re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Russia's key coal industry on verge of financial collapse
Thursday, 27 June 2024, 18:31

Profits in Russia's coal mining sector have plummeted by 93% in the first four months of 2024 to just RUB 14.3 billion (roughly US$161.2 million).

Source: Russian newspaper The Moscow Times, citing data from Russia's Federal State Statistics Service

Details: It is noted that less than half of the companies in the industry ended the first four months of 2024 in the black, compared to two-thirds a year ago. Additionally, their total financial result was halved to RUB 72 billion (roughly US$820 million).

The Moscow Times adds that every second company, based on official statistics, became unprofitable (52.4%), with their total losses for the first four months of 2024 reaching RUB 58 billion (roughly US$663.4 million).

Consequently, the coal miners' profit in January-April totalled only RUB 14.3 billion, down almost RUB 200 billion (roughly US$2.2 billion) from the same period a year earlier.

Russia's coal industry is one of the largest raw material industries in the country's economy, spanning over 30 monotowns and employing 650,000 people.

Cut off from Western markets by sanctions, coal companies are rapidly losing customers in countries that the Kremlin calls "friendly". Russian coal exports fell by 13% in the year's first quarter.

India, which accounts for about a third of Russia's coal exports, reduced imports by 22% to 6.76 million tonnes in March-May. Exports to Türkiye, South Korea and Japan plummeted as well.

China, the largest buyer of Russian raw materials, imposed an import duty on coal that does not apply to other suppliers, such as Indonesia and Australia, which are members of the free trade zone with China.

In addition, prices for Russian coal have reached a three-year low: US$95 per tonne in the Far East ports (6% since the beginning of the year), US$72 per tonne in Taman (13%), and only US$61 in the Baltic Sea ports (14%).

The Moscow Times noted that Russia's coal industry is currently in a state of cash gap (when incoming payments are less than expenses), and by the end of the year, its negative cash flow is expected to reach RUB 450 billion (roughly US$5.1 billion).

Additionally, the cost of coal increased by 30% due to rising expenses for imported equipment, railway tariffs, wagon rentals, port transshipment, ship insurance, and loan servicing, all driven by a sharp rise in Russia's Central Bank's key rate.

Ukrainska Pravda

Russian official calls for total destruction of 'everything Ukrainian'

by Nate Ostiller and The Kyiv Independent news desk June 27, 2024 4:00 PM

Dmitry Rogozin, a Russian official heading the Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, said on June 27 that it is "time to burn everything Ukrainian down to the root" so that "there is no trace left."

Rogozin's comments were the latest in a long series of genocidal comments directed at Ukraine made by Russian officials and propagandists, a trend that has only increased since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The genocidal intent of Russia's aggression toward Ukraine has manifested in war crimes and indiscriminate violence directed at Ukrainian civilians, but also in the denial and distortion of history, attempts to erase Ukrainian culture, and the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children.

Rogozin, who serves as the "senator" of occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, also referenced the need to destroy Ukrainian literature and history in his comments. He previously was the CEO of the state-run space corporation Roscosmos, a deputy prime minister, and the ambassador to NATO.

There can be "no truce" with Ukrainians, Rogozin said, because "any truce, let alone reconciliation, is certain death for our children and grandchildren."

And if you’ve read the thread you’d know that Vol is an attention whore, he exagerates a lot and he makes excuses for Russia every day.

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Notice how none of this references anything I actually said, because it was 100% accurate.

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How long is your nose?

US in talks to send Israel’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

Transfer of up to eight batteries would mark shift in Israel’s relations with Moscow


Financial Times

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The US, Israel and Ukraine are in talks to supply Kyiv with up to eight Patriot air defence systems, dramatically improving its ability to counter Russian air strikes. While not finalised, the arrangement would likely involve the highly prized Patriot systems being sent first from Israel to the US, before being delivered to Ukraine.

The outlines of the deal, which would mark a shift in Israel’s relations with Moscow, have been discussed between ministers and senior officials of the three countries, according to five people briefed on the negotiations.

Israel said in April that it would begin retiring its eight Patriot batteries, which date back more than 30 years, and replacing them with more advanced systems.

But the batteries, which have been used in Israel’s current war with Hamas, have not yet been discontinued due to concerns that tensions with the Iran-backed Hizbollah militant group could erupt into a full-blown war.

If realised, such a transfer would represent a step change in Ukraine’s defensive capabilities. The country currently has at least four Patriot systems, supplied by both the US and Germany.

Ukraine has frequently requested that western allies supply it with air defence systems, in particular the US-made Patriots. Last week, the US announced that it was pausing the delivery of Patriot interceptor missiles to other nations to prioritise supply to Ukraine.

Israel has been cautious about taking sides over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine given the clout Moscow holds in Syria, where the Israeli air force often acts against Iranian proxies.

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More at the link.

Why would they care if the are both problem children?

(no message)

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US in talks to send Israel’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

Transfer of up to eight batteries would mark shift in Israel’s relations with Moscow

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Anyone who supports this is absolutely insane. Zelenskyy is ready to talk peace and we up the ante in a fashion more provocative than anything we did during the cold war? The people running our country / NATO have an end goal that we aren't privy to, because none of this makes sense (or has ever made sense).

Seeing these last several posts and who they are from tells me that Russia must be losing and the VK gave marching orders