In my last blog entry (12 March 2024) I wrote that,
As now reported by Alexander Butler, Tom Watling, and Alisha Rahaman Sarkar,
"Massive demonstrations are expected across Russia today as critics of Vladimir Putin head to the polls in a show of defiance against his regime.
...
“We want this dark time to end. We want a clear, normal future,” the campaign’s website says. “But we, citizens of our country, with our pain and our hope, are not noticeable either to the authorities or to each other.” (The Independent : 17 March 2024) (my emphasis)
As further reported by Tom Watling,
"A fortnight after his death, [Navalny's] wife Yulia Navalnaya then endorsed the campaign as well. It has become what Russian independent media outlet Novaya Gazeta called “Navalny’s political testament”. (The Independent : 17 March 2024) (my emphasis)
BBC News : 6 March 2024
Underlining the call of Yulia Navalnaya, and as reported by Jessica Baker, Juliana Cruz Lima, and Will Stewart,
"POLLING stations across Russia have been hit by a wave of fire and paint attacks on the first day of Vladimir Putin's sham election.
Several Russians have reportedly been detained for vandalism after pouring dye into ballot boxes and throwing petrol bombs at booths.
A woman allegedly threw a petrol bomb near a polling station" (The Sun : 15 March 2024) (my emphasis)
The Sun : 15 March 2024
Adding to ongoing protests in Russia during this 'sham' election, NHK News in Japan report that,
"More than 55 members of the United Nations have condemned Russia for holding a presidential elections in Ukrainian regions that it has unilaterally declared to have annexed.
...
It read, "We condemn in the strongest terms the Russian Federation's illegitimate attempts to organize Russian presidential elections in temporarily occupied areas within the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine."
It also said: "Holding elections in another UN member state's territory without its consent is in manifest disregard for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Such elections have no validity under international law." (NHK News : 16 March 2024) (my emphasis)
NHK News : 16 March 2024
Putin may imprison and arrest those within Russia who are demonstrating against his 'sham' presidential elections, but he has to take heed of 55 countries condemning his illegal 'election' activity in Ukraine.
Just as Putin has to take heed of the fact that 55 countries at the UN have condemned his 'sham' election taking place on Ukraine's territory, Business Standard report that,
"Ukraine launched a new massive wave of drone attacks Sunday as Russians cast ballots on the final day of a presidential vote set to extend President Vladimir Putin's rule for another six years.
...
The Russian Defence Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four in the Moscow region.
...
The attacks on the Yaroslavl region, which is located about 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the Ukrainian border, were some of the farthest launched by Ukraine so far." (Business Standard : 17 March 2024) (my emphasis)
Furthermore, as reported by The Telegraph,
"Crimean bridge closed and Moscow flights grounded by mass Ukrainian drone attack
Ukraine launched a massive wave of drone strikes overnight that forced the Crimean Bridge to close and grounded flights from Moscow.
Car traffic was suspended over the bridge connecting Crimea with mainland Russia for half an hour, Russian authorities announced, without explaining why.
Three airports in Moscow were forced to impose flight restrictions after five Ukrainian drones were shot down near the Russian capital, Russia’s state aviation watchdog reported." (The Telegraph : 17 March 2024) (my emphasis)
Added to which,
"Ukraine will receive its first €4.5 billion tranche under the Ukraine Facility programme next week.
Details: "Very glad to pave the way for next week’s first disbursement of funds under the Ukraine Facility programme," Johannes wrote on Twitter (X) announcing the signing of the decision." (Ukrainska Pravda : 15 March 2024) (my emphasis)
At the same time, Le Monde (with AFP) reports that,
"French President Emmanuel Macron (right) said in an interview published on the evening of Saturday, March 16, that Western ground operations in Ukraine might be necessary "at some point".
Last month, Macron refused to rule out putting troops on the ground in Ukraine, which prompted a stern response from Berlin and other European partners." (Le Monde : 16 March 2024) (my emphasis)
And, as reported by Geir Moulson and Vanessa Gera,
...
“He [President Zelensky] knows that he can rely on us, and we are renewing this signal for support for Kyiv from here today,” he [Scholz] said after the meeting. “But a crystal-clear signal also goes to Moscow — the Russian president should know that we won’t let up in our support for Ukraine." (Irish News : 15 March 2024) (my emphasis)
Putin and his 'siloviki' know that the end of their Mafia-like criminal reign is in sight.
No amount of 'sham' elections can detract from the fact that Putin is simply re-crowning himself the 'Mafia Don of a criminal political enterprise'.
The Russian people are slowly awakening from their slumber throughout Putin's war with Ukraine.
And so Putin's fear of his demise continues to grow.
UPDATE 1: 18 March 2024 : 03.49am
As was to be expected, Putin was ostensibly re-elected president of Russia with a margin of 88% of the vote.
Having incarcerated ALL his legitimate opponents, and killed his main opponent, Navalny, who was in prison on trumped up charges, Putin then declared that together with his 'siloviki', he will continue on his current path of war against Ukraine.
Global News : 18 March 2024 : YouTube
"In a chilling comment following his election victory on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that a "full-scale World War III" is "possible" should any Western troops enter Ukraine.
A
reporter at a press conference the president held asked about French
President Emmanuel Macron's recent comments suggesting troops might be
sent to Ukraine to aid the country in its war effort.
Putin
responded: "I think anything is possible in today’s world and it’s clear
to everyone that this would be one step from a full-scale World War
III." (Daily Mirror : 17 March 2024 : 21.59pm) (my emphasis)
UPDATE 2: 18 March 2024 : 06.23am
Putin's threat of 'nuclear' war may seem like 'sabre rattling'.
However, the reality of a 'nuclear' war should not be taken lightly.
As Charlie Bradley (right) reports,
"A NATO nuclear attack on Russia has been simulated in an alarming video, showing missiles striking cities across Russia as Vladimir Putin is warned that 45 million people would be "vapourised."
Putin has discussed the threat of nuclear war on a number of occasions since his troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
...
Jake Broe, a former Nuclear & Missile Operations Officer in the US Air Force, has warned that Russia would be obliterated in a nuclear conflict.
...
Posting on X, he said: "If Russia uses a nuclear weapon against a NATO country, then this is what will happen to Russia in response." (Express : 15 March 2024) (my emphasis)
Modern Muscle : August 2023 : YouTube
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