Ukraine war thread

[Dr Strangelove]

[Dr Strangelove]

[Dr Strangelove]

[Dr Strangelove]

[Dr Strangelove]

[Dr Strangelove]

Rise of the machines

[Dr Strangelove]

This measure specifically targets Russia's "shadow fleet" of tankers, with 43 more ships added to the sanction list, bringing the total to 640 designated tankers.

Note: while the EU is cracking down on Russian oil, it has significantly increased its import of Russian liquefied natural gas
In January 2026, EU buyers purchased 92.6% of Russia's Yamal LNG production, totaling 1.6 million tons, an 8% increase over January 2025. This reliance on Russian LNG is set to continue until a scheduled EU ban on LNG imports from Russia takes effect on January 1, 2027

[al_keda]

[Dr Strangelove]

Russia escalating loss in influence is getting more and more obvious by the day. Three current developments in the Far East underscore this self-inflicted wound:

1.) China stopped Russian electricity imports since January 2026. This is confirmed by Reuters and Kommersant. It stems from a 42% price surge in Russia's Far East due to deregulation, breaching contract minimums and exposing grid decay from war-diverted funds.

2.) The Power of Siberia 2 pipeline remains stalled without a final investment decision, as China demands subsidized domestic gas prices - around $130 per 1,000 cubic meters - while Mongolia excluded the project from its 2024-2028 development plan, complicating transit.

3.) Gazprom's premature construction of a 410km Siberian section of Power of Siberia 2 reflects Russia's vulnerability, with Gazprom facing renewed losses from unsold Yamal gas after Europe's rejection. Europe will phase out Russian gas by the end of 2027, altogether. Natural gas prices in Europe have already reached pre-war levels.

It underscores Russia’s failed "pivot to East" policy as Beijing dictates terms which not only pale in comparison to the lucrative deals Russia had with Europe, but also reduces Russia to a highly dependent vassal state which in the end will have to concede to Beijing demands.

[Dr Strangelove]