re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict.

How many more blocks did Russia take this week?

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just a tool to keep European nations weak and subservient to the U.S. (he wasn't wrong


Perspective can shape reality at times. A large number of US citizens feel NATO gives the US the shaft, and then you have factions like the one you discussed probably in all NATO countries who feel we are giving them the shaft. None of them are technically incorrect about that basic premise in some sense.

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Well, the U.S. by far was the biggest beneficiary of NATO (allowing us to dictate specs that favored US arms manufacturers, and to full out write the security policies of all the other members) and Globalism, for that matter.

Anti-NATO sentiment always ruled the pacifist or anarchist (not to mention Soviet-sympathizer) fringes of the Left...

But on the Right it was a very recent development, and I'm not sure Trump wasn't the first person to start blabbering about that in 1987 (granted, he wasn't a Republican, then). But everybody on the Right now objected to the Invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, in their memory...

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Quite a few. You can see the map scale in kilometers

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Really???

I can hardly see a change from last week’s.

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Well, the U.S. by far was the biggest beneficiary of NATO (allowing us to dictate specs that favored US arms manufacturers, and to full out write the security policies of all the other members) and Globalism, for that matter.

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So an alliance that kept the peace in Europe where wars had raged for decades helped the US more than these other nations who were destroying each other?

NATO also kept the Communists on their side of the iron curtain and eventually enabled Eastern Europe to regain their independence.

I think NATO was a good symbiotic relationship for all its members.

LINK

A history and recap of the current situation in Transnistria -

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While previous Moldovan governments often tolerated informal economic arrangements that allowed Transnistria to function autonomously, current policy has aimed at reintegrating the region into Moldova’s legal and economic framework, particularly through alignment with European Union trade rules.

The disruption of Russian gas supplies has further exacerbated Transnistria’s vulnerability, triggering energy shortages, industrial shutdowns, and a broader economic contraction.

Critical Change in 2026: Since January 1, 2026, Ukraine and Moldova have tightened controls on movement of people and goods around Transnistria, effectively isolating the region logistically and politically and making it harder for Russian influence and supplies to flow through loosely controlled routes.

These measures include stricter border controls and customs enforcement — not active combat operations. Transnistria has faced a substantial energy crisis because Russian gas transit through Ukraine was ended and there are difficulties maintaining energy supplies. This has led to industrial shutdowns, blackouts, and significant hardship.

Some online reports (e.g., from certain media channels) initially claimed that all supply lines were cut and that Russian troops were isolated, but those articles were retracted or overstated the situation. About 1,500 Russian troops remain stationed in Transnistria, and there has been no confirmed large-scale Russian withdrawal or surrender.

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LINK

Undoubtedly, Putin is scared because if a populace as oppressed as Iran can throw off its regime, so can Russians, unless they truly are sheeple

'Russia is trying to disconnect Kyiv' — Supermarkets, public transport struggle after yet more strikes on energy infrastructure

by Volodymyr Ivanyshyn, Sonya Bandouil, Dominic Culverwell

January 13, 2026 8:44 AM

Around 70% of Kyiv is without electricity after yet another Russian mass strike overnight on Jan. 13, with Ukrenergo, the state-owned grid operator, saying Moscow's forces aim to "disconnect the city."

Already facing chronic power shortages in freezing temperatures forecast to plunge as low as -22 in the coming days, the latest attack comes just four days after the last mass assault on civilian infrastructure.

Ballistic missile explosions rocked Ukraine's capital at around 1:10 a.m. local time on Jan. 13, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground. Additional explosions were also heard around 8:30 a.m. local time.

The Kyiv suburbs of Bucha, Hostomel, and Irpin were reportedly left without power and running water following Russian strikes. Emergency power outages have also largely been implemented in Kyiv and parts of Kyiv Oblast, Ukrenergo reported.

"The Russians are trying to disconnect the city and force people to move outside (Kyiv)," Vitaliy Zaichenko, Ukrenergo CEO, told the Kyiv Independent, saying a number of substations had been hit overnight and "70% of Kyiv is without electricity."

"We have information that Russia is ready to start the next wave of attacks with cruise missiles," he added.

DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, said its thermal power plant was attacked again, with equipment at the facility damaged as a result of the strike. The company noted that this was the eighth attack on its thermal power plants since October last year.

"Maybe this wasn't the worst attack, but this is the worst impact we've seen. Compared to all previous winters, the situation now is the worst," Olena Pavlenko, president of the Kyiv-based energy-focused think tank DiXi Group, told the Kyiv Independent.

The Kyiv Independent

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Ukraine needs to start attacking Russia's power grids on a regular basis

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They don’t have the capability.

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Ukraine needs to start attacking Russia's power grids on a regular basis

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I think Ukraine needs to continue on with what they are currently doing.

They are hurting the Russian economy which in turn impacts the military.

Changing tactics now is not a good idea.