re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict.

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These oligarchs love money and power.

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Important to remember about the Oligarchs.

The first batch (Yeltsin's Oligarchs) were the party elites who "bought" the industries they were in charge of after the collapse of the USSR.

The second batch (Putin's Oligarchs) are the people Putin gave industries to (often displacing the first batch) as he took and consolidated power. They seem to be former KGB types and underworld figures.

Both groups are only allowed to have their positions because of Putin.

Neither has any power independent of Putin (especially the first batch).

No one who demonstrates that they could become strong and independent is allowed to remain an Oligarch (or alive).

The only Oligarch I've seen even mentioned to being someone who might stand up to Putin is essentially a member of the Russian Mafia who might have more control over that segment than Putin, but he has not made waves because he has never overstepped his place.

The Oligarchs will not be who gets rid of Putin.

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I think the pressure ratchets up only when the inner circle and Putin begin losing a great deal of money.

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The outer circle of oligarchs is being "allowed" to fund the war. When/if Putin has to start breaking open the piggy banks of his biggest supporters, things could get interesting

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Russian oil refinery in Samara Oblast in flames after drone attack, media reports.

The Novokuibyshevsk refinery in Russia's Samara Oblast was hit by drones in an overnight attack, the Russian Telegram news channel Astra reported on Aug. 28, citing local reports and footage.

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This refinery (176kbbls/day) just burned itself out after last Wednesday's attack. Sechin is probably apoplectic.

More videos.

And more.

Seems to be a popular video to post in Russia this AM.

A second refinery hit last night...? Damn, this is getting hard to keep up with.

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Hit last February, it seems repairs were just completed. 126.000 bbls/day off line again.

The 'Before' picture -




More vids.

The Volgograd / Rostov regions rail capacity is more out of service than in. Repairs are useless as these substations are hit at leisure.

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Close to 1,000 shells per day. More needed but this is the blueprint going forward.

quote:

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Important to remember about the Oligarchs.

The first batch (Yeltsin's Oligarchs) were the party elites who "bought" the industries they were in charge of after the collapse of the USSR.

The second batch (Putin's Oligarchs) are the people Putin gave industries to (often displacing the first batch) as he took and consolidated power. They seem to be former KGB types and underworld figures.

Both groups are only allowed to have their positions because of Putin.

Neither has any power independent of Putin (especially the first batch).

No one who demonstrates that they could become strong and independent is allowed to remain an Oligarch (or alive).

The only Oligarch I've seen even mentioned to being someone who might stand up to Putin is essentially a member of the Russian Mafia who might have more control over that segment than Putin, but he has not made waves because he has never overstepped his place.

The Oligarchs will not be who gets rid of Putin.

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Agreed, all good points. Oligarchs alone can't do it.

It is important to add that the Russian security services, primarily the FSB and GUR, are the true sources of political and judicial power. They and their inter-agency families and their criminal gangs in and out of the country are really the controlling forces in Russia today. Even Putin has to get agreement from these agencies before making any serious moves.

The oligarchs have the financial resources and thus buy security from these agencies but this is defensive security. To project power, in other words to have someone arrested, stripped of assests, murdered, etc., you have to have the backing of a significant branch or 'family' within the agencies. Plus a lot of money to pay for this.

Money alone won't do it. Look at Khodorkovsky. He was the richest man in Russia, worth an estimated $15 billion in 2003. But he didn't have the significant support from the security groups. That's because he had never been a member of the security agencies and didn't understand how they operate.

Political power alone won't do it either, as illustrated by Prigozhin and the Wagner Group. The Kremlin justifiably feared them and therefore cut off their funding. The result is well known.

But life within these security agencies is no bed of roses. These agencies are snake pits and very dangerous places to work. And with the huge disruptions in Russia today, the security service members are looking to protect themselves more than ever before. This results in the larger more powerful groups and families within these agencies forcing the smaller groups to combine with them in less protected positions. This kind of pressure ramps up desperation among non-aligned minor families as their positions are isolated. There is only so much money and political protection to go around. And with the drone strikes every night, money is tight.

To end Putin's regime, it will take desperation on the parts of at least one major oligarch plus a number of well-connected security family members. They must have a complete understanding of all the components within a security agency and the money to buy the support. That's a tall order for sure, but the writing on the wall for Putin is now clear. He can't stop the war and his regime is failing fast. Getting a chair when that music stops is the present focus and will soon become obsessive.

NOTE: death toll has risen to 18 including 4 children

Massive Russian air raid shreds neighborhoods across Kyiv

August 28, 2025, 12:29 AM


Photo: REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

At least eight people were killed and more than 30 others, including children, were injured in an overnight Russian combined drone and missile air attack on the Ukrainian capital, the Kyiv City State Administration’s (KCSA) head Tymur Tkachenko reported on Telegram on Aug. 28.

The enemy targeted the city’s densely populated areas with Shahed drones, ballistic and cruise missiles, damaging approximately one hundred buildings and infrastructure facilities.

NV - Reuters photos

i've seen a few reports that the "breakthrough" was allowed by Ukraine to chop up the incursion and already had the Azov unit standing by. This means that Ukraine's dire need for troops may also be not as bad as reported. This maybe hyped by Ukraine to get Russia to make stupid decisions.

LINK LINK

Seems like Russia is lighting Kiev up again. On the front Russia has made some gains to the South in the Zaporizhzhia (no more money for Ukraine until they make city names easier to spell) and Ukraine has had some success pushing back Russian forces in the city of Pokrovsk.