RUSSIAN BLACKMAIL: EUROPE HAD ITS HEAD IN THE SAND WHEN IT CAME TO RUSSIAN FOSSIL FUELS
Above: Russian national gas flows to EU, Jan 2019-July 2022. Chart via IEA
- The European Commission sounded the alarm that it is time to start limiting gas consumption with a target of decreasing use by 15 percent from now through the winter. A plan will be presented to the member countries for debate and adoption which would give the EC authority to enforce a curtailed energy consumption plan.
- Analysts see this as a milestone along Europe’s acceptance that the bloc is on a war footing due to Russian imperialistic goals in Ukraine and beyond. Some polls suggest public opinion is split between those willing to sacrifice for democracy and those who reject higher fuel prices. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, “I know this is a big ask for the whole of the EUropean Union but it’s necessary to protect us.”
COLLABORATORS AND TRAITORS ROUND UP IN MYKOLAIV
Above: “Anna Zamazeeva, the chair of Mykolaiv’s regional council, wearing a T-shirt that says ‘Home’.” Largely Russian-speaking region of Mykolaiv has been a “lynchpin of resistance on the southern front”, according to the New York Times
- Last week, President Zelensky suspended two key figures in his government, questioning their leadership capability and accusing many of their subordinates of treason and collaboration with Russia.Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova and State Security Service Head Ivan Bakanov are now subject to an investigation.
- Mykolaiv Mayor Vitaliy Kim announced a crackdown to round up traitors and saboteurs in the region. Mr Kim released a video on social media in which he explained, the authorities are processing tips on collaborators in the city. When the harvest is mostly in and citizens have time to stock up, the city will be closed for a couple of days for a law enforcement sweep.
- Mykolaiv is increasingly receiving incoming orc artillery fire. Chair of the Mykolaiv Oblast Council Anna Zamazeeva stated that the enemy is killing an average of forty three civilians a day. Orcs are also heavily shelling towns and villages in Donetsk Oblast.
RUSSIA LIES AND STEALS
Above: A farmer in Mykolaiv Oblast works on a field that has been burned by enemy shelling, explosions far in the background. Photo via Washington Post
- The tiny Kremlin despot took to the airwaves to boast about his empire’s amazing 20 million ton increase in grain exports this year. What was the amazing production breakthrough? It was actually very ancient Russian technology – stealing the grain from Ukraine.
- At the same time, some participants of the four party negotiations – Turkey, UN, Ukraine and Russia – think that progress is being made on a deal to ship 22 million tons of Ukrainian grains. Russia has offered reassurances that it won’t attack grain cargo ships. Ukraine is highly skeptical that Russia would ever live up to its promises.
SNAKE ISLAND UNDER UKRAINIAN FLAG AGAIN
Above: Ukrainians have completed demining around Snake Island. Troops seized enemy ammo and equipment including guidance and control systems, dones, MPADs, grenade launchers, flamethrowers, even down to defense reports and personal records of combatants. The defenders then planted the Ukrainian flag again. In an expression of pure humanity, the soldiers also rescued a cat. Photo via Ukrainska Pravda
