Russian lawmakers authorize Putin to use military force outside the country

[Labster]

Warfare
-------
Russia puts up triangular floating mirrors near the bridge in Kherson to confuse the radar on HIMARS.  Now, if only HIMARS had radar navigation and not GPS it would be a great idea.  It does cause satellite distortion, I guess, but why not put them on the bridge itself then?  Also, it's not like we don't have photos of the things from the ground, so who cares if the satellites are fooled?
-- The first set of recruits in Ukraine finish advanced training and NCO training this week.  Roughly 240k recruits will have been trained by the end of the month.
-- Meanwhile, Photo of Russian recruits marching to war
-- Russian ammunition train fucked itself.  The Russians set up a smoke screen to stop HIMARS (which, again, uses GPS), and then something to set the ammunition ablaze.  Which, with their handling techniques and low visibility, could be practically anything.  Ukrainians have said it's definitely not UA.
-- Video after Russians fight gentrification in Mariupol
-- Russia is sending more artillery west towards Kherson.  Some of it works, even.
-- They're also sending more vehicles into Kherson via ferry.  Looks like they're digging in.


Economy
-------

-- Huawei has closed its online store in Russia.  Yes, that Huawei, the technology company sanctioned by the US, thinks selling stuff in Russia is bad for business.
-- The saga of the Kaliningrad embargo continues.  After the EU ordered the Lithuanians to reopen freight rail to Kaliningrad, the bank that handles all of the business for the rail company no longer wants Russian money.  Sorry, Russia, I guess you can't pay us for rail service now, no freight for you (P.S. we fucking hate you).
-- Finland is starting to step up enforcement of customs, both intercepting electronics at the border, and in asking merchants to not sell to Russians if they're claiming the VAT exemption.
-- Liberal economics processor Paul Krugman says Russian sanctions haven't done much to stop exports, but have surprisingly cut imports into Russia by half, which has pummeled the domestic economy.
-- Ukraine is working to join SEPA, an EU banking union.  One more step towards joining the EU.



Diplomacy
---------

-- Russia says US is approving targets for HIMARS, something something direct involvement in a proxy war.
-- Former Russian Federation (proxy) President Dmitry Medvedev wrote online:
----- Russia will retake Ukraine
----- Ukraine is "a fake nation"
----- Russia will recreate the USSR
----- Russia will retake Georgia after Ukraine
----- Russia will retake Kazakhstan
----- Kazakhstan is currently executing a genocide against Russians.

-- US approves NATO accession for Sweden and Finland.  As a nearly unanimous vote -- why would a senator vote against his country's hegemony? -- we find out which senators are actually Russian agents.
----- The only "no" vote was from Senator and occasional sprinter Josh Hawley, who incidentally did more than anyone else in Congress to cheer on the January 6 coup attempt.  (Finnish media is confused by this, because he voted for N. Macedonia's accession)  Hawley claims that this weakens America, because America's real enemy is China, not Russia, and it sends the signal that we're ignoring China.  You know, a day after the flight to Taiwan.  Anyway this dude is a Russian agent.
----- Voting "present" was Senator and libtard Rand Paul, who thought that we really shouldn't be in entangling alliances, and we should at least talk about it some more.  By the way, Finland joined the NATO Partnership for Peace in 1994.  This dude is just a useful idiot.
-- Jeremy Corbyn comes out against arming Ukraine, in an apparent attempt to insure the Labour Party never reinstates him.  But of course, we all know that this Corbynite Manoever is a false narrative.
-- German Ex-Chancellor and Gazprom board member Gerhard Schröder calls for peace with Russia, self rule for Eastern "Swiss cantons" of Ukraine, and also suggests that Gazprom suddenly won't need the turbine if Nord Stream 2 starts up.  Was that the plan all along?  Make gas reserves tight so they're forced to use the second pipeline in winter?  He's also at risk of getting kicked out of his party.
-- Marine Le Pen comes out against Russian sanctions, because they hurt France more than Russia.  "The Russian economy is not on its knees. They are not on the brink of bankruptcy."
-- The timing of all these suggest the sanctions are absolutely working, and that Russia is trying a diplomatic approach now because they are losing.
-- Meanwhile, we get a look at the rogues gallery of Russia apologists.  There are two types: the old communist sympathizer (Corbyn, Schroeder), and the far-right nationalist (Le Pen, Trump).  This has been a long term strategy of Russia to weaken the west, by infiltrating and funding the political extremes.  I remember back when the lefties loved RT on cable TV, because it made them angry at conservatives, before the coverage switched to 90% pro-Trump (and 10% pro Putin).  They funded the Catalan sepratists and the French yellow jackets -- any division was good.
-- Just a reminder, here's what a real American said about the war in Ukraine and sanctions, back when he was alive:

Look, Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country. It's kleptocracy. It's corruption. It's a nation that's really only dependent upon oil and gas for their economy, and so economic sanctions are important.

Other
------

-- Actor (and also President of Ukraine) announces support for civil unions.  Soon the orcs will face the wrath of married gay jew nazis!  Assuming a law passes.
-- Spain has decided not to send its tanks to Russia, due to their "lamentable condition"
-- Photo: Russian bot farm captured by Ukraine.  One million bots captured.  Elon still wants out of his deal.
-- Red Cross continues to be even more powerless than the UN.