AP News: Russia struggles to replenish its troops in Ukraine BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS — August 11, 2022 The prisoners at the penal colony in St. Petersburg were expecting a visit by officials, thinking it would be some sort of inspection. Instead, men in uniform arrived and offered them amnesty — if they agreed to … Continue reading War Notes: Russian Recruitment Woes
Given that I’m but a humble news aggregator-blogger, sifting for truth in the reams and sheafs of claims and counterclaims about the Ukraine War is a never-ending chore: > Ukraine is winning! Nope-Russia is winning. > Putin will use nukes any minute! Relax; he wouldn’t dare. > The Ukraine war is really helping China. Fuggedit … Continue reading Russia, Sanctions, The War, and Sifting for Truth
Moscow’s ex-chief rabbi warns of ‘dark clouds’ for Russian Jews Issued on: 28/07/2022 Jerusalem (AFP) – Moscow’s former chief rabbi now living in exile in Israel warned Thursday of “dark clouds on the horizon” for Russian Jews, as ties between the two countries deteriorate over the Ukraine war. Pinchas Goldschmidt, who left Russia in March … Continue reading War Notes: Russian Jewish Community facing “dark clouds” over Ukraine war
The Guardian: How the war has robbed Ukraine’s oligarchs of political influence Analysis: Five months since Russia’s invasion started, Ukraine’s wealthiest have gone quiet – but for how long? Isobel Koshiw in Kyiv — Sat 23 Jul 2022 Ukraine’s richest people, known in the country as oligarchs, are used to dominating political and economic life. … Continue reading Benched: Ukraine’s Oligarchs Are Waiting for a Break
Here are three analyses of how the Ukraine war is unfolding, especially from Vladimir Putin’s perspective. The first is by Tatiana Stanovaya, a U. S.-based scholar who has observed Putin and tracked his thinking and actions for twenty years. She argues, in sum, that Putin has a plan for conquering and absorbing/erasing Ukraine, and despite … Continue reading Three-Part Thinkpiece: Putin, His War, And Ours?