Putin, like a drowning man, is now beginning to clutch at "invisible" straws.

In my blog post 4 March 2022 I reported that,

"Putin is now using his first nuclear option ....

As reported by the BBC,

• "A fire broke out at the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant - Europe's largest - after a Russian shelling attack. Ukraine responders have managed to extinguish the blaze

• Ukraine’s State Emergency Services said there were no victims from the fire, which didn’t affect the reactor sites but a nearby five-storey training site

• Russia’s attack sparked immediate condemnation from Western leaders who called it a “horrific” and “reckless” act that threatened the safety of all of Europe

Ukraine President Zelensky had hours ago called on other nations to take more action immediately againsty Putin's “nuclear terror”  (BBC News : 4 March 2022) (my emphasis)"

 

 (AlJazeera : YouTube : 3 March 2022)

 Fast forward to today and, as reported by Aliss Higham,

"The press service of [Ukraine's] Energoatom National Nuclear Energy Generating Company said on Telegram today that Russia is "ready" to blow up the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
...
The company said on Telegram: "The Russians do not hide their plans and are openly blackmailing the whole world, declaring that they have mined the Zaporizhzhia NPP and that they are ready to blow it up."...

"We [Putin's Russian army] are ready for the consequences of taking this step. And you, soldiers-liberators, you must understand that we have no other way. (Express : 8 August 2022) (my emphasis)

                                                    NBC News : 8 August 2022

 And as reported by RFERL,

"UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for international inspectors to be given access to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant after Ukraine and Russia traded accusations over the recent shelling of the facility.
...
Guterres said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) needed access to the plant.
...
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned on August 6 that the latest attack "underlines the very real risk of a nuclear disaster."
...
Grossi urged all sides in the conflict to exercise the "utmost restraint" near the nuclear site.
...
The IAEA chief added that it was "of paramount importance" that the agency be allowed access to the plant "to provide technical support for nuclear safety and security." (RFERL : 8 August 2022) (my emphasis)

This 'nuclear blackmail' of Putin comes against the backdrop of,

• The Pentagon announced another $1 billion in military support to Ukraine Monday that includes a cache of ammunition, explosives and medical supplies. (Evan Simko-Bednarski : New York Post : 8 August 2022) (my emphasis)
•  Up to 80,000 Russians have been killed or wounded in Ukraine since the war began in late February, a senior Pentagon official estimated. "The Russians have probably taken 70 or 80,000 casualties in less than six months," Under Secretary of Defense Colin Kahl said on Monday. (EuroNews : 9 August 2022) (my emphasis)
• Underlining these losses of Putin, Arpen Rai reports that, "North Korea is ready to send 100,000 soldiers to its ally Russia as military assistance for boosting its invasion of Ukraine, Russian military expert Igor Korotchenko said on state TV." (Independent : 8 August 2022) (my emphasis)
• Ukraine says its troops advance towards Izium as fighting rages in Donbas (Natalia Zinets and Max Hunder : Reuters : 9 August 2022) (my emphasis) 
  

RFERL : 8 August 2022

• “Over the last 30 days, Russia’s assault towards the town of Bakhmut has been its most successful axis in the Donbas; however, Russia has only managed to advance about 10km during this time. (UK’s Ministry of Defence posted on Twitter with reference to British intelligence data.)
  ...
  As noted, Russia has not been able to generate capable combat infantry in sufficient numbers to secure more substantial advances despite its continued heavy use of artillery in these areas. (Ukrinform : 9 August 2022) (my emphasis) 
• An EU plan to cut gas consumption across the bloc by 15 per cent to cope with an energy price crisis spurred by Russia’s war in Ukraine comes into effect on Tuesday (9 August)
  
...
“Considering the imminent danger to the security of gas supply brought about by the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, this regulation should enter into force as a matter of urgency,” it said. (EuroActiv : 8 August 2022) (my emphasis)

Meanwhile, Putin's glove-puppet, Dmitry Medvedev, continues to rant uncontrollably.

As reported by Reuters,

"One of President Vladimir Putin's closest allies said on Monday that Russia would achieve its aims in the conflict in Ukraine on its own terms, warning that the West had a long-term plan to destroy Russia.
...
"Russia is conducting a special military operation in Ukraine and is attaining peace on our terms," former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of Russia's security council, told TASS in an interview." (Reuters : 8 August 2022) (my emphasis)

Medvedev's statement about Russia's beleaguered forces "attaining peace on our terms" ignores the current parlous state of the Russian economy.

Reporting on a new paper published by the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute, Ciaran McGrath informs us that,

"Russia's economy is heading for "oblivion" as a result of punitive economic sanctions imposed by the West in the wake of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, a damning report has indicated." 

• Russia’s position as a commodities exporter has ”irrevocably deteriorated”, with the country having lost access to its “erstwhile main markets”. (cf: EU plan to cut Russian gas consumption by 15%)
• Russian domestic production has come to a “complete standstill” with no capacity to replace lost businesses, products and talent.
• The result has been a “hollowing out” of Russia’s production base, causing prices to soar. (Express : 4 August 2022) (my emphasis)

Is this what Medvedev meant when he said that Putin and his 'siloviki' will "attain peace on our terms", come what may?

Is Putin willing to completely destroy the Russian economy to satisfy his warped ambition of resuscitating the old USSR?

Indeed, notwithstanding his recent pronouncements about, "there are "no winners" in a nuclear war, and that no such conflict should ever be waged." (Miriah Davis (left) : Sky News : 2 August 2022) (my emphasis), 

.... let us not forget that shortly after his invasion of Ukraine in February of this year, "Mr Putin placed Russian nuclear forces on high alert, further heightening concerns of nuclear escalation." (ibid Miriah Davis)

Putin, like a drowning man, is now beginning to clutch at "invisible" straws.

(to be continued)