re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict.

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RIP Mikhail.

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Did he succumb to the “jab”?

LINK

Will be interesting to see what happens if all the yellow areas turn red.

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The Federal Tax Service has started receiving more data about the accounts and companies of Russians in the UAE.

From January 2026, an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation will come into effect, and claims against owners of undeclared assets in the Emirates may become widespread. So far, only Russia has ratified the document.

This is Putin’s money grab and it will affect all the russian elite mafioso, including all oligarchs and Kadyrov who has stashed billions in hidden shell companies and property in Dubai - with the blessing of the Sheikhs.

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The oligarch hunting continues. This is clearly not a double taxation agreement, which would allow citizens of both countries to deduct taxes paid in their country of residence against taxes paid to their country of origin. Which is a very common type of agreement throughout the world. I'd be surprised if the UAE and Russia didn't already have such agreement for many years.

But double taxation treaties focus only on taxes paid on income derived in the country of residence. There is no reason to declare all underlying assets in the country of residence to the country of origin. That would be closer to the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), a law designed to fight terrorism, money laundering and tax avoidance by foreign nationals doing business or investing in the US.

So what Putin is doing here is establishing an agreement with the UAE to have that government declare to Moscow the ownership of UAE assets by Russian citizens. Including and most especially bank accounts. Although called a double taxation agreement, it has nothing to do with taxes. It is solely existing to allow Moscow to grab these assets.

As these assets were stolen from Russia, no Russian owner will stand in the way unless they want what Mr. Kenin (above post) got. Thus the statement, "...claims against owners of undeclared assets in the Emirates may become widespread." All these Russian thieves can do is keep quiet and watch their looted billions disappear back to Moscow.

But wait... it gets worse. Without that largesse, they will quickly have problems staying in the UAE. Every foreign national living in the Persian Gulf countries has to have a legal sponsor, which in the UAE is a local law firm connected to the sheiks. And Emirates lawyers are notoriously expensive. Residents living there due to the non-extradition laws will pay through the nose and have no choice.

The Russians have a tight window to move their possessions before 2026, but tracking this money will not be difficult for the Kremlin as they almost certainly have the lists of Russian-owned assets already. And of course trying to hide it will be a very unhealthy option.

It just breaks your heart.

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Not looking good. When this guy starts admitting the reality and openly asks if Ukrainian society is still willing to fight this war you know it is getting critical. He admits that there is a large segment of Ukrainian society that are doing nothing and don't give a shite. He also admits the massive shortfall for Ukraine in manpower. The drone operators are beginning to get overwhelmed.

Another neutral observer stating the obvious. Lack of infantry is catching up with Ukraine. Inadequate training of the few replacements and the soldiers will die or desert.

Z stating they will not give up an inch of territory and the reality is their main defense lines are being breached. Two huge cauldrons are forming.

AFU stop enemy advance in Dobropillia and Pokrovsk sectors, some groups already destroyed

12.08.2025 17:21

Defense Forces are taking effective measures to stop the advance of Russian troops in the Dobropillia and Pokrovsk sectors, where the enemy has concentrated more than 110,000 personnel.

Andrii Kovalov, Spokesman of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, informed about this in a comment to Ukrinform.

“Our units are engaged in difficult defensive battles against superior enemy forces. In the Pokrovsk sector alone, the occupiers have concentrated more than 110,000 personnel,” Kovalov claimed.

According to the Spokesman, Russian invaders are acting defiantly to penetrate deep into the Ukrainian defense line. Despite their losses, they are trying to infiltrate Ukrainian defensive lines with sabotage and small infantry groups, Kovalon explained.

Several small groups of enemy forces attempted to advance towards the village of Zolotyi Kolodiaz by bypassing the positions of Ukrainian defenders. Additionally, saboteurs infiltrated the settlements of Vesele, Vilne, Rubizhne, and Kucheriv Yar, taking advantage of the local terrain. The General Staff Spokesman emphasized that some of the groups have already been eliminated, and the rest are in the process of being eliminated.

Kovalov noted that the situation is difficult and dynamic, but the Defense Forces are taking all necessary measures to detect and destroy enemy groups. In particular, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has allocated additional forces and resources to strengthen the defense. Specific measures have been planned to block enemy groups in a particular area.

"Reserve units have already detected the enemy and are making initial progress. Occupiers are being destroyed and taken prisoner," the Spokesman stressed. He added that Ukraine’s defenders are focused on fulfilling their tasks and holding their positions. They need the support of the entire society to repel new enemy attacks.

According to Ukrinform, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi has allocated additional forces and resources to detect and destroy enemy sabotage groups in the Pokrovsk sector.

Ukrinform

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strategically unimportant town

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Keep ignoring reality. To say that Pokrovsk wasnt strategically important is laughable. What about the other cauldron that is forming? Are those two cities that it threatens strategically unimportant also?

If Ukraine cannot contain this you can join Cope in a couple of weeks in blaming Trump for this disaster.

You are either naive, in denial or dishonest. I can think of only a couple that would say this. To say that Pokrovsk was strategically unimportant. Makes you wonder why Ukraine has fought so hard and for so long to hold their defensive positions there? What about Kramatorsk?

Congratulations you have achieved Cope and Bagdad Bob of Kiev status.

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Isn’t Pokrovsk a key fortress on the front?
It overlooks the terrain to the east. I think it is one of five such citadels on that front.

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Yes it is. It was one of Ukraine's main defensive citadels. Has been since 2014.

But is is strategically unimportant and you wouldn't even know it was on a map if there was not fighting there.

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Isn’t Pokrovsk a key fortress on the front?
It overlooks the terrain to the east. I think it is one of five such citadels on that front.

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No, it's mostly a plain that seems to be unsuitable for defense, yet the Ukrainians have held it for a year:

Terrain of Pokrovsk

They haven't been fighting there since 2014, so I don't know what he's talking about.

Also, they have an infrastructure that might be considered important, but since the Russians have damaged, if not destroyed it outright, along with the fact that they don't bother to repair anything they actually take it rather negates anything of actual value.

The Russians picked a town they thought they could take for the sake of taking it. They have failed thus far.