Putin's fear of his demise continues to grow.

 In my last blog entry (12 March 2024) I wrote that,

"Added  to which, Russian wives demonstrating daily for the return of their conscipted husbands from Ukraine may yet prove to be Putin's Achilles heel." (blog entry 12 March 2024)

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.

Source: European Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn (left), European Pravda reports

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,

"Germany, France and Poland (left: Macron, Scholz, and Tusk) vowed on Friday to procure more weapons for Kyiv and step up production of military equipment along with partners in Ukraine, promising that Ukraine can rely on the trio of European powers as it tries to overcome a shortage of military resources.
...
“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

ABC News (Australia) : 18 March 2024 : YouTube

BBC News : 17 March 2024 : YouTube

Chillingly, as reported by Jeremiah Hassel (left), 

"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

 

(to be continued)

Demonstrating Russian wives could yet be Putin's Achilles heel.

In my blog post of 23 February 2015, I reported that,

Merkel and the Pope

"Pope Francis and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the conflict in Ukraine and the fight against poverty during a private audience on Saturday. (Daniela Petroff : AP : February 22, 2015) (my emphasis)

Since this was a 'private audience', we shall never know what was said between them. Was Merkel simply 'filling him in' on what the current German strategy towards events in Ukraine is, or was she summoned by the Pope." (blog post 23 February 2015)

And in my blog post of 15 June 2022 I reported that,

"Yet we now also learn about the Pope supporting Putin's initial arguments about NATO as the catalyst that caused him to start his second war with Ukraine.

As reported by Chico Harlan and Stefano Pitrelli

"He [the Pope] has conspicuously avoided condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin as the aggressor. He has criticized the West’s sanctions and defense spending. And in an interview published this month by an Italian newspaper, Francis appeared to echo a Kremlin talking point, describing the “barking of NATO at Russia’s door” as one of the triggers for Putin’s wrath." (Washington Post : 20 May 2022) (my emphasis)

And as we learn of the Pope, "describing the “barking of NATO at Russia’s door” as one of the triggers for Putin’s wrath.", MSN News (The Guardian) " (blog post 15 June 2022)

Should we therefore be surpised that, as reported by Daniel McLaughlin (left),

"Pope Francis has been criticised in Ukraine and by some of its allies for suggesting it should have “the courage of the white flag” and seek negotiations to end its war with Russia’s invasion force.

“I think that the strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag and negotiates,” the pope said in interview with Swiss media last month that was published in part over the weekend." (The Irish Times : 10 March 2024) (my emphasis)

The Guardian : 11 March 2024 : YouTube

Since Putin invaded, and illegally annexed, Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, Jesuit Pope Francis has always been an apologist for Putin. 

That Putin's other apologist since 2014, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left with Putin), rushed to the side of Pope Francis to "privately discuss" Ukraine with him AFTER Putin's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea also speaks volumes for the current vaccilation of Germany's Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, to supply Ukraine with much needed Taurus missiles.

 And it now transpires that,

"[Angela Merkel's former Defence Minister, and current] EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is facing a new legal challenge after the European Parliament secretly voted in favour of opening proceedings against the EU executive over funds approved for Hungary last December.

The Strasbourg's legal affairs committee voted on Monday to take the Commission to court after it unblocked €10.2 billion frozen EU funds for Viktor Orban in December.

The move came ahead of the December EU summit which aimed at approving a news aid package for Ukraine which was being vetoed by the Hungarian Prime Minister." (Alessandra Scotto di Santolo (right):Express : 12 March 2024) (my emphasis)

With the Pope asking Zelensky to "raise the white flag" and fully capitulate to Putin, and Ursula von der Leyen pouring billions of Euros into the pocket of Victor Orban, Putin's staunch supporter and mouthpiece in the EU, Zelensky should now ask himself, "With 'friends' like the Pope, Angela Merkel, Olaf Scholz, and Ursula von der Leyen, who needs enemies?".

And against this political backdrop Charlie Bradley (right) reports that,

"Vladimir Putin's forces took the town of Avdiivka in February after months of fighting near the town, but a new Ukraine war map shows Russian advances have virtually ground to a halt.
...
This comes as the New York Times also reports that Russian troops have been held back near the villages of Berdychi, Orlivka and Tonenke in the Donetsk region.

Ukraine has been boosted in these areas by its most skilled battalions and American armoured vehicles and tanks." (Express : 11 March 2024)(my emphasis)

Added to which, Guy Faulconbridge (left) and Lidia Kelly (right) report that,

"Ukraine pounded targets in Russia on Tuesday with dozens of drones and rockets in a sweeping attack that inflicted serious damage on a major oil refinery and sought to pierce the land borders of the world's biggest nuclear power with armed proxies.
...
In one of the biggest Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia to date, Russia said it had downed 25 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions including Moscow, Leningrad, Belgorod, Kursk, Bryansk, Tula and Oryol. Many more drone attacks were reported.
Russian officials reported attacks on a slew of energy facilities, including a fire at Lukoil's (LKOH.MM) NORSI refinery and a drone destroyed on the outskirts of the town of Kirishi, home to Russia's second largest oil refinery." (Reuters : 12 March 2024) (my emphasis)

 

Richard Ashmore : Express : 10 March 2024

As his re-coronation as the Czar of Russia rapidly approaches, and as his navy has suffered devastating defeats  in the Black Sea (cf. Charlie Bradley), Putin has a new headache to contend with

As reported by Ania Nussbaum and Milda Seputyte,

"France received a show of support from Baltic countries and Ukraine after President Emmanuel Macron irked other allies when he left the door open to sending troops to Ukraine.

Lithuania’s Gabrielius Landsbergis, Estonia’s Margus Tsahkna, Latvia’s Krisjanis Karins and Ukraine’s Dmytro Kuleba praised Macron’s “outside of the box” approach during a joint press conference, after Paris convened a meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Vilnius on Friday.

“What Macron is reminding everyone and bringing again to the forefront is the sense of urgency,” Karins said. “This is what is needed.” (Bloomberg : 8 March 2024) (my emphasis)

Putin's and Medvedev's constant threats about "nuclear" war is now coming to bite them in the behind as the idea of troops from EU countries bilaterally joining Ukraine's forces outside of NATO takes hold amongst other EU members.

Added  to which, Russian wives demonstrating daily for the return of their conscipted husbands from Ukraine may yet prove to be Putin's Achilles heel.  

 

Aljazeera : 12 February 2024 : YouTube

 

(to be continued)

In Ukraine, Winter is now turning into Spring in its war with Putin.

Today, as reported by Guy Faulconbridge (left),

"Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign intelligence chief has said French President Emmanuel Macron's refusal to rule out sending European troops to fight Russian soldiers in Ukraine was extremely dangerous and irresponsible.
...
Asked about Macron's remarks, Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence
Service (SVR), the main successor to the KGB's First Directorate foreign spying section, said they were deeply irresponsible." (Reuters : 6 March 2024) (my emphasis)

This response of  Sergei Naryshkin (right) follows on from the report of Warren Murray that,

"Emmanuel Macron (left) has urged Ukraine’s allies not to be “cowards” in supporting its fight against the Russian invasion. He “fully stood behind” remarks made last week not ruling out the deployment of western troops. “We are surely approaching a moment for Europe in which it will be necessary not to be cowards,” the French president said on a visit to the Czech Republic." (The Guardian : 6 March 2024) (my emphasis)

Sky News Australia : 6 March 2024 : YouTube

Was Macron specifically referring to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz when urging Ukraine's EU allies "not to be “cowards” in supporting its fight against the Russian invasion of Ukraine?

Andrew Naughtie & Tamsin Paternoster (left) seem to underline this possibility by reporting that,

"Scholz's government has lately been resisting pressure to share one of its most powerful military assets with the Ukrainians just when they need it most.
...
According to Benjamin Tallis, Senior Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations,"Following the Taurus leak, it seems that what Scholz is really afraid of is the weapon's effectiveness. This betrays his position of not wanting Ukraine to win – and it's an approach that lets down all Europeans by making us less safe." (Euronews : 6 March 2024) (my emphasis) 

What further betrays Scholz's position of not wanting Ukraine to win is the recent relocation of 5,000 German troops to Lithuania "amid mounting concerns about a potential attack from Moscow, whose Kaliningrad enclave borders Lithuania, along with its ally Belarus. (Euronews : 29 February 2024) (my emphasis)"

Admittedly, these German troops have been deployed as NATO troops in defence of a NATO member.

But cowering behind NATO's Article 5 as an excuse not to send Taurus  missiles to Ukraine further underscores the argument of Benjamin Tallis that Scholz simply does not want Ukraine to win in its war with Putin.

As was reported by Nathan Rennolds (left),

"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been criticized for a "flagrant abuse of intelligence" after he appeared to suggest British and French soldiers had been helping Ukraine fire missiles they had supplied.

Scholz made the comments while explaining his reluctance to send Germany's long-range Taurus cruise missile to Ukraine, which he said risked the country becoming directly involved in the war.
...
"What is being done in the way of target control and accompanying target control on the part of the British and the French can't be done in Germany. Everyone who has dealt with this system knows that," he said, The Associated Press reported.

"German soldiers must at no point and in no place be linked to targets this system reaches," he added." (Business Insider : 29 February 2024) (my emphasis)

And whilst Scholz is cowering behind NATOS's Article 5,

• Ukrainian intelligence says seven people have been killed and six more injured after a Russian patrol ship was hit and sunk in a sea drone attack. (Thomas Mackintosh : BBC News : 5 March 2024) (my emphasis)

BBC News : 5 March 2024 : YouTube 

• Ukraine shot down 38 of the 42 Shahed-type attack drones launched by Russia overnight on March 6, the Air Force said in its morning update. (Olena Goncharova : Yahoo News : 6 March 2024) (my emphasis)   
  

• Coalition members funding the short-term purchases [of ammunition for Ukraine] include Britain, Canada, Denmark, the Czech Republic and the United States, among others, Wouda told Reuters."Collectively we have actually found opportunities around the world to find ammunition in other places, outside of Europe," he said, declining to identify those places. (Anthony Deutsch and Jan Lopatka : Reuters : 6 March 2024) (my emphasis) 
  

• Ukraine has hinted that it was responsible for destroying a railway bridge in the Russian region of Samara, some 600 miles from the Ukrainian border. The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said in post on messaging site Telegram that the blast had “paralysed” traffic in the area. (Chris Samuel : Express : 4 March 2024) (my emphasis) 
  

• And in a significant political development reported by Joel Gehrke, "India is working to secure the return of citizens who say they were conned into fighting for Russia in the war in Ukraine. “We remain committed, as a matter of top priority, to actively pursuing with the Russian authorities all the relevant cases of Indian nationals for an early discharge from the Russian army,” the Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a Monday statement." (Washington Examiner : 26 February 2024) (my emphasis)

• As also reported by Rebecca Robinson, "A distressing plea has emerged from a group of young men from India who claim to have been deceived into military service in Russia's war against Ukraine.... Subsequently apprehended by Belarusian authorities and handed over to Russian forces, they were coerced into signing undisclosed documents, effectively conscripting them into military service." (Express : 5 March 2024) (my emphasis)

The recent euphoria of Putin and his 'siloviki' over the fall of Avdiivka has now been eclipsed :-

1. by Macron not ruling out the deployment of western troops in Ukraine, 
2. by Scholz being inexorably forced towards supplying Ukraine with Tausus missile, 
3. by Ukraine gaining the momentum in pushing back Putin's forces, 
4. and by the India government pursuing the return of forced Indian conscripts into Putin's army.

In Ukraine, Winter is now turning into Spring in its war with Putin.

 

(to be continued)

 

Putin's 'nuclear' threat against the world underscores his growing fears of defeat.

On the 4th May 2015 I wrote that,

"Putin may be basking in the sunlight of his sky-high popularity ratings at home, but these ratings are as a 'millstone around his neck' since it has shut off any earlier 'exit strategy' of his war with Ukraine from the tangled web of deception that he has so assiduously woven around himself, and by his voracious tapping into that Russian vein of nationalism over his war with Ukraine." (blog entry 4 May 2015)

Fast forward to the 29th February 2024 and, during his annual address to the Russian people,  Zahra Khaliq (right) reports that,

"Russia is fighting against [a decling birth rate] at every level of government and the authorities. It is our religion and our moral values which are to the fore here. Big families must become the norm. In the next six years, we have to achieve a sustainable birth rate," he said, as he announced [at his annual address] extra financial support for larger families." (Daily Mirror : 29 February 2024) (my emphasis) 

WION : January 2024 : YouTube

And as reported by Will Stewart (left),

"This is the cringeworthy moment a Russian state TV presenter announces her plan to get pregnant after Vladimir Putin's call for women [at his annual address to the nation] to give birth to stave off a demographic crisis.

Natalya Litovko, 43, announced she and her husband had been inspired by the Kremlin leader's call in his state-of-the-nation address to fulfil their patriotic duty and procreate." (Mail Online : 29 February 2024) (my emphasis)

Mail Online : 29 February 2024

Following on from Putin exhorting Russian women to have more than 7 children, as did their great-great grandmothers, Lipika Pelham & Lou Newton report that,

"Several Nato countries, including the US, Germany and the UK, have ruled out deploying ground troops to Ukraine, after French President Emmanuel Macron said "nothing should be excluded".

Mr Macron said there was "no consensus" on sending Western soldiers to Ukraine." ( BBC News : 28 February 2024) (my emphasis)).

To which Putin responded,

"Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned NATO against sending its troops to help Ukraine, in an explicit nuclear threat.

"There has been talk of sending NATO contingents to Ukraine. But we remember the fate of those who sent contingents [in the past]. Now the consequences for the interventionists will be much more tragic," Putin said in a speech to Russia's parliament.

"We too have weapons that can hit targets on their territory. This really threatens a conflict with nuclear weapons, and thus the destruction of civilization," he added." ( Denis Leven (left): Politico : 29 February 2024) (my emphasis)

DW News : 29 February 2024 : YouTube

This latest "armageddon" threat of Putin comes close on the heels of, as reported by Nathan Rennolds (left) that,

"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been criticized for a "flagrant abuse of intelligence" after he appeared to suggest British and French soldiers had been helping Ukraine fire missiles they had supplied.

Scholz made the comments while explaining his reluctance to send Germany's long-range Taurus cruise missile to Ukraine, which he said risked the country becoming directly involved in the war.
...
"What is being done in the way of target control and accompanying target control on the part of the British and the French can't be done in Germany. Everyone who has dealt with this system knows that," he said, The Associated Press reported.

"German soldiers must at no point and in no place be linked to targets this system reaches," he added.

Defense sources told The Telegraph that his comments had increased concerns over the safety of military and diplomatic personnel from the two countries.

Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace accused Scholz of "not only dangerous use of facts but also often wrong facts." (Business Insider : 29 February 2024) (my emphasis)

As I wrote in my blog entry of 20 February 2015,

"As the Economist (May 10th 2014) pointed out many months ago,

"When Germans add the word Versteher (one who understands) to a term, they generally mix flattery with irony. So a Frauenversteher (one who understands women) is usually a man who boasts excessively about his knowledge of the opposite sex. The label is now being attached to so-called Russlandversteher or Putinversteher: members of the [German] elite or intelligentsia who gush with empathy for Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, on talk shows, in journals and at dinner parties." (my emphasis)" (blog entry : 20 February 2015)

Nothing, it would seem, has fundamentally changed in the "Putinversteher" mentality of Germany's SPD political party, as evidenced by the current SPD Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz (left) 'falsely' suggesting that,

"...  British and French soldiers had been helping Ukraine fire missiles they had supplied."

 Is this 'timid' attitude of Scholtz an indicator of just how much German businessmen are trying to protect the billions of Euros that they have invested in Putin's Russia?

It is becoming more obvious by the day that Putin and his 'siloviki' are been forced to throw everything (short of the proverbial 'kitchen sink') at Ukraine to assuage their growing fear of their doomed war with Ukraine. 

Putin's reaction to Macron's threat of  NATO soldiers joining Ukraine in its war with Russia underscores just how great is his fear that his war with Ukraine is doomed.

UPDATE : 3 March 2024

 In a detailed article entitled "Germany’s elites run scared as Putin rains down death on Ukraine", Daniel Johnson (left) writes,

• Not only does Scholz show every sign of being susceptible to this kind of intimidation [i.e. 'nuclear' armageddon being threatened] by Putin, but he probably also believes that his own political survival depends on not angering the Russian bear.

•  Two thirds (66pc) [of Germans] still agree that Ukraine should receive military support, but of those only just over half (54pc) are in favour of restoring Ukraine’s lost territories, while 41pc merely want Russia to be held in check [according to the respected Körber Foundation’s latest poll]

•  Unlike the supine Berlin elites, [German Defence Minister] Pistorius grasps that the military vulnerability of Europe’s largest economy is an open invitation to Russian aggression.

•  A year ago Berlin’s Centre for Monitoring, Analysis and Strategy revealed that public approval of pro-Russian narratives in Germany had increased “significantly”, particularly in the formerly communist East.

•  Last October a poll found that 40pc of all Germans at least partially believe Putin’s claim that Nato “provoked” the invasion of Ukraine. In the former East German provinces this figure rises to 59pc.

•  Faced with a fracturing country, Chancellor Scholz is paralysed by fear. Rather than seek to unify his people and provide leadership, he is shrinking. (Daily Telegraph : 3 March 2024) (my emphasis) 
  
  
  

                                                       Scholtz and Putin

 Daniel Johnson's article underscores the fact that the "Putinversteher" mentality detailed in the Economist article of May of 2014 is alive and thriving in Scholz's Germany, at the expense of the people of Ukraine being ruthlessly and continuously bombed by Putin and his 'siloviki'.

 

(to be continued)