TheOldGuy @TheOldGuy@qoto.org
I am a Democrat who supports Ukraine in their battle against The Russian Z fascist invaders.
I am a 73 year old Covid hermit who
lives on 10 acres in a sparsely populated area of the Ozarks. I heat with wood that is leftover by the lumber industry. When cutting oak for lumber only the trunk is used.
The largest town is population 2992. The county is 13k people scattered over 713 square miles.
Joined Dec 2022
Very good read. - Joyce Vance is amazing
Goodnight Resisters everywhere. I am going to bed early and hope we dont have that ice storm.
Russians captured over 3,600 km² of territory in Ukraine throughout 2024
The pace of the occupiers’ offensive increased significantly in the second half of the year. Below are the approximate areas captured monthly, excluding the Kursk oblast:
• June: 100 km²/month (3.4 km²/day)
• July: 160 km²/month (5.2 km²/day)
• August: 370 km²/month (12 km²/day)
• September: 400 km²/month (13.4 km²/day)
• October: 560 km²/month (18.7 km²/day)
• November: 610 km²/month (20.3 km²/day)
• December: 510 km²/month (16.45 km²/day)
The largest territorial losses occurred in Donetsk and Kharkiv oblasts, with Donetsk oblast facing the most intense Russian offensive efforts.
The most significant Russian advances were observed along the entire stretch from Velyka Novosilka to Ocheretyne, where the enemy seized over 2,400 km², with a maximum territorial depth of 45 km.
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The Prime Minister of Slovakia, who disappeared after his trip to Moscow, has been found in a “Madam Butterfly” suite in Vietnam costing 6,200 euros per night.
For the past 14 days, Slovakia has had no official information regarding the whereabouts of its Prime Minister, Robert Fico. The official disappeared after his trip to Moscow on December 22. When asked about his location, the government remained silent.
However, today Fico published a video message in which he threatened to stop supporting Ukrainian refugees, called the cessation of Russian gas supplies a “sabotage by Zelensky,” and noted that this causes Slovakia a financial loss of 500 million euros per year.
Slovak journalists have discovered that Fico is in Vietnam, staying in a luxurious “Madam Butterfly” suite. A night in this apartment costs a hefty 6,200 euros.
It seems that in such conditions, it’s much easier to talk about Slovakia’s financial losses than to address the country’s real problems.
Fico’s Russian gas scare failed, writes Politico.
Kyiv’s refusal to renew the transit deal with the Kremlin did not lead to the disaster Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico had warned about. His attempt to keep purchasing Russian gas fell flat, sparking exaggerated claims of an energy crisis in Central Europe that ultimately proved unfounded.
Fico claimed the deal’s expiration would have “radical consequences” for the EU and even threatened to halt electricity exports to Kyiv in retaliation. He aligned with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to pressure Ukraine, but within days of the gas cutoff, forecasts of shortages proved false, and prices remained stable.
According to Gas Infrastructure Europe, Slovakia’s gas reserves are over three-quarters full—above the seasonal average—while Hungary’s stand at 68%. Austria and the Czech Republic, also previously reliant on Russian gas, have significant reserves.
Energy experts dismissed Fico’s warnings. Laurent Ruseckas of S&P Global stated, “There are no supply problems for Slovakia or neighboring countries like Austria and the Czech Republic. Storage is high, and there are plenty of alternatives.” Michal Kocurek of EGÚ echoed this, noting that the perceived risk traders used to manipulate prices is now gone. “Slovakia is well supplied, and prices in the EU market are falling,” he added.
Many suspect Fico’s crisis narrative was more about protecting profits from Russian gas transit. Economist Vladimir Voño of GLOBSEC pointed out that Slovakia had been preparing for this scenario for a long time, making Fico’s warnings dubious.
Although Slovakia may see a slight increase in energy bills, traders had already accounted for the deal’s termination. Germany’s decision to waive transit fees for gas delivered to Central Europe further cushioned the impact. However, Slovakia stands to lose millions in transit revenues, and Fico’s direct talks with Putin in Moscow have isolated him further from EU leaders.
Ultimately, Politico concludes, Fico’s gambit backfired, undermining his leverage over Ukraine and deepening tensions with the EU.
I am a Democrat who supports Ukraine in their battle against The Russian Z fascist invaders.
I am a 73 year old Covid hermit who
lives on 10 acres in a sparsely populated area of the Ozarks. I heat with wood that is leftover by the lumber industry. When cutting oak for lumber only the trunk is used.
The largest town is population 2992. The county is 13k people scattered over 713 square miles.
Joined Dec 2022
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