Four years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian economy is showing clear signs of structural exhaustion. The contours of a genuine economic endgame are coming into view for Russia. This is the finding of a new Kiel Report published by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics.
It’s an enormous country with an abundance of natural resources. It was always going to take a fair amount of time before they got desperate. Now they are, and it’s not going well, hence the endless missile and drone barrage.
They lost their momentum on the ground a while back, and now they’re reduced to holding what they can and hope they can break the Ukrainian morale with civilian casualties. There’s nothing new there. They’re using the same tactics they used in Chechnya all over again. The only difference is the weaponry used.
You don’t have to tell me, tell everyone who made the claim
I live about an hour from the Russian border. I know people on the other side. I can read Russian well enough to follow their news since we’re probably fairly high up on the list of targets if this goes really wrong. Not that that would end well for Russia, but they’re not exactly behaving rationally atm.
I know what it really looks like inside Russia. Can you claim the same, or do you just like to spread misinformation?
What the F are you talking about you dumbass? I am AGREEING WITH YOU
You are, huh? Where?
You didn’t answer my question.
Maybe look up the phrase someone is using, in this case “you don’t have to tell me” before you start to make accusations.
And do you really want me to answer whether I like to spread misinformation?
Yeah, no :)
In that case, do you want to disclose where you’re getting your information from?
I’m asking because it really does look like you’re simply trying to push your opinions as fact.
Do you understand Russian? Can you read it? Do you know anyone inside Russia?
Edit; For the record, I’ve lost three good friends in Ukraine so far, and a fourth is missing, so I assume she’s gone as well. Do you have any idea what’s really going on in this war?
The only thing I stated as a fact is they’re ramping up ballistic missile attacks, which is data from the CSIS, a source I have already provided a few times in this thread.
The other things I said are “I will believe it when I see it”
And “this sounds like”
Which is clearly a phrase to voice an opinion. Now THAT is a fact.
And why would I need to understand Russian? All Russia is sending out is disnformation.
What makes you think I don’t understand what’s going on in this war. Please use direct quotes from my comment where I have claimed things as fact that are untrue.
There are other sources than their media, which indeed is full of propaganda. Even they are slowly starting to sour at the war in general at this point in time, though. More than one host has openly questioned the war at this point. The (pathetically small) middle class is also not particularly happy at the progress and rations they now have to endure, and even less so since their sons are next to get to go play in the meatgrinder. These are things I’ve heard firsthand from Russians.
Those with family here come over the border to buy groceries and fuel any chance they get. It’s not unusual to see some Russian buy 20 cucumbers and as much flour and milk he can carry, for example. Also, basic medicine is popular because they simply do not have any domestic availability for these things. If that’s not an indicator of how bad it is, I don’t know what you’re thinking.
If you can’t speak Russian, I still wonder why you think you have any real knowledge about how things are inside Russia. Sure, they’re shooting their missile reserves (and the really expensive ones at that), but that is something they can’t keep up indefinitely.
Lastly, the conscription is extremely unpopular inside Russia, although few dare to speak out loudly, for now. That is also something that they can’t do indefinitely without completely destroying their population.
I find it pretty arrogant that you think you know the situation on the ground based on an article or two that you happened to come across. I can ensure you that this missile barrage is an act of desperation, nothing more.
Their oil production is bad enough that they have to import refined fuel. Think about that for a minute and come back to tell me shit hasn’t hit the fan, I dare you.