Sanctions against Russia

[willedoo]

It's been said that these Russian 'Turtle' tanks are becoming more common. It severely restricts turret movement so they must be getting concerned about their tank losses.

 

[red750]

[willedoo]

Putler won't be pleased. One of his two NATO lapdogs has been shot in an assassination attempt. Pro Russian Slovakian PM Robert Fico was shot in the stomach with the injuries described as life threatening. I doubt anyone in Ukraine will shed a tear. Fico had vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO, stopped all military aid to Ukraine when he was elected last year and holds the view that Ukraine is not an independent and sovereign country. He has also been accused of repeating Kremlin claims that the war was started by Ukrainian Nazis. This will certainly shake his Siamese twin Viktor Orban in Hungary.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-15/slovakia-prime-minister-robert-fico-shot/103853772

[willedoo]

It's hard to know what to read into putler's reshuffle of positions of those in his close circle. Sergei Shoigu has been removed as defence minister, being replaced by an economist. Some commentary sees this as a recognition by putler that they need to tighten up manufacturing and supply for a long extended war. Previous to Shoigu being dismissed from the defence minister's job, his second in command was arrested on corruption charges. Possibly putin thinks a civilian economist can get a handle on the waste, theft, and manufacturing problems in the defence materiel sector.

 

Security chief Nikolai Patrushev has also been relieved of his post. He's the one most talked about as a successor to putin. The talk has been that Shoigu will take over his job. That makes sense for putin as Shoigu is a long trusted associate. Perhaps putin thinks having Shoigu overseeing the security branch will prevent Patrushev plotting against him. I haven't seen any mention of Patrushev's possible new position. From his point of view, probably as far away from the window as possible.