"Back in late 2022, when "Western democracies" bombastically unveiled theatrical sanctions against Putin, capping the price at which imports of Russian oil were permitted to no higherthan $60, we said that this was one of the biggest farces in modern history, not only because it was an optical play that was made entirely for public consumption (as nobody in the west actually wanted to curtail Russian oil exports as the outcome would be a devastating surge of inflation as Biden now realizes), but also because there was no enforcement mechanism to cap the price at $60 and no more.
We were right, again, and today Bloomberg reports that "Russian oil is trading far in excess of a Group of Seven price cap that’s supposed to deprive Moscow of revenue for its war in Ukraine, suggesting significant non-compliance with the measure", which anyone with half a working brain would have expected to happen, which of course excludes virtually all "democratic" bureaucrats who implemented this idiotic sanction (which only ended up making the Vitol oil traders billionaires). Russian flagship Urals grade oil is now selling for $75 a barrel at the point it leaves ports in the Baltic Sea and Black Sea. A Treasury official told Bloomberg that US officials are tracking the price increase, which they attribute to broader geopolitical dynamics, as the alternative - admitting they are idiots, would be a bit too introspective." ZeroHedge
"Russia’s missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy system, the bombardment of its second-largest city and advances along the front are stoking worries that Kyiv’s military effort is nearing breaking point.
A dire shortage of ammunition and manpower along the 930 mile front and gaps in air defense show that Ukraine is at its most fragile moment in over two years of war, according to Western officials with knowledge of the situation. Zelenskiy called the military’s lack of air defense “the biggest challenge” in the hours after the attack.
Russian forces have also unleashed their firepower all along the frontline and made marginal gains since capturing the eastern city of Avdiivka in February. Kremlin troops are seeking to close in strategically key spots, such as the town of Chasiv Yar, west of Bakhmut in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
After months of stalling, Zelenskiy and Ukrainian lawmakers have expedited contested legislation to bolster the ranks of fighting forces, approving a lower conscription age and tightened rules for the draft." MS
"Russian forces have unleashed a wave of powerful high-precision strikes on Ukrainian energy and oil facilities across the country....the overnight large-scale attack had involved long-range air- and sea-based weapons, as well as drones. Ukrenergo, the national power grid operator, said the barrage had damaged energy facilities in Odessa, Kharkov, Zaporozhye, Lviv, and Kiev regions. It added that Kharkov Region, which borders Russia, had been affected by an emergency shutdown." RT
"Fifty-five combat engagements occurred on the battlefield in Ukraine in the past 24 hours, with enemy forces launching most attacks in the Bakhmut sector.
Russian air strikes targeted Derhachi, Lyptsi, Vovchansk, Kurylivka and Kruhliakivka in the Kharkiv region, Bilohorivka and Serebrianske Forestry in the Luhansk region, Spirne, Verkhniokamianske, Ivanivka, Oleksandropil, Semenivka, Novokalynove, Berdychi, Netailove, Krasnohorivka, Kostiantynivka, Vuhledar, Urozhaine and Staromaiorske in the Donetsk region, as well as Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region.
More than 120 settlements in the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions came under artillery fire.
The operational situation in the Volyn and Polissia sectors remains largely unchanged.
In the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna sectors, the enemy maintains his military presence in the border areas, conducting subversive activities to prevent the deployment of Ukrainian troops to dangerous sectors and increasing the density of minefields along the state border.
The enemy did not conduct offensive (assault) operations in the Kupiansk sector.
In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian soldiers repelled three enemy attacks outside Terny in the Donetsk region, where the enemy tried to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops.
In the Bakhmut sector, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 23 attacks near Bilohorivka, Luhansk region, Vyimka, Rozdolivka, Chasiv Yar and Klishchiivka in the Donetsk region.
In the Avdiivka sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled six attacks near Keramik, Berdychi, Umanske, Netailove and Pervomaiske in the Donetsk region.
On the Novopavlivka axis, Ukraine's defense forces continued to hold off the enemy near Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka and Novomykhailivka, where the enemy, supported by aircraft, made 16 attempts to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops.
In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy once attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders near Staromaiorske in the Donetsk region.
In the Kherson sector, the enemy did not abandon his intention to dislodge Ukrainian units from the bridgeheads on the east (left) bank of the Dnipro. In the past day, the enemy launched six unsuccessful attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops.
At the same time, Ukrainian soldiers continued to inflict losses on the occupation forces and their equipment, wearing down the enemy along the entire front line.
In the past day, Ukrainian aircraft struck an enemy manpower and equipment cluster, an anti-aircraft missile system, an artillery piece and an EW station." Ukrin
"Russian air defense systems destroyed 12 Ukrainian drones overnight over the Kursk, Tambov, Belgorod, Bryansk, Lipetsk regions and Mordovia, the Defense Ministry said in a statement." Sputnik
