Russia in the 21st Century [Superthread]

[The Bread Guy]

Darth Putin's take on the Estonian poke

Same guy who does the x.com feed also has a podcast:

In the Bunker with Darth Putin KGB

The official youtube channel of Darth Putin KGB and Liubov Tsybulska. Join us & guests as we discuss denials, why it's going to plan, and of course, master strategy.

www.youtube.com

 

[The Bread Guy]

How do you say "don't be snowflakes" in Polish?

Sikorski to Russia: don’t whine if your planes get shot down

Radosław Sikorski accused Moscow of “insane nationalism” and a “lust for domination.”

tvpworld.com

Worth the 4 minute listen - notice the head nod during this bit @ the end: "I have only one request to the Russian government: if another missile or aircraft enters our space without permission, deliberately or by mistake, and gets shot down ... please don't come here to whine about it. You have been warned."

These guys and the Finns may not be the ... optimal ones for USSR 2.0 to poke if they're looking for low-lying fruit.

Mind you, they may be good individually, but we'd have to see how the rest of NATO (or at least European NATO) would respond.

 

[RangerRay]

My theory about why NATO didn’t splash the Russian aircraft? They probably were not confident the US would have their backs in the ensuing diplomatic bruhah.

If two MiGs were splashed over Estonia, would Trump back up the Estonians or NATO? I’m doubtful.

 

[The Bread Guy]

One Russian deserter's departure - the long-ish way around via Norway (interesting tidbit: RUS's apparently sending prisoners returned from UKR back to the front according to the line crosser interviewed) ....

“There’s no way back”

The story of the Russian soldier who deserted from the war in Ukraine and ran across the border to Norway after nearly two weeks in the wilderness.

www.thebarentsobserver.com

... and a bit on USSR 2.0's own need for a bit of de-Nazification

Exclusive: The Russian Neo-Nazi Behind A Shadowy GRU Recruitment Campaign

What do Russia’s GRU, a neo-Nazi veteran of the Ukraine war, and former far-right soccer fans have in common? They’re linked to an ongoing campaign to recruit saboteurs in the US and Europe. RFE/RL’s investigative unit Systema documents those links for the first time.

www.rferl.org

 

[The Bread Guy]

First, they came for the FOREIGN museum bosses ....

Estonian Museum Director Sentenced to Russian Prison for Anti-Putin Banners

Maria Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova, the director of the Narva Museum in Estonia, was sentenced to Russian prison for hanging anti-Putin banners.

www.artnews.com

 

[The Bread Guy]

U.S. sending planes for a look see around the Baltic?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1971312468434854141

 

[childs56]

I think Europe needs to stand up their European Defence Force. The US can not be relied upon for stable support. They need to find allies within their own continent and maybe entice a country like Canada with lots of resources and ability to manufacture products to partner up with.
Until Europe stand so n its own two feet they will be a shadow of the US diplomacy dealing with real time issues on their borders.

 

[HavokFour]

U.S. sending planes for a look see around the Baltic?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1971312468434854141

I'd say it's related to those MiG-31's that violated Estonia's airspace around the Gulf of Finland a few days ago.

 

[HavokFour]

Might want to keep an eye on Moldova this weekend.

WARNING: Russia May Be Planning Violent Protests After the Moldovan Elections

Warning: The Kremlin is setting conditions to generate possibly violent protests to remove Moldovan President Maia Sandu from power.

understandingwar.org

 

[daftandbarmy]

Denmark is the cork in the Baltic bottle and, during the Cold War, was to be targeted by several airborne and marine units as a precursor to a Soviet naval sally into the N. Atlantic.

I wonder if this is part of the recce...

Drone incursions in Denmark were 'hybrid attack' – DW – 09/25/2025

NATO chief Mark Rutte said he took such incidents "very seriously" and was working with Denmark to ensure the security of critical infrastructure.

www.dw.com

 

[The Bread Guy]

Might want to keep an eye on Moldova this weekend.

WARNING: Russia May Be Planning Violent Protests After the Moldovan Elections

Warning: The Kremlin is setting conditions to generate possibly violent protests to remove Moldovan President Maia Sandu from power.

understandingwar.org

And Belarus, maybe?

Polish government urges citizens to leave Belarus immediately

The Polish Foreign Ministry emphasized that in the event of a sharp deterioration in the security situation, evacuation may not be possible

news.liga.net

Amid rising tensions, Poland urges citizens to 'immediately' leave Belarus

"In the event of a drastic deterioration in the security situation, border closures, or other unforeseen circumstances, evacuation may prove significantly more difficult or even impossible," Poland's Embassy in Minsk said in a statement.

kyivindependent.com

Poland urges its citizens to leave Belarus immediately

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recommended that its citizens immediately leave Belarus and refrain from traveling to the country, the Polish embassy in Minsk reported.

fakti.bg

Statement from the POL foreign ministry (Google translated screen capture - original in Polish here, archived in Polish here)

On that bit about "repeated arbitrary arrests of Polish citizens," am I the only one thinking it might be to put them someplace to make them, oh, I don't know, human shields or something?

History rhymes - this from '99?

Air strikes hampered by human shields

Nato's air campaign is being seriously disrupted by the human shields used by Serbian forces in Kosovo, officials admitted yesterday, raising new questions about the alliance's strategy of relying on high-level bombing.

www.theguardian.com

ALSO not reassuring ....

Russian Navy Ship Caught Lurking Off Denmark's Coast as Drones Attack

The vessel had its tracking equipment deactivated, indicating the vessel wished to avoid detection by Danish authorities.

www.newsweek.com

 

[Retired AF Guy]

Nice article from Moscow Times listing Russian officials who have "fallen" out of windows:

Death by Falling: A Timeline of Cases Across Russia and Abroad - The Moscow Times

A growing number of Russian officials, business executives and public figures have died under strange or violent circumstances since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Many were said to have fallen from windows and balconies.

www.themoscowtimes.com

Not listed are those officials who have met their demise by other means.

 

[HavokFour]

Yesterday it was announced that Russia will continue it's gasoline (and diesel) export ban into 2026. And now it seems they won't be paying fuel subsidies for gasoline for August. We might be hearing the same for September, next month.

Russia Moves to Extend Gasoline Export Ban Until 2026 as Shortages Persist - The Moscow Times

Russia’s government plans to extend its ban on gasoline exports through the end of the year as shortages continue to hit the domestic market, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday. “In the near future, we will extend the ban on gasoline exports until the end of the year, and a...

www.themoscowtimes.com

https://bsky.app/profile/delfoo.bsky.social%2Fpost%2F3lzq2arjhgs2e

 

[The Bread Guy]

Latest on Moscow's petro-woes ....

Russia Will Introduce a Partial Ban on Diesel Exports

Explore the latest dynamics in the oil market, including Russia's diesel export ban and rising oil prices.

www.spragueenergy.com

Kremlin bans fuel exports amid Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil sector

Russia’s ban on petrol exports is now extended until the end of the year as shortages continue to hit the domestic market and spread across the regions. Kyiv says that in less than two months, Ukrainian forces struck 85 high-value targets in Russia.

www.euronews.com

Russia Moves to Extend Gasoline Export Ban Until 2026 as Shortages Persist - The Moscow Times

Russia’s government plans to extend its ban on gasoline exports through the end of the year as shortages continue to hit the domestic market, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday. “In the near future, we will extend the ban on gasoline exports until the end of the year, and a...

www.themoscowtimes.com

Ukraine strikes on Russian oil might be too successful for Trump’s liking: Bousso | BOE Report

Ukraine's repeated strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have dealt a serious blow to Moscow's vital fuel exports just as Western sanctions are tightening. But if these attacks are too successful, they risk raising the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump. The conflict between Russia and...

boereport.com

 

[Rifleman62]

What it is like to live next to Russia. Great interviews.

Life on the NATO-Russia Border | Beyond Borders​

High above the Arctic Circle, on the Norwegian border with Russia, is a place where some say the Cold War never ended. Where a memorial to the Soviet soldiers who defeated the Nazis has a darker meaning since Russia invaded Ukraine. And where those trying to report what’s happening have been targeted by Moscow’s spy network, while anti-war protestors rally under the watchful eye of the Russian consulate. This is a community living with the threat of war between NATO and Russia, and the suspicion that hangs over everyone.

 

[Rifleman62]

Russian Submarine Novorossiysk Leaking Fuel in the Med! Forced to Surface in Strait of Gibraltar - 27 Sep 25​

Russian submarine Novorossiysk is at risk in the Mediterranean Sea. Russian news channel reports that the Black Sea Fleet submarine "Novorossiysk," currently on combat duty in the Mediterranean Sea, is experiencing serious technical problems. Due to damage in the fuel system, fuel is leaking directly into the hold. There are no spare parts for repairs or qualified specialists on the submarine, and the crew is unable to fix the malfunctions. The serious accident has caused other problems as well. The accumulated fuel in the hold is an explosive hazard. The source believes the crew has no choice but to start "pumping out the hold" directly into the sea.

Russian attack submarine ‘at risk of EXPLODING in Mediterranean after serious accident’ - 27 Sep 25​

A RUSSIAN submarine capable of carrying nuclear weapons suffered a "serious accident" in the Mediterranean, according to reports.Fuel is now said to be leaking from Putin's 242ft Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk - creating an "explosive hazard".