Ukraine, please, please, please continue to bomb the shit out of those Russian refineries

do not listen to those too cowardly to fight with you against the shitface that is Putin

BOMB ALL THE FUCKING REFINERIES!!

"This would incentivize those companies to drop their Russian suppliers, while signaling to other companies looking to capitalize on cheap Russian oil that their products are not welcome in the U.S.," said Global Witness.

genuine advice to anyone currently gearing up for a very cold winter, whether in england, hungary or elsewhere

-wool blankets.

-if you don’t have one already, get a kettle.

-if you don’t have one already, get a hot water bottle or (if that’s a thing) cherry-seed sack thing also used for heat. you can fill hot water bottles with the kettle. cherryseed pillows can be heated in the oven.

-ensure your windows close properly…

Good luck! See you in spring. Additions to this list welcome.

Germany's industrial might has been significantly aided by its access to cheap Russian energy. Now those taps are being closed. At the top of the German government they say they have a phased plan to deal with all dependencies on Russia for energy. It has been easy with coal, as they can simply buy it in shipped form from the likes of South Africa and Colombia. Oil too is mainly shipped on tankers, bar one refinery connected to a pipeline from Russia. But gas needs a significant investment in alternative infrastructure, basically the LNG terminals that enable the purchase of shipped gas from around the world. This normally takes years, but Germany is exploring the idea of floating terminals that some claim could be ready by the end of the year. Further permanent terminals will take two years or so, part of the German effort to reduce dependence on Russian gas from 55% to 10%.

Faisal Islam, BBC

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“With a height of 45 m and holding up to 56 million liters of hot water, utility company Vattenfall says the tower will help heat Berlin homes this winter even if Russian gas supplies dry up.”

(Source)

Russia has an unprecedented amount of money in its treasury

A new CREA analysis shows that Russia has entered 2024 with an unprecedented amount of money in state coffers, helped by a record $37 billion in crude oil sales to India last year, CNN reports.

In a new analysis, experts concluded that some of the crude oil was refined by India and then exported to the US in the form of petroleum products worth more than $1 billion.

According to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), exclusively provided to CNN, this stream of payments, which ultimately benefits Moscow, is because India has increased its purchases of Russian oil by more than 13 times its pre-war volumes. This is tantamount to New Delhi, a strategic partner of the US, replacing Western buyers with oil purchases reduced due to sanctions imposed over the conflict in Ukraine.

The sale of Russian oil to India is entirely legal and not subject to sanctions, but in examining the shipping route, experts have suggested that this huge volume of shipments may involve a so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers specifically created by Moscow to maximise the Kremlin’s profits.

Read more HERE

Russia's Impending Impact on the Global Economy: Unveiling the Unthinkable

Are you curious about how Russia’s imminent influence will shape the global economy? Get ready to explore the unforeseen possibilities as we delve into “Russia’s Impending Impact on the Global Economy: Unveiling the Unthinkable.” In this blog post, we will uncover how Russia’s actions could directly affect you, your financial decisions, and the global economic landscape. Discover the potential…

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The trade winds of the Black Sea whispered tales of the strange and mysterious. The Ukraine Conflict and the resulting EU ban on Russian oil products had flung open the doors of opportunity. On the crest of a wave of ambition, product tanker orders surged from the east as merchants sought to capitalise on the situation. As the vessels plied their lucrative trade, the whispers amongst the shipping community grew louder. Rumours of hidden agendas and masked financiers spoke of shadowy figures seeking to further their own interests. It was said that the conflict was merely a public facade for a deeper, more complex system of power and influence. The new arms of the Black Sea, laden with the secrets of the deep, forged their own path amongst the choppy waters. These merchants of oil, and their hidden motivations, might soon become as legendary as the creatures that lurk in the depths beneath them.

Vladimir Kush (Russian, b. 1965),"Stealthy Night"

Get Thee Behind Me, Satan, c. 1895, Ilya Repin 

Russia's crude oil export to India surged to a new record in December 2022. Moscow has remained the top oil supplier of India for consecutive months. According to data from energy cargo tracker Vortexa, India imported crude oil from Russia 1 million barrels per day for the first time in December. Russia supplied 1.19 million bpd of crude oil to India in December alone. As per Vortexa report, it was the higher than 909,403 bpd of crude oil India imported from Russia in November and 935,556 bpd in October 2022. In this video, let's take a look at some of the causes that led to the increase in imports that we have seen.