilkhanov was wanted.

On June 23, terrorist attacks also took place in Dagestan. Militants from automatic weapons fired at a synagogue and a church in Derbent and Makhachkala. Among the victims are 17 police officers and more than 40 victims. In addition, one of the dead is a priest. All the attackers were killed. Among the militants were the sons and nephew of the former head of the Sergokali district of the region Magomed Omarov.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1890048964151464176

 

[Ca.]

The T-80 gets a retooling of its gasoline turbines.

The T-80 is perhaps the best Russian tank when modernized to the BVM standard, but overhauling it takes a long time, and the diesel engines have already been modified multiple times, as the gas turbines, with several upgrades, for a new generation of more powerful and reliable turbines. Probably for this reason, the Ukrainians quickly adopted a diesel engine in their T-80UD variant.

Gas turbines do not seem to have been a worthwhile investment for the defense industry. The Abrams tanks have 40% higher maintenance costs due to this technology and emit so much heat that infantry cannot operate behind the vehicle.

This is why the T-72 remains the backbone of the Russian armored vehicle industry. It is extremely reliable, cheap, easy to maintain, and remarkably lightweight. The West has not developed anything comparable to the T-72 in decades of research.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1891161883635319045

https://twitter.com/x/status/1891535107585942001

they never had the slightest interest in a peaceful resolution to the war.

So why on earth would the Trump administration bother inviting these morons to peace negotiations?

(OSCE PC meeting, Vienna)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1891220875770228788

https://twitter.com/x/status/1891514554992963921

The trend towards the development of local Russian brands, supported by the state, will continue, the ministry stated
MOSCOW, February 17. /TASS/. The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade does not consider it relevant to encourage or promote the return of foreign brands that have left the Russian market - the vacated niches will continue to be filled by Russian brands, the ministry's press service told TASS.

"The task to somehow encourage or promote the return of foreign brands is not relevant. Those foreign brands that remained in Russia will continue their activities, and the vacated niches will continue to be filled by brands of Russian manufacturers," the ministry said.

The trend towards the development of local Russian brands, supported by the state, will continue, the ministry added.

As the ministry recalled, some foreign brands independently decided to leave Russia in 2022-2023, but this is an unfair practice. As a result, contractual lease obligations to shopping centers were violated, which led to a decrease in their occupancy. "Many loyal Russian consumers were also confronted with the fact that their favorite brands were no longer available," the ministry pointed out.

"But most importantly, we see that our Russian business was able not only to fill the vacant spaces in shopping centers in a very short time, but also to carry out a complete rebranding and adapt the concept of their business models. Now Russian brands dominate the leading shopping centers across the country," the ministry concluded, adding that not a single foreign brand had been "expelled" forecefully from the market.

 

[Ca.]

The FSB thwarts another attempted terror attack by Ukrainian special services on Russian infrastructure.

The FSB reported the detention of eight people in six regions of Russia. According to the special service, the detainees were involved in organizing and preparing acts of sabotage on the orders of Ukrainian special services.

As specified by the department, the perpetrators set fire to railway infrastructure facilities and planned terrorist attacks on Russian military facilities.

The detainees are aged between 20 and 30. Messengers and online advertisements about the possibility of making money quickly were used to attract them to subversive activities.- AN

https://twitter.com/x/status/1892827524524363933

Central Bank chief says Visa, Mastercard not contacted regulator on return to Russia
YEKATERINBURG, February 20. /TASS/. International payment systems Visa and Mastercard have not contacted the Bank of Russia regarding the issue of their return to the Russian market, the regulator’s chief Elvira Nabiullina told reporters, adding that it is too early to discuss it.

"No, they have not. I think it is too early to speak about it," she said when asked a respective question.

Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Financial Market Anatoly Aksakov told TASS earlier that Visa and Mastercard might return to the Russian market soon.

Visa and Mastercard left the Russian market in March 2022.


Western European brands didn’t leave Russia because they couldn’t handle competition or because someone blocked their profits. They left because their masters ordered them to—the political regimes of EU member states and the Brussels bureaucracy.

And since that’s the case, they should now be seen not as economic operators, but as tools of hostile regimes waging hybrid war against Russia. They agreed to this themselves. Some of these companies have been financing the killing of our citizens for three years.

What to do with these prodigal brands will be decided by professionals across all branches of power. Russian businesses will not be traded for French rags and Italian slippers. Our manufacturers must know that their contribution to the Special Military Operation will not be betrayed.

But given the propaganda war waged by Brussels’ liberal dictatorship against our history, one thing must be guaranteed:

Let Europe learn this once and for all—if a single word from their officials questions the results of World War II, the heroism of the Red Army, or the Soviet people’s role in defeating Nazism and fascism, their companies will feel the consequences. The same goes for the memory of our heroes of the SMO.

After all, Russia can live without Hugo Boss (which produced uniforms for the Nazis), without Coco Chanel (a Nazi agent in Paris), Cristóbal Balenciaga (who dressed Franco), and Christian Dior (who tailored dresses for Nazi generals’ wives). But without historical memory and a strong, independent economy? No.

So let them not be surprised if their profits suffer because of the insane comparisons of Russia to the Third Reich by Italy’s President Mattarella, or the ignorance of Germany’s Chancellor Scholz and France’s Foreign Minister Barrot regarding who really played the decisive role in defeating German National Socialism.

And by the way, Russia’s treatment of Western brands should also reflect how Russian journalists and media are treated abroad. If NATO-Europe mocks the memory of Andrey Stenin, Darya Dugina, or Vladlen Tatarsky, or fuels smear campaigns against Russian TV and radio—then their brands should receive no preferential treatment in Russia. They’ve grown too used to insulting us without consequences.

If they don’t respect the rule of law and have no conscience, then we must force them to respect us.

That’s not my quote. That’s Pushkin.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1892246513558114755

US Companies Took $324 Billion Hit by Quitting Russia: Here's Who Lost Most

Russian officials responsible for the economic aspect of Tuesday's Ukraine peace-focused talks in Riyadh have provided their US counterparts a chart detailing some $324 billion in losses suffered by US corporations that quit the Russian market. Here's a breakdown by sector, and info on the major...

sputnikglobe.com

(Updated: 12:09 GMT 18.02.2025)
Russian officials responsible for the economic aspect of Tuesday's Ukraine peace-focused talks in Riyadh have provided their US counterparts a chart detailing some $324 billion in losses suffered by American corporations that quit the Russian market. Here's a breakdown by sector, and info on the major losses of individual companies.

Sectoral Losses:​

$123 billion in IT and media

$94 billion in the consumer goods sector

$71 billion in finance

$26 billion in industry

$10 billion in energy
Source: Figures provided to Russian media by Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) chief Kirill Dmitriev.

Biggest Losers?​

Information compiled from publicly available reports and company statements over the past 2.5 years shows that:

Exxon suffered a $4 billion write-down on its Russia-related businesses.

McDonald’s recorded a $1.4 billion non-cash write-off in 2022 attributed to its Russia exit.

General Motors lost $657 million.

Google’s Russian subsidiary declared bankruptcy in 2023 with debts totaling $587 million. A Russian court has fined the company $2.5 undecillion rubles for restricting Russian media channels on YouTube.

Whirlpool recorded $400 million in Russia-related losses.

Coca-Cola lost $195.4 million.

Disney reported $195 million in losses from “depreciation of intangible assets” in Russia in 2022.

IBM recorded $300 million in losses in 2022, blaming Russia and inflation for 3,900 slashed jobs.

Starbucks suffered undisclosed losses after closing its 130 Russian coffee shops, accounting for nearly 1% of global sales.

Microsoft lost $126 million.

Ford took a $122 million hit.

Nvidia lost $100 million.

Apple recorded $79.3 million in losses.

Xerox faced $80 million in losses in Q4 2023.

Adobe reported $75 million from lost payments in Russia and Belarus.

Netflix cut off 700,000 Russian subscribers (about $55.1 million in potential losses, although some Russians switched their accounts to other regions).

John Deere halted production at a 100,000 sq. m facility it had pumped over $40 million into from 2005-2022. Caterpillar, which left in 2024, saw Russia earnings fall from $64.5 million in 2021 to $2.3 million in 2023 before liquidation.

Visa and MasterCard recorded $35 and $30 million in losses, respectively in 2022.

HP wrote off $23 million.

Cisco went $20.3 million into the red.

Oracle lost $13.7 million.

Western Union reported a 2% hit to 2022 revenues due to loss of the Russian and Belarusian markets.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

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