Sanctions finally threaten Russia’s oil production

Sanctions may finally force Russia to cut oil production. That’s significant because once you shut down wells it isn’t easy to start them back up again.

Russian crude exports have remained broadly stable in recent years despite sweeping Western sanctions and a sharp reduction in energy purchases by Europe. Moscow successfully redirected most of its seaborne crude to China, India and Turkey, often relying on a “shadow fleet” of aging, uninsured tankers to circumvent restrictions while offering steep discounts.

That resilience is now under strain. Exports have slowed in recent months after President Trump tightened sanctions and imposed tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil.

Demand has also been hit by a European Union ban on imports of fuels refined from Russian crude that came into force last month.

Russian seaborne crude exports fell to 3.4 million barrels per day (bpd) in January from 3.8 million bpd in December, and are currently tracking around 2.8 million bpd in February, according to analytics firm Kpler.

At the same time, the volume of Russian oil held on ships has climbed to a record high above 150 million barrels in recent months, while many tankers have also slowed their speeds – both signs of weaker buying.

No doubt China will benefit from even bigger discounts on Russian crude.

Another 100 Russians fed into the meat grinder.

Dr. HIMARS makes another house call in Belgorod.

Yeah, I’m sure that’ll happen. 🙄

Bryansk goes mostly dark.

Russia now has one less T-72 tank.

And fewer trucks and Scooby vans.

Third time is the charm.

Russia is now using anti-ship missiles against Ukraine’s power grid.

Spontaneous combustion seems to be a growing problem in Russia.

Europe still treats these incidents as law enforcement issues instead of as hostile acts by a foreign government. That needs to change. Russia will continue not do this because they see these agents as expendable and they don’t have to pay any other price.

This is correct. But there is no way that Europe would have done that out of fear of angering Putin.

If these three guys were a rock band, what would their name be?

They might as well play the Swiss bar scene, because that would be more productive than negotiating with Russia.

As nimble as sperm? Good lord.

2/ ‘Voenkor Kotenok’ writes:”On the front lines, they’re often called “runners.” They’re supposedly special forces/semi-combatants on errands. They’re supposedly as nimble as sperm, evading even drones.”

3/ “The attitude is somewhat dismissive, as if they’re not second-class citizens, but rather just helpers. They say there are “tough guys,” assault troops, a military elite (and there is one, right?), and then there are the runners, the lackeys. You get the idea.

4/ “This attitude is fundamentally flawed. It’s a thing of the past, and therefore incorrect. At the very least, Bakhmut made it clear that runners aren’t lackeys, not an appendage, but fully-fledged components of our army’s entire combat system in modern conditions. We have what we have.

5/ “Without runners, it’s a dead end. Translated into plain English: without them, our current war is impossible.

….

12/ “Runners provide assault troops and reinforcement units with everything they need, “from a tractor to an enema.” Their job is to MANUALLY deliver weapons, ammunition, communications equipment, gear, uniforms, food, water, medicine, hygiene products, etc. …

13/ …to the frontline base, if needed. They run, ride, race, gallop, carrying in their hands, on their shoulders, behind their backs, on their backs, all the most valuable and essential things that will save many lives.

14/ “Runners are indispensable where the enemy has “clogged the skies” with electronic warfare. Where a robot can’t go, a human can. If they’re killed, they’ll be replaced by a new one, who will follow the same or an adjusted route.

There is video of the assault on the Russian facility on their side of the Kerch bridge, which has (or had) one of the largest oil export terminals in the country. Looks like it was hit by one of Ukraine’s lethal Fallen Debris missiles.

Ya know, Ukraine should rename the Flamingo to Fallen Debris.

Ukrainian traitors doing Russia’s dirty work.

Blowing up Russian drone centers has become more important than taking out a tank.

Another 1,180 Russians who drew short straws. Plus 4 tanks.

In the last week 30 more Russian officers have been confirmed as dead.

Good riddance.

The population of this town south of Moscow has doubled since the 80s, but the war death toll jumped 10 times.

In technical military terms this is known as an ass whipping.

Russian murderers sometimes get multiple Get Out of Jail Free cards.

It will probably take a Ukrainian drone to finally deliver justice for his victims.

The driver was a disabled Ukrainian veteran.

When you accuse those in power in Russia of being corrupt and traitorous fools, you are destined for a swift plunge from a window or a long stint in Lefortovo.

And yet, Trump and Witkoff continue to push the putrid lie that Russia wants peace.

Rubio needs to STFU and go home. When we have a real president and a Secretary of State who isn’t a bootlicker, we need to put the screws to leaders like Orban.

Croatia tells Hungary to blow it out their asses.

What a difference it would make if Hillary was in the White House instead of the racist pedophile.

One of the biggest problem with what Trump is doing to America’s international alliances is that numerous countries are going to develop their own nuclear weapons because they know they can’t rely of America having their backs. And that makes use of those weapons far more likely.

Mines are making a big comeback. It is unfortunate because these mines end up killing long after wars have ended, but they are very effective at defending against armies like Russia’s.

It actually looks like a fun way to get around.

A heartbreaking story, one of thousands.

Compare the above video to this one from Russia.

Don’t laugh at me. Are you laughing at me? I’ll bark your brains out.

Pig lives matter too.