Putin is now staring into the breakup of the Russian Federation.

 In my last blog post  (1 September 2026) I wrote that,

 "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's main concern is that the US Senate,

" … has passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill that exposes India and other major buyers of Russian energy to tariffs of up to 100 per cent, raising concerns over potential trade implications.

The legislation, titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, was passed by an 86-11 vote and now moves to the House of Representatives, where some lawmakers have raised objections to its tariff provisions." (India West: 29 August 2026) (my emphasis)

If this Bill passes in the US Congress, given the fact that the late US Senator Lindsey Graham designed it, the rather cynical figleaf of 'peace' behind which Modi seeks to hide his 'lucrative' oil trade with Putin, and which is currently bankrolling Putin's war with Ukraine, will dissolve. 

Now recall that in May of this year (18 May 2026), as reported by The New Indian Express,

"India will continue importing Russian crude oil irrespective of the status of US sanctions waivers, a senior government official said on Monday, asserting that the country’s energy security and economic interests remain the top priority amid rising global fuel prices and tensions in West Asia." (The New Indian Express : 18 May 2026) (my emphasis)

Fast forward to today and Shubhajit Roy (left) informs us that, 

"Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to move from “endless war” to “end of war”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (right) said in Kyiv on Thursday that stopping purchase of Russian oil will not “dissolve” the conflict, and underlined the
need for “dialogue and diplomacy”. He said India was ready to “help in any manner” to end the Russia-Ukraine war." (The Indian Express : 4 September 2026) (my emphasis)

 

India Today: 44 September 2026 : YouTube

The fact that, as reported by Phil Flynn (left),

"While oil prices are on the verge of posting a two-week gain, as we look ahead oil traders might start to worry about a coming oil glut that the back end of the oil curve is starting to price in.
… 
And this week it was confirmed that we were getting more oil out of the Strait of Hormuz that people knew and its why the predictions of $100 dollar plus a barrel of oil have not come true." (Investing.com : 21 August 2026) (my emphasis)

rather gives the 'diplomatic' lie to the mantra of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that,

" ... the country’s (India's) energy security and economic interests remain the top priority amid rising global fuel prices and tensions in West Asia, and that “dialogue and diplomacy” is required to end Putin's war with Ukraine. (ibid The New Indian Express)

Narendra Modi receives a hefty discount for his oil imports from Putin, and it is in his interests to continue doing so irrespective of Putin's manic bombing of Ukraine's civilians.

And whilst Modi continues with his mantra of "dialogue and diplomacy", Putin is dismissing all and sundry, including Trump, in negotiating an end to his war with Ukraine.

As Ukrainska Pravda reports Putin stating that,

"First and foremost, Russia and Ukraine must reach an agreement between themselves [on ending the war – ed.]. Other countries are ready to support and help. And not only the United States… China, for example, constantly draws attention to this and is helping to ensure that the problem is resolved, primarily through peaceful means.

But still, first and foremost, this problem must be resolved by the countries involved in the conflict: Russia and Ukraine. This is the right approach." (Ukrainska Pravda : 3 September 2026) (my emphasis)

Thumping his chest with puny fists; once again, Putin is simply re-iterating his demand for the unconditional surrender of Ukraine, even as :-

• the Russian economy is imploding, 
• the Ukraine army is pushing the Russian army out of Ukraine, 
• and the war has been brought into the homes of the Russian people.

But it is not only Narendra Modi hiding behind his mantra of "dialogue and diplomacy"

Elon Musk hides behind his mantra of, "Putin escalating his war with Ukraine" if his Starlink system is used to aid Ukraine in identifying from where in Russia Putin is releasing his missiles towards the cities of Ukraine.

As Palash Ghosh (left) reports,

"On Aug. 26, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree awarding an Order of Freedom medal, one of the nation’s highest state honors, to Elon Musk. The medal is the latest and least subtle instrument in a monthslong campaign to persuade the SpaceX CEO to let Ukrainian drones use Starlink over Russian territory, which would allow Ukraine to hunt the mobile launchers now hitting its cities. A week has passed, and Musk has not acknowledged it yet.
… 
Musk cannot favour one side over the other in this war, as he also has high-level contacts in Moscow.
… 
Musk’s alleged ties to the Kremlin prompted some U.S. Democrats to call for an investigation into these links, given Musk’s status as a major defense contractor with top-secret security clearance." (Observer: 3 September 2026) (my emphasis)

Let us remind ourselves that in 2022, when Putin invaded Ukraine with his Russian army,

"Musk 'warned' about Putin using a nuclear bomb if Ukraine's Crimea was ever attempted to be re-taken from Putin's Russia by Ukraine's army" (blog entry : 4 October 2022)

  

 Hindustan Times : 18 October 2022 

Let us also remind ourselves that in my blog entry of 23 August 2023, I wrote that,

" It is now flooding the internet ether that the "Privileged Apartheid Reared South African (PARSA)", Elon Musk, 

" ... considered [last year] pulling Starlink satellite internet from Ukraine after having a “great conversation with Putin,” according to a former Pentagon official" (Josh Salisbury: Evening Standard: 22 August 2023) (my emphasis) (cf also: Kate Nicholson: Huffington Post : 22 August 2023)." (blog entry : 23 August 2023)

Is it any surprise that, "A week has passed, and Musk has not yet acknowledged receiving an 'Order Of Freedom' medal from President Zelensky?  

Whilst Putin may be basking in the glow of the tacit (and critical) support he is currently receiving from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Elon Musk, he is nonetheless also anxiously glancing over his shoulder at the imploding Russian economy and the inevitable return of Crimea back to Ukraine.

Putin is now also staring into the breakup of the Russian Federation.

  

 (to be continued)

Putin is now skating on very thin ice.

In my blog entry of  22/08/2016, I wrote that, 

"As reported by Olga Ivshina and Dmitry Bulin (19 August 2016),

"Russian President Vladimir Putin's new chief of staff Anton Vaino has reached the top shrouded in mystery.

He does not appear to have given any press interviews in his past career, and his official biography reveals little, beyond a steady rise over many years of service to the Kremlin." (BBC News : 19 August 2016) (my empahsis)

Even more disconcerting,

"Mr Vaino argues that the economy and society in general have become too complex to manage by traditional means. Governments need to seek new ways of regulating and controlling them.

The article describes a new device called a "nooscope" which, it says, can tap into global consciousness and "detect and register changes in the biosphere and in human activity". (ibid Ivshina and Bulin)

Fast forward to today and, as reported by Reuters,

"President Vladimir Putin inspected on Thursday the open sarcophagus of medieval warrior prince Dmitry Donskoy, whose remains were ​recently uncovered during restoration work at Moscow's Cathedral of ‌the Archangel.
… 
A prominent figure in Russian history, Donskoy oversaw the construction of the first stone Kremlin fortress, ⁠increased ​the territory of Muscovy, and routed ​forces of the Mongol horde in a famous battle near the Don river ​in 1380." (Reuters: 20 August 2026) (my emphasis)

 

WION : 20 August 2026: YouTube

Putin's invasion and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea into the Russian Federation in 2014, and his subsequent invasion and military occupation of swathes of Ukraine's Donbas and Lughansk, eerily mirrors prince Dmitry Donskoy's territorial ambitions, and his battle with Mongol hordes in 1380.

Reinforcing this identity of Putin with prince Dmitry Donskoy of 1380 we have the [alleged] "nooscope" of Putin's former Chief of Staff Anton Vaino which, it says, can tap into global consciousness and "detect and register changes in the biosphere and in human activity" (ibid Olga Ivshina and Dmitry Bulin)

With this demented mindset of Putin, Bobins Vayalil Abraham reports that,

"Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe, who on Tuesday, August 25, made an unannounced visit to Moscow, has shared his bleak assessment of the state of the Russia-Ukraine war with his Russian counterparts.
… 
The Wall Street Journal and CBS News reported CIA Director Ratcliffe's visit was aimed to dissuade Russia from attacking NATO members." (MINT : 28 August 2026) (my emphasis)

 

 CBS News: 28 August 2026: YouTube

It also included a call to end the war in Ukraine.

 

Even Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as reported by Priyanka Salve (left),

"Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged Russia to end the Ukraine war and for a cessation of hostilities during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit on Monday." (CNBC : 31 August 2026) (my emphasis) (cf also: Financial Express: 1 September 2026)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's main concern is that the US Senate,

" … has passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill that exposes India and other major buyers of Russian energy to tariffs of up to 100 per cent, raising concerns over potential trade implications.

The legislation, titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, was passed by an 86-11 vote and now moves to the House of Representatives, where some lawmakers have raised objections to its tariff provisions." (India West: 29 August 2026) (my emphasis)

If this Bill passes in the US Congress, given the fact that the late US Senator Lindsey Graham designed it, the rather cynical figleaf of 'peace' behind which Modi seeks to hide his 'lucrative' oil trade with Putin, and which is currently bankrolling Putin's war with Ukraine, will dissolve.

Meanwhile, as reported by Lauran O'Toole (left),

"Russian President Vladimir Putin fears for his own survival if he fails to achieve the Kremlin's minimum objective of capturing the entirety of the Donbas. He told sources close to him: "They're going to hang me", a Kremlin insider told The Economist.
… 
Putin has been grappling with elevated inflation and a struggling economy as it deals with the fallout from sanctions and attacks from Ukraine. Russia's economy is slowing sharply, with the highest interest rates in two decades driving up debt levels." (Daily Express on MSN: 31 August 2026) (my emphasis)

 

Anna From Ukraine: 31 August 2026: YouTube 

For Putin, therefore, the only immediate way in which he can full fill his demented idea of following in the footsteps of  prince Dmitry Donskoy of 1380 is to either use his 'nuclear' option or to threaten Britain and the EU countries belonging to NATO.

The critical question is :-

"Is Putin's 'hybrid' war against Britain and EU NATO members a dangerous prelude to his pressing the 'nuclear' button as Ukraine continues to demolish not only the Russian army that invaded Ukraine, but also Ukraine's successful and ongoing demolishing of the Russian armament industry?

According to the Institute for the Study of War,

"Russia may conduct air, missile, or drone strikes or a limited incursion against one or more Baltic states to test and seek to break NATO’s resolve to invoke and respond under Article 5." (Institute for the Study of War: 27 August 2029) (my emphasis)

Furthermore,

"Several unidentified drones entered Moldovan airspace on the night of August 26 to 27, demonstrating that the Kremlin continues to accept the risk that Russia’s war against Ukraine can cause damage to other states, including Moldova and NATO states bordering Ukraine." (ibid  Institute for the Study of War)

By pushing the envelope in his 'hybrid' war with NATO, Putin is skating on very thin ice. 

UPDATE : 1 September 2026 : GMT 19:46 

James Gregory and Jessica Parker (left) have just reported that,

"Germany has said Russia was responsible for last month's drone attack at Leipzig's airport.

A drone carrying an explosive device was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany, close to Ukrainian cargo planes, on 4 August.
… 
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who was standing beside Dobrindt at a press conference in Berlin, said he would order the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn, and the contract for the Russian House in Berlin will also be terminated - which many observers have said has been used for espionage and to spread Russian propaganda." (BBC News : 1 September 2026) (my emphasis)

Putin is, indeed, skating on thin ice.  

  

 (to be continued)

Putin is beyond redeeming the power he wielded for the last 26 years

Yesterday, Francis Louie C. Añiga reported that,

"British Prime Minister Andy Burnham (left) has authorised the release of classified missile technology to Ukraine, clearing defence firm MBDA to share restricted information relating to British-made components of the Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missile during his first official visit to Kyiv on Ukraine's Independence Day.

Moscow responded within hours of the announcement. In a press briefing, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the action crossed a critical line." (International Business Times: 24 August 2026) (my emphasis)

 

BBC News: 24 August 2026 : YouTube 

Added to which, as reported by Firstpost 2 days earlier (22 August 2026) ,

"French President Emmanuel Macron (left) has announced that France will provide Ukraine with additional interceptor missiles following a deadly Russian drone attack on Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown.

Ukrainian authorities said Russian forces launched two waves of drone attacks on the central Ukrainian city on Friday, killing at least 16 people and injuring 130 others, including 23 children." (Firstpost: 22 August 2026) (my emphasis)

 

France 24 : 23 August 2026: YouTube 

As was to be expected, and as reported by Richard Booth,

"British factories manufacturing drones for Ukraine could face targeting by "unknown sources", a Kremlin adviser has warned, after the UK agreed to share long-range missile blueprints with the nation." (The Independent on Yahoo News: 25 August 2026) (my emphasis)

"Andrei Fedorov (right), a former Russian deputy foreign minister who advises the Kremlin,  

.... [a]sked [on a BBC Newsnight interview], what a semi-military response might involve, he said: “For example, something might happen with enterprises, with factories which are producing drones for Ukraine, etc, etc.” (UK Defence Journal: 25 August 2026) (my emphasis)

 

Excerpt : BBC Newsnight : 24 August 2026

Furthermore,

"Fedorov said pressure was building on Putin to act against the United Kingdom, telling the programme: “There’s a very serious political and public pressure on President Putin today, to undertake certain measures against UK, because he is considering UK as part of the war in Ukraine, and assistance from the UK is considered as a direct involvement of UK in this war.” (ibid Richard Booth) 

No doubt this pressure from Putin's 'siloviki' is also in no small part due to the fact that,

 "Ukraine's Crimea, which Putin invaded, annexed, and incorporated into the Russian Federation in 2014, his 'Crown Jewel' in his war with Ukraine, is collapsing economically and strategically, and is bereft of water, fuel, food, and power. 

Mass Migration by Russians from Crimea 

 

Mass Migration from Crimea: Kanal 13: 23 August 2026: YouTube

His 12-year attempt at the 'Russification' and 'occupation' of Ukraine's Crimea is coming to an abrupt end as the imported Russians are now beginning to flee back to Russia over his 'crippled' Kerch Strait bridge.

 

Let us recall that in my blog entry of  2 May 2022 I wrote that,  

"With a losing war against Ukraine, and an economy entering the economic doldrums of collapse Putin, it would seem, is hammering in the final nails of the coffin of  what used to be the USSR." (blog entry: 22 May 2022) (my emphasis)

"Already, at the very outset of Putin's invasion of Ukraine, it was apparent that his demented "Novorossiya" enterprise was doomed to failure."

And to somehow stave off the Kremlin 'siloviki' vultures that are now descending upon his head, DW News informs us that,

"Russian president Vladimir Putin said Ukraine has opened, "a Pandora's box" by hitting economic targets in Russia." (DW News: 23 August 2026; YouTube) (my emphasis) 

 

DW News: 23 August 2026; YouTube 

In his current demented state, and fearful for his life, Putin is beyond scraping the bottom of the political barrel.

Putin is hammering in the final nails of the coffin of his 'demented' dreams to resuscitate the USSR with his now puny threats to escalate the war beyond Ukraine.

Putin is beyond redeeming the power he wielded over the Russian people for the last 26 years.

UPDATE: 26 August 2026: GMT 08:42   

In my blog post of 23 August 2023 I reported that,

"It is now flooding the internet ether that the "Privileged Apartheid Reared South African (PARSA)", Elon Musk, 

" ... considered [last year] pulling Starlink satellite internet from Ukraine after having a “great conversation with Putin,” according to a former Pentagon official" (Josh Salisbury: Evening Standard: 22 August 2023) (my emphasis) (cf also: Kate Nicholson: Huffington Post : 22 August 2023)."

We now have sacked Ukraine Minister of Defence,  Mykhailo Fedorov, embracing "PARSA" Musk, who prevented the armed forces of Ukraine from attacking Putin's invading army in Crimea.

In his own words, and bedazzled by AI and what is emerging from Silicon Valley, in particular from Elon musk; during an interview on DRM News, Fedorov (right) stated that,

"We have a history of relations with him, Space X owner Musk. You cannot simply pass this on to someone or send a telephone number on Signal. It's about building trust over time. 

And I'll be more than happy if other projects will go ahead with Musk, even without me." (DRM News: 25 August 2026: YouTube)

 

Excerpt from : DRM News: 25 August 2026: YouTube

The "trust" that Fedorov has built between himself and Musk, that 'simply cannot be passed on to someone, no doubt played no small part in Zelensky removing him from Ukraine's Ministry of Defence.

Underlining Zelensky's concerns about Fedorov, Ryan Mancini now reports that,

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that holding elections amid Russia's war with Ukraine would "destroy" the country.

"I believe that ​if we want to destroy the country, then we can move towards elections ​during this kind of war," Zelensky told reporters.

The president said elections "in general pose major risks," noting that holding an election "right now would be a tsunami for the state, one that would divide Ukraine," Politico reported.

"That's why my strategy is to steer the country toward an ending of the war and to preserve an ⁠independent ​and sovereign state," he added." (The Hill on Yahoo News: 24 August 2026) (my emphasis)

And in an interview on BBC News with Dan Johnson (left), Fedorov revealed that,

Interviewer: It's reported that you're going to make a visit to the United States of America. Is that true?

Fedorov: Yes ... Yes ...

Interviewer: Are you hoping to meet Elon Musk.

Fedorov: That would be great.

Interviewer: What would be the purpose of meeting him. What are your requests to him.

Fedorov: It is not a secret now that if you switch on the Starlink over the territory of Russia for Ukrainian drones we'll be able to protect our country as we will be able to destroy all the ballistic launchers inside Russia.  Erich Schmid, Microsoft, Google .. And I need to stay in touch with them ... regardless of my position" (BBC News: 25 August 2026: YouTube)

 

Excerpt from : BBC News: 25 August 2026: YouTube 

And in an interview with Max Hunder (left), Fedorov stated that,

"While there are enormous logistical challenges to holding wartime elections, Fedorov said that Ukraine would find innovative solutions. However, he said it was too early to say if he would run for the presidency.

In the meantime, Fedorov plans to split his time between his push to restore Ukraine's elections and ventures focused on innovative military technologies (i.e. AI), including an investment fund for which he plans to raise capital during an upcoming trip to the U.S." (Reuters: 25 August 2026) (my emphasis)

This dangerous BEDAZZLEMENT of Fedorov by Silicon Valley titans such as Elon Musk, or what Gill Duran defines as 'The Nerd Reich', raises serious red flags.

Does he really believe that the titans of Silicon Valley can win Ukraine's war against Russia? That their products will end Putin's demented war with Ukraine? 

Hiding behind the fig-leaf of 'democracy ... democracy', whilst setting up investment funds in Silicon Valley (?), simply underscores Fedorov's bedazzlement with what Gill Duran calls 'The Nerd Reich'.

  

 (to be continued)

Putin is now running from 'siloviki' vultures diving towards him

Let us recall that in my blog entry of  2 May 2022 I wrote that,  

"With a losing war against Ukraine, and an economy entering the economic doldrums of collapse Putin, it would seem, is hammering in the final nails of the coffin of  what used to be the USSR." (blog entry: 22 May 2022) (my emphasis)

"Already, at the very outset of Putin's invasion of Ukraine, it was apparent that his demented "Novorossiya" enterprise was doomed to failure.

Four years later, on 13 August 2026,  Steve Rosenberg (left) held an interview with Nobel Prize winner Dmitry Muratov (right).

And Muratov said,  

"What the Kremlin had assumed in 2022 would be a short, successful "military operation" has become the bloodiest conflict in Europe since the Second World War.

Yet a confident President Putin continues to predict victory for Russia.

"There will never be 'victory'," counters Dmitry Muratov. "Because what has been going on for nearly five years – no matter how it ends – can no longer be considered a victory." (BBC News : 13 August 2026) (my emphasis)

 

BBC News : 13 August 2026 

And now, as reported by Bryony Gooch (left),

"The chief economist of a Russian state development bank, [Andrei Klepach (right)], has been fired after reportedly drawing comparisons between Russia's present day economy with the 1917 revolution.
… 

In my view, the economy will hold up, but a social crisis could arise - and at a time when no one particularly expects it. Yet, let me remind you, no one expected the [1917] February revolution either," he said in reference to how Russia's last tsar Nicholas II was overthrown, according to The Times." (The Independent on Yahoo News: 18 August 2026) (my emphasis) 

As Joe Blogs (left) also reports,

"Klepatch says Russia is falling behind both economically and technologically. He says Russia cannot win a prolonged war of attrition against Ukraine and its western supporters." (Joe Blogs : 17 August 2026: YouTube) (my emphasis)

 

Joe Blogs : 17 August 2026: YouTube 

He further reports that,

"He's [Klepatch] warned that Russia could ultimately face, what he describes as, "a social crisis". (ibid Joe Blogs)

In his daily analysis on articles in Russian newspapers, Steve Rosenberg also reports that Rossiyskaya Gazeta (18 August 2026) wrote, 

"The shutting down of oil refineries due to damage by drones has had a critical impact specifically on the supply of petrol." (Steve Rosenberg: 18 August 2026 : YouTube) (my emphasis)

 

Steve Rosenberg: 18 August 2026 : YouTube 

And we now have Putin, once again, resorting to threats against the UK.

As Paul Kirby (left) and Tabby Wilson (right) report, 

"Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the UK will continue "to support Ukraine 100%", after Moscow warned of "consequences" following confirmation that British-made drones were used in recent Ukrainian strikes in Russia." (BBC News: 18 August 2026) (my emphasis) 

 

BBC News : 18 August 2026: YouTube

One does not hear of a similar threat made by Zelensky to Kim Jon Un, who is supplying Putin with missiles with which to bomb Ukraine's civilians.

Putin's threat to the UK indicates just how 'paranoid' and 'fearful' he is by having to justify his demented "Novorossiya" invasion of Ukraine to the Russian people.

And for Putin, 'escalation' of his war against Ukraine is to flex his puny muscles against the UK, NATO, and Moldova, to divert the eyes of Russians away from his abject failure in Ukraine.

As I stated at the start of this blog entry,

"With a losing war against Ukraine, and an economy entering the economic doldrums of collapse Putin, it would seem, is hammering in the final nails of the coffin of  what used to be the USSR." (blog entry: 22 May 2022) (my emphasis) 

Putin is now running for his own life as the 'siloviki' vultures dive towards him. 

 

  

 (to be continued)

The Kremlin 'vultures' are ready to devour Putin

In his demented and genocidal bombing of Ukraine's civilians, Putin has now blocked the Russian people from voting against his delusional "Novorossiya" war against Ukraine.

As reported by Jon Shelton of DW (Deutche Welle),

"The Supreme Court of Russia on Monday ruled in favour of the nationalist pro-Kremlin Rodina (Motherland) party and barred Yabloko (left: Yabloko leader Nikolai Rybakov) (Apple) — Russia's only anti-war party — from participating in September parliamentary elections.
…
The court's decision means citizens opposed to Russia's four-and-a-half-year invasion of Ukraine — or "special military operation" as it has been legally deemed under penalty of imprisonment — have no opportunity to vote for representatives willing to articulate that opposition." (DW [Phillippines] on MSN: 10 August 2026) (my emphasis)

 

DW News : 11 August 2026 : YouTube 

And against this backdrop of barring Yabloko, the only anti-war political party in Russia, from the upcoming elections in Russia, Tim Zadorozhnyy (left) reported (on Friday 7 August 2026) that,

"A majority of the U.S. Senate backed sweeping Russia sanctions legislation on Aug. 7 that would impose tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, aiming to cut off a key source of funding for Moscow's war against Ukraine.

… the revised legislation would impose tariffs of up to 100% on the world's five largest buyers of Russian energy." (Kyiv Independent on Yahoo News: 7 August 2026) (my emphasis)

 

NDTV World: 9 August 2026 : YouTube 

The banning of the Yabloko anti-war political party, comes close on the heels of the new sanctions imposed against Putin's oil exports.

These sanctions, that immediately effects India and China, also comes against the backdrop of Ukraine's continuing successes in destroying Putin's oil refineries and Wildberries, the Amazon of Russia.

As reported by Rebecca Robinson (left),

"A drone attack described as "massive" has been launched deep inside Russia early on Monday, regional Russian authorities said. They accused Ukraine of launching the deadly strike on the TANECO oil refinery, owned by Russian oil company Tatneft, in the Tatarstan region, over 600 miles into the country." (Daily Express on MSN: 10 August 2026) (my emphasis)

 

 BBC News: 10 August 2026: YouTube

As also reported by Kanal13,

"Ukrainian drones are attacking the Russian market places facilities in an attempt to deal a further blow to the Russian economy" (Kanal13: 10 August 2026; YouTube) (my emphasis)

 

Kanal13: 10 August 2026; YouTube 

And now, as reported by Anna Danylchuk (left),

"According to the Central Bank [of Russia], Russians exchange their roubles into Dollars, Euros, and other foreign currencies like crazy, proving that nobody trusts in Roubles ... proving that nobody believes in the Russian victory and people are trying to save their money." (Anna From Ukraine : 10 August 2026 : YouTube) (my emphasis)

 

 Anna From Ukraine : 10 August 2026 : YouTube

It is often said that, "A drowning man clutches at straws".

For Putin there are no more straws that he can now clutch at to stave off his impeding fall from power.

The Kremlin vultures, his 'siloviki', are no longer simply circling around Putin.

They are now ready to devour him.  

  

 (to be continued)