Russian lawmakers authorize Putin to use military force outside the country

[hazard]

Meanwhile: Ukraine tax agency - No need to declare captured Russian tanks, other equipment of invaders as income.  I guess if you're thinking of starting a local tankery club, Ukraine is the place to be!

The burn is even worse.

The reason the Ukraine tax agency says there is no need to declare captured Russian equipment as income?

It's too expensive to track such worthless crap.

--The recipe for Russian sausage now includes fresh meat drawn all the way from Siberia.
--Russian tactics have switched to 'Fuck you and everyone in your grid square'
--You have to be a special kind of loon to carry two pinless grenades. What if you get an itch, or sneeze?
--Russian tactics have reverted to Medieval siege warfare. Capitulate or incinerate.
--Russian diplomacy continues to be an oxymoron.

Much of this behaviour was expected after the Ukrainians didn't fall over in the first five minutes.

Well, except 'I am going to negotiate by holding two live grenades in my hands because I am afraid I will get lynched otherwise'.

--Referring to Donald Trump as the legitimate president of the United States.

Even if Trump wasn't bought by the Russians, and that's a big if to my eyes, this would make clear who Trump works for.

--Hey Japan - remember what happened the last time you joined the Nazis? Oh, we got your islands - and we have nuclear weapons too.
--And we're invading your airspace
--And Swedens airspace.
--Japan opens doors to Ukrainians?

If Russia is managing one thing quite well, it's make a case that the only way you can trust the Russians is if you have nukes of your own, can shelter under the nuclear umbrella of another, preferably both, and even then it's praying if they are not crazy enough to try anyway.

--Cases of Blue-balls in NATO airforces treble once photographs of parked Russian Convoy are released
--What the fuck are they stuck behind?

Expectation is lack of fuel and other supplies. Mostly fuel.

--Does Ukraine have anything to drop on them? They're just sitting?

Theoretically, yes, Ukraine has somethings they can use on that convoy. However, so long as they aren't exactly moving, leaving them stuck there is a net gain to Ukraine. Dead soldiers eat no food, drink no water, burn no fuel to stay warm. Expect them to get provided the good news by drone strike if they appear to be getting ready to move, but otherwise those assets are tasked elsewhere.

--Russia admits to ~500 casualties. With the collapse of their currency, it is likely they cannot afford to admit much more
--Listening to the Russian army from Ireland on the radio. They do not sound happy.

Given how they're performing, that is not surprising. On both items. Note that a Russian military victory is still not in doubt, at least for the attempt at conquering Ukraine, the force disparity is too great. But they're definitely going to be a lot harder to take serious as a conventional military threat and a source of weapons with how things are going. One of their biggest income sources is the international arms trade, they might be about to see a lot of markets rejecting Russian equipment.

--Some gobaloon left his battleplans in his tank. (Or did someone read about Mincemeat?)

Either is possible.

--VDV continues its desperate effort to prove it's schtick will work 'This time'. (It's not)

It's only going to get worse as manpads become more available to Ukraine forces. An opposed helicopter drop when you are up against an enemy with machineguns is bad enough. Trying it when you are likely to run into an enemy with more Stingers than you have helicopters dedicated to the assault sounds distinctly unhealthy.

--Europe has successfully weaponized peace and diplomacy and utterly annihilated Russia's economy faster than an actual shooting war.
--And weapons. Don't forget all the weapons.
--While World War IV may yet be sticks and stones, it looks like the weapons of World War III are Euros, Dollars, Gas, Goodwill and Trade.
--Is it possible to win a war without fighting it? Is the only winning move truly not to play?

Europe, well, mostly Germany, believed that Russia could at least be convinced that playing nice to maintain trade links is a good idea. Ukraine made clear it wasn't. Putin threatening Sweden and Finland, both EU members, rather offended everybody.

It's midterm year in the US, isn't it? Expect some attack ads asking about these three's devotion to the rule of law...

Or, for that matter, how well they've been bought.

I saw a rather remarkable pair of graphs that showed cumulative covid conspiracy peddling advertisement spending. They're graphs that became distinctly flatter the date Russia's international finances were locked down, and a lot of the far right in Europe is generally working hard to distance themselves from Russia, and seem somewhat worried about their financial health.