Russia Watch Thread

[wjfox]

[wjfox]

[firestar464]

Russia wants a baby boom, but some women resist becoming a mother for the motherland

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/r ... r-AA1qTcbS

[wjfox]

[weatheriscool]

[firestar464]

Russian Military Convoy Attacked in Chechnya, Soldier Killed

https://thedefensepost.com/2024/10/24/r ... -chechnya/

[caltrek]

Russia Economy in Panic as Ruble Plunges to New Lows
by John Varga, Claire Anderson
November 16, 2024

Introduction:

(Daily Express U.S. via MSN) The Russian rouble plummeted to new depths on Friday, as the economy grapples with the twin challenges of soaring inflation and interest rates. The Kremlin is becoming increasingly anxious, with economic indicators suggesting a looming financial crisis.

In a fresh setback for Putin, the ruble's decline continued, with the ruble continued its downward spiral, with its value now equivalent to a mere one US cent and less than one pence in sterling.

Experts from the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, forecast "significant challenges" ahead for the Russian economy. They highlighted the Kremlin's recent policy initiatives aimed at slashing compensation payments to wounded soldiers, combating inflation, and addressing demographic issues such as low birth rates and labour shortages.

"The Kremlin's recent economic policies indicate that the Russian economy will likely face significant challenges in 2025 and that Russian President Vladimir Putin is worried about Russia's economic stability in the long term," the analysts observed.

"The Kremlin recently adopted several policies that aim to cut Russian government spending on wounded Russian servicemen, combat inflation, and address long-term demographic problems such as low birth rates and labour shortages."

Read more here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/market ... be&ei=31

[caltrek]

Putin’s Regime May be Closer to a Collapse Than We Think
by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
December 10, 2024

Extract:

(The Telegraph via MSN) (Anton) Barbashin (from Riddle Russia) says Russia’s leaders expect Trump to issue ultimatums to both Kyiv and Moscow: if Volodymyr Zelensky balks at peace terms, the US will sever all military aid; if Putin drags his feet, the US will up the military ante and carpet-bomb the Russian economy.

That economy held up well for two years but this third year has become harder. The central bank has raised interest rates to 21pc to choke off an inflation spiral. “The economy cannot exist like this for long. It’s a colossal challenge for business and banks,” said German Gref, Sberbank’s chief executive.

Sergei Chemezov, head of the defence giant Rostec, said the monetary squeeze was becoming dangerous. “If we continue like this, most companies will essentially go bankrupt. At rates of more than 20pc, I don’t know of a single business that can make a profit, not even an arms trader,” he said.
…
If the Saudis again decide to flood the world with cheap crude to recoup market share – as many predict – oil will fall below $40 and Russia will spin out of economic control.

The Ukraine war may end in Riyadh.

Read more here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/p ... b0&ei=30

[caltrek]

Russian Economy is 'Disaster' as Key Insider Says 'Vladimir Putin Knows It Can't Grow'
by Chris Samuel & John O'sullivan
December, 2024

Introduction:

(Irish Star) The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) decided to keep its interest rates steady at a staggering 21 percent on Friday, amidst insiders labeling the nation's economy as a "disaster" due to soaring inflation. Despite expectations for an increase in rates to combat rising prices, the bank held firm.

Inflation in Russia reached 9.5 percent by December 16, according to the bank's latest announcement. The Kremlin's heavy investment in military industries amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict is fuelling inflation, causing wages to skyrocket.

This wage inflation is spilling over into other sectors, forcing companies to raise their own wages to compete for workers, subsequently driving up prices for goods and services. During his annual call-in session on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin admitted that inflation levels were concerning and mentioned "a certain overheating of the economy."

Nevertheless, he assured that measures are being taken by the government and central bank to slow down the pace. A former high-ranking Russian official confided to The Financial Times that despite Putin's optimistic statements, the reality is that Russia's financial situation is precarious.

"He can hang on for two or three years like this," the official remarked anonymously. "But he knows the economy can't grow with these interest rates. It's a disaster," reports the Express.

Read more here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/r ... e&ei=41

[funkervogt]

From five years and one month ago:

Boris Yeltsin's Former Chief of Staff '99 Percent Certain' Vladimir Putin Will Not Be Russia's President in Five Years

https://www.newsweek.com/boris-yeltsin- ... 24-1474068

[wjfox]

[weatheriscool]

[firestar464]

Nah, that's kind of misleading

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/55461

[wjfox]

[weatheriscool]

Russia should stop the war and invest the money into making life better for reproduction.

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

[firestar464]

Russia bans Reporters Without Borders as ‘undesirable’ organization

https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/08/14/ru ... ganization

[wjfox]

Putin forced to raise taxes again as Ukraine war drains finances

September 24, 2025 4:26 pm CET

After three and a half years, President Vladimir Putin is having to lean more and more on ordinary Russians to pay for his war in Ukraine.

The Russian Finance Ministry on Wednesday said it intends to raise value added tax by two percentage points to 22 percent, part of a three-year plan that aims to plug a rapidly expanding hole in public finances. VAT accounted for more than 15 percent of total government revenue last year.

After raising personal income taxes sharply at the start of the year, Putin had pledged there would be no more big changes to the tax system until 2030. However, central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina had warned at a press conference earlier this month that the widening budget deficit was the biggest risk to inflation, which according to official calculations is currently running at over 8 percent.

The Finance Ministry is not just raising tax rates. It’s proposing to bring far more small and medium-sized businesses into the tax net, reducing the annual revenue threshold for reporting to 10 million rubles ($120,000) from the current 60 million. It’s also introducing a 5 percent tax on gambling and a 25 percent income tax on bookmakers. The measures are “aimed primarily at financing defense and security,” the Ministry said in a statement.

https://www.politico.eu/article/vladimi ... n-finance/

[firestar464]

Dutch services share less information with the US: 'Sometimes we don't tell things anymore'

https://archive.ph/lNxuX