Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

I'd be very wary if I was Ukraine providing anti-drone assistance to the US - do you (a) trust them the reciprocate through gratitude? or (b) trust them not to either steal the Ukrainian IP or 'accidentally' allow it to find its way to Moscow.

F**k the US right now would be my attitude. The EU and UK are perfectly right to be distancing themselves as much as diplomatically possible from TACO and Bibi's illegal war.

Cuts announced in wealthy Moscow regions investment budget. Exposes strain the war is taking on Russian economy.

…"Results for the first two months show revenue growth slowed to 2%, below the 6.5% planned when drafting this year's budget," Sobyanin said, announcing a 10% cut in 2026 investments from 1.2 trillion roubles ($15.3 billion), and a 15% reduction in municipal staff.    

Moscow's revenues are projected at about 6 trillion roubles in 2026, or more than 2% of Russia's GDP. Many Russian companies are headquartered in the capital and pay taxes there, a long-running source of criticism from poorer regions.

REGIONS PUSHED INTO COSTLIER BORROWING

Russian officials tout the federal budget's relatively moderate deficit and debt, backed by the National Wealth Fund, as a key buffer against Western sanctions, but a broader measure that includes regional balances shows a weaker picture.

Russia's consolidated budget deficit, which combines federal and regional accounts, widened in 2025 to 8.3 trillion roubles, or 3.9% of GDP, 2.6 times larger than in 2024, well above a 2.6% deficit at the federal level….

"While state-level debt appears to be under control, the government is in effect pushing regions towards more expensive borrowing from commercial banks," a banking source told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Even so, the central government is preparing a major austerity programme aimed at preventing the fiscal reserve fund from being depleted next year.

REVENUE GROWTH SLOWS

Data obtained by Reuters showed the share of concessional loans from the federal budget in regional debt fell to 67% last year from 78% in 2024, while the share of costlier commercial bank debt surged threefold.

Oil and gas taxes that have been falling in recent months, and value-added tax, widely seen as the most stable revenue stream, account for the bulk of federal income……..

In a late-2025 report, Russia's Audit Chamber linked the rise in regional deficits to weaker corporate profits, which fell 5.5% in January-November 2025, according to official statistics. 

The number of deficit-running regions rose to 74 in 2025 from 50 in 2024. Total regional spending increased 9% to 24.1 trillion roubles, while revenues rose 4% to 22.6 trillion.

Only four of Russia's 89 regions are expected to post budget surpluses this year, according to estimates from ratings agency Expert RA.

Orban, the highwayman of Europe. Along with the €35 million in cash there was 9 kg of gold bullion.

Wonder why they chose Hungary to drive through, probably much lower risk options through Czech Republic and Poland

Norms of international law and diplomacy are being abandoned. It's every man for himself, do whatever you can get away with. Russia of course were a big part of moving the world in this direction, but USA, Israel and other countries are just as responsible. Shooting drug boats, siezing ships, kidnapping leaders in the night.

Dangerous times.

https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraine-accuses-hungary-taking-hostage-bank-employees-who-were-carrying-82-2026-03-06/

This story is really getting legs. Anything involving gold usually does.

The Hungarian Tax Authority's decision to have counter-terrorism forces swoop on two Ukrainian armoured vehicles transporting cash to Ukraine marks a dramatic escalation of tensions that have already resulted in Budapest ​blocking tens of billions of euros in European Union aid for Kyiv.

"The National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) is pursuing criminal proceedings on suspicion of ​money laundering," the authority said in a statement.

There are two catch-alls governments never tire of using to justify the unjustifiable - terrorism and money laundering.

I'm failing to see how a transit of cash between two banks, in foreign countries, can be construed as money laundering in Hungary such that it deprived the Hungarian government of tax receipts. The Hungarian government only has legal jurisdiction over events in Hungary, so even if there was any illegality, it would have taken place outside their jurisdiction. Neither cash nor gold would be subject to taxation by Hungarian authorities in transit, so to say they are making things up as they go, would be putting it mildly.

The EU should not sit this one out, as is their usual pathetic response to sh​it in Hungary.

Krasnov will blame Zelensky.

Hungary and Slovakia could make it very difficult for Ukraine to join the EU.

They make for great underwater reefs long term and usually result in a rich hub of biodiversity wherever they lie?

Could be something to this or maybe they're stockpiling for the summer offensive. I wouldn't be surprised if they diverted many to Iran early on but I can't see them continuing it for what now looks like a lost cause. I wonder has anyone tracked ship movements in the Caspian.

What happened the "only specialised plant"?

Mandatory use of Russian fiber optics may be postponed for two years.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade proposes to postpone for two years the requirements for the mandatory use of Russian fiber in cable. The restoration of fiber production in Russia is not expected until 2028 due to the shutdown of the only specialized plant. Market participants are talking about a significant increase in the price of foreign raw materials due to high demand.

From:

https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8480248

He might as well congratulate Russia on passing intel to its ally Iran in the ukraine war to target locations and kill US troops "what a traitor " he shares a dictators distain and disposability of its people.

When a reporter asked about this he lashed out

Their was intel that Russians were offering a bounty on US troops in Afghanistan trump choose to ignore

40 million might help steal an election.

Another reason to shift to renewables. Fossil fuels are supplied by countries in very unstable regions usually ruled by autocrats, some of them like Putin anti Western. The US itself is ruled by someone who in my opinion leads a regime that is engaged in democratic backsliding.