Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Corvus]

Interesting read from someone involved in US Army vehicle maintenance - basically images of shredded tyres show evidence of extremely poor maintenance of vehicles.

[PhaelixWW]

Interesting read from someone involved in US Army vehicle maintenance - basically images of shredded tyres show evidence of extremely poor maintenance of vehicles.

Ironically, China did Ukraine a favor by asking Putin to delay his invasion until after the Olympics.

[Corvus]

Ironically, China did Ukraine a favor by asking Putin to delay his invasion until after the Olympics.

Someone in the post added that the tyres are actually cheap Chinese knockoffs that aren't rated for the vehicles they are installed on.

[PhaelixWW]

Someone in the post added that the tyres are actually cheap Chinese knockoffs that aren't rated for the vehicles they are installed on.

If Ukraine survives this invasion and Zelensky is still alive, he should totally troll Xi Jinping with a fruit basket or something.

[Daymanmb]

Ukraine is offering Russian soldiers 5, 000, 000 Rubles (40-50, 000 USD) and asylum if they surrender. Pretty Brilliant.

[Corvus]

Ukraine is offering Russian soldiers 5, 000, 000 Rubles (40-50, 000 USD) and asylum if they surrender. Pretty Brilliant.

Better take that offer soon while those roubles are worth anything at all.

[Breccia]

We have more info about Biden's DOJ oligarch task force.

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced a new task force Wednesday charged with going after the crimes of Russian oligarchs, after President Biden previewed it at his State of the Union address Tuesday night.

"Tonight, I say to the Russian oligarchs and corrupt leaders who have bilked billions of dollars off this violent regime 'no more,'" Mr. Biden said. He continued, "We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts your luxury apartments your private jets. We are coming for your ill-begotten gains."

The Task Force KleptoCapture will be an interagency law enforcement group aimed at holding sanctioned Russian elites accountable, as Russia continues its aggressive invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions, imposed in cooperation with allies, aim to isolate Russia from global markets and punish Russian officials and elites in some way connected to the "unjustified act of war," as the Justice Department put it. The U.S. and European allies have been ratcheting up sanctions against Russian elites and even Russian President Vladimir Putin himself.

"The Justice Department will use all of its authorities to seize the assets of individuals and entities who violate these sanctions," Garland said in a statement. "We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those whose criminal acts enable the Russian government to continue this unjust war. Let me be clear: if you violate our laws, we will hold you accountable."

The task force will be run out of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, and will be made up of staff with expertise in asset forfeiture, anti-money laundering, tax enforcement and foreign evidence collection, among other specialties. Aside from Justice Department officials across the country, the task force will include agents from agencies including the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security, the IRS, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Marshals Service.

The task force will use tools ranging from intelligence sources to cryptocurrency tracing to seek out oligarchs who are trying to evade sanctions. European leaders are also on a mission to identify and seize the assets of sanctioned Russians.

I don't know that Putin warned his formerly rich friends to sell their real estate and get their yachts into international waters in time. While an oligarch in Russia losing his apartment and plane in the USA won't cripple them, it's yet another loss, one they can't recover because they're in Russia, plus it's humiliating.

[Corvus]

We have more info about Biden's DOJ oligarch task force.



I don't know that Putin warned his formerly rich friends to sell their real estate and get their yachts into international waters in time. While an oligarch in Russia losing his apartment and plane in the USA won't cripple them, it's yet another loss, one they can't recover because they're in Russia, plus it's humiliating.

Doubtful. They thought they'd be in and done before the West could react and any subsequent sanctions would be a slap on the wrist and not having their economy crushed and sustaining heavy losses.

- - - Updated - - -

Russian exporters have been offering their finest grade oil at a discount of $20 per barrel but are having trouble finding anyone wanting to buy. Sucks to be them.

[Joszef Kiprich]

But credits to putin. He even made companies like Shell and EA develop a moral compass

[DarkTZeratul]

But credits to putin. He even made companies like Shell and EA develop a moral compass

Big "at least Hitler killed Hitler" energy.

[PhaelixWW]

Russian exporters have been offering their finest grade oil at a discount of $20 per barrel but are having trouble finding anyone wanting to buy. Sucks to be them.

$20 off the price, eh? Otherwise known as $20 more than it was at the beginning of the year, before the war that they started.

So, yeah. Small wonder there are no takers.

[Corvus]

$20 off the price, eh? Otherwise known as $20 more than it was at the beginning of the year, before the war that they started.

So, yeah. Small wonder there are no takers.

Its more that Russian oil is toxic (and not just environmentally.) People are buying the oil from elsewhere at the higher price rather than buy discount Russian oil.

[PhaelixWW]

Its more that Russian oil is toxic (and not just environmentally.) People are buying the oil from elsewhere at the higher price rather than buy discount Russian oil.

My point was that even more unpalatable than buying oil from the person who started the war is buying from them for more than you would have spent had they not actually started the war.

Russia better drop their prices to below pre-war pricing before they find a buyer.

Or, you know, maybe they just never find a buyer. That works, too

[Corvus]

Yeah, lets go with that.

[Makabreska]

But credits to putin. He even made companies like Shell and EA develop a moral compass

It's less about moral compass and more about "if we won't do it then we put ourselves in bad light and potentially piss off people and face boycott".

[Kaleredar]

It's less about moral compass and more about "if we won't do it then we put ourselves in bad light and potentially piss off people and face boycott".

Hey man, whatever gets the sausage made.

[Rasulis]

$20 off the price, eh? Otherwise known as $20 more than it was at the beginning of the year, before the war that they started.

So, yeah. Small wonder there are no takers.

It will be hard to find a buyer at any price.

No banks are willing to either offer the loan or process the payment out of fear of being sanctioned.

No tanker companies are willing to transport the crude because of sanction and the possibility of getting the cargo, and possibly the tanker, confiscated.

Good luck finding a refinery outside of Russia willing to process the crude.

[PhaelixWW]

Ironically, a few hours after I posted this:

At Mongolia? Why?

...this article was released:

Reuters: Mongolia's East-West balancing act buffeted by Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Rasulis]

Ironically, a few hours after I posted this:

...this article was released:

Reuters: Mongolia's East-West balancing act buffeted by Russian invasion of Ukraine

Mongolia, ordinary Russian citizens, etc. They are all collateral damage of the economic sanction. I wish there is another way.

[Joszef Kiprich]

It's less about moral compass and more about "if we won't do it then we put ourselves in bad light and potentially piss off people and face boycott".

I was just joking. Shell will keep on exploiting people in Africa. EA removes russian teams only to add them later in the shop