As they report,
"Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested that US-brokered peace talks could be postponed due to the attacks throughout the Middle East.
…
The possible delay to talks comes after the US and Israel launched strikes on Tehran on Saturday, provoking Iranian attacks throughout the region.
It follows Zelensky’s calls for the Trump administration to ramp up its efforts in ending Russia’s four-year-long invasion of Ukraine." (The Independent: 28 February 2026) (my emphasis)
And against this backdrop, the Military Show reports that on 23rd February 2026, Ukraine just wiped out a key and critical oil facility in Almtyevsk, Tartastan,
"... [the Kaleykino] oil pumping station, that is responsible for processing 30 percent of the crude oil that flows through the Druzhba oil pipeline, [and potentially earned for Russia $32.2 billion dollars a year]." (The Military Show : 27 February 2026: YouTube) (my emphasis)
Furthermore, as reported by Ivan Diakonov,
"Ukraine's defence forces have regained 201 sq km of territory from Russian troops between 11 and 15 February, marking the fastest advance by Ukrainian forces in more than two and a half years.
…
The area of liberated territory is said to be almost equal to the total gains made by Russian forces over the whole of December 2025." (Ukrayinska Pravda on Yahoo News: 16 February 2026) (my emphasis)
And as also reported by James C. Reynolds (left),
"On the eve of the fourth anniversary of the war in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted that it was “only a matter of time” before his country recovered all of its lost territory.
…
Ukraine recovered control of 400 sq km of territory, including eight settlements, in February, the head of the military announced on Monday. Those figures improve upon the 300 sq km of land that Zelensky claimed Kyiv’s forces had recovered only last week – and will more than cancel out the 389 sq km Russia was assessed to have gained in January." (The Independent: 25 February 2026) (my emphasis)
In light of what has happened to Ali Khamenei and Nicolás Maduro, is it any wonder that, as Kathrine Frich (right) reported,
"Putin builds 'parallel army' to protect himself, defense expert warns.
But
after internal unrest, elite tensions and the shock of the 2023 Wagner
mutiny, analysts say the Russian president may be increasingly focused
on safeguarding his grip on authority.
…
William
James Dixon, a fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI),
told the Kyiv Post that a recent Kremlin decree appears to bolster Russia’s National Guard, known as Rosgvardia.
…
According to his analysis, Rosgvardia now operates under “general operational control” of its director, Viktor Zolotov, who reports directly to Putin. (Dagens.com UK: 21 February 2026) (my emphasis)
The $64 question now is,
"How will the unfolding events in Iran affect the people of Russia in their attitude towards Putin and his war in Ukraine?"
Will they forever resign themselves to suffering the increasing loss of their 'freedoms' and their increasing poverty that Putin's 'demented' and 'cruel' war in Ukraine continues to heap upon their shoulder
Will Putin now finally push the 'nuclear button' to save himself?
In the words of Konstantin Samoilov (left),
"Russia is raising the level of informational panic and dis-information with 'nuclear scare stories'. (Inside Russia : 28 February 2026: YouTube) (my emphasis)
But are these simply "scare stories" ... "nuclear blackmail" ?
