Russians Threaten To Rise Up As Economy Spirals

Russians are threatening to rise up as the economy deteriorates. Unpaid Kuzbass miners are invoking the 1990s “Rail War,” while farmers face collapsing grain exports, bankruptcies and pressure from banks. Black Sea disruption is also hitting steel exports. Oil revenue is falling, the ruble is weakening and Ukrainian strikes on refineries are worsening fuel shortages. Russians report gasoline queues and Soviet-style preferential access. The Kremlin is selling state assets, including a Novorossiysk port stake, as Ukraine expands attacks on shipping, including the NEFRIT in Sochi. Russia’s Starlink rival is suffering satellite failures. In occupied Crimea, residents are openly blaming Putin for shortages. Russian military bloggers are ridiculing fabricated battlefield victories. A senior bomber commander has reportedly been shot. Germany is also facing attacks on energy and transport infrastructure as Russian propaganda talks of dividing the country again. Putin must now finance an expanding war while economic anger spreads at home.