Mailwatch(ed) Forum

I used to think all those "Danger of electric vehicle" posts on social media were exaggerated.

Until now:



What verified videos tell us about Igor Kirillov's death

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62306k7nr1o

BBC Verify has been analysing social media videos and images from Moscow to try to build up a clearer picture of the blast that killed Russian Lt Gen Igor Kirillov and his assistant.

Ukrainian sources say they carried out the attack on the senior commander, who has overseen Russia's Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection troops since 2017. He was sanctioned by the UK in October and accused of being a "significant mouthpiece for Kremlin disinformation".

Lt Gen Kirillov was leaving a modern apartment building in south-east Moscow early on Tuesday when the device hidden in a parked scooter was detonated, Russia's Investigations Committee - the country's equivalent of the FBI - said.

This is quite interesting - Vlad’s wallet may be a lot emptier than it first appears, and his position a lot weaker.

https://navigatingrussia.substack.com/p ... irect=true

Interesting indeed. You might even allow yourself some mild speculation about the possible logisitics of Putin's deposition.

Putin Made Russia Stable.

That's his big, big domestic trump card. If it was to go away, I wouldn't imagine a rapid change of public order, but it'd be... significant.

Even Zelensky has hinted a stalemate end to this war is in sight in which Russia withdraws its forces but keeps Crimea and some kind of dual authority deal in Russian speaking regions. Both sides will make non aggression pledges that won't be worth the paper they're written on in the long run.
As Trump makes a phased US withdrawal from Europe, Putin moves forwards. And Europe ups its joint military operations which will include battle hardened Ukrainians. The best scenario is a post Putin Russia pivoting westwards towards Europe. They have for more to gain doing this than continuing with 19th century imperial power playing.

Putin's 72, with no obvious successor. He wants more of a legacy than "restored stability", but won't risk that on rebuilding the Russian empire. In Bullseye terms, he'll say he's had a lovely evening but won't gamble.

But he could have won a speedboat !

Putin controls the national narrative so he can myth build that he saved Mother Russia from the encroaching Western fascist NATO forces. Via their infiltration of Ukraine and it's puppet Nazi leader Zelensky.

A novel approach to community service from Putin. Huge savings for the judicial and penal system by adding to the 800,000 Russian coffins in Ukraine.

Military recruitment in Moscow has dropped fivefold since its peak in mid-2024, forcing Russian authorities to rely increasingly on foreign mercenaries, criminals and debtors to bolster troop numbers, the independent news outlet Vyorstka has reported.

Beyond foreign fighters, another growing category of enlistees includes Russian citizens facing legal trouble. In October 2024, President Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing criminal defendants to avoid prosecution if they enlist during wartime or periods of mobilization. The measure is expected to bring up to 25,000 individuals with ongoing criminal or administrative cases into military service. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/02/ ... old-a87835