LOL truly the Russians are just trolling us now.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-british-navy-personnel-blew-up-nord-stream-gas-pipelines-2022-10-29/
― Fronted by a bearded Phil Collins (Tom D.), Saturday, 29 October 2022 13:13 (one year ago) link
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fh0FiM7XEAYaUGY?format=png&name=360x360
Vadim Boyko, a Russian colonel who was involved in the autumn mobilisation commits suicide in his office by shooting himself 5 times!
― calzino, Friday, 18 November 2022 10:07 (one year ago) link
Funny enough it wasn't the bullets that killed him, it was the fall out of the hospital window.
― The Bankruptcy of the Planet of the Apes (PBKR), Friday, 18 November 2022 14:02 (one year ago) link
Well, it was drinking the vial of polonium that caused him to fall out of the hospital window.
― nickn, Friday, 18 November 2022 17:49 (one year ago) link
Bringing back the Purgin' Thirties.. darkness at noon and all that
― Andy the Grasshopper, Friday, 18 November 2022 18:05 (one year ago) link
Bump thread every time an oligarch dies under mysterious circumstances
Russian real estate tycoon Dmitry Zelenov passed away earlier this month after tumbling down a flight of stairs while visiting friends in the French Riviera, according to a local outlet and an independent Russian outlet.
The French newspaper Var Matin reported Sunday that Zelenov, 50, had been dining with friends in Antibes on Dec. 9 when he suddenly became unwell, falling down a flight of stairs and suffering critical head injuries. He succumbed while receiving treatment at the Hospital Pasteur in Nice.
Baza, an independent news channel on Telegram, reported that Zelenov had toppled over a railing and hit his head. Authorities informed the oligarch’s friends around 7 a.m. the following morning that he’d died without regaining consciousness.
The channel also said it was “known” that Zelenov had previously undergone vascular surgery for unspecified heart problems.
The Antibes Police Department is currently investigating Zelenov’s cause of death, according to Var Matin.
The 50-year-old was the former owner of Russian developer Don-Stroy, which constructed the 61-story Triumph Palace Tower in Moscow, one of the tallest residential structures in Europe. Before the company fell under the control of Russia’s state-owned bank VTB after succumbing to the 2008 financial crisis, Zelenov’s net worth was estimated at $1.4 billion, landing him on the Forbes list of Russian billionaires.
Zelenov is the latest in a long line of top figures in the Russian oil, gas, technology, and financial sectors to meet suspicious and untimely ends—the most recent being Anatoly Gerashchenko.
The former head of Moscow’s Aviation Institute (MAI), Gerashchenko took a mysterious fall “from a great height” at the organization’s headquarters in September. The institute’s press office called the 73-year-old’s death “the result of an accident.”
A fortnight before Gerashchenko’s death, 39-year-old Ivan Pechorin, an executive appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to help oversee development in the Arctic, himself took a strange fall off a moving boat off the Russian coast. And two weeks before that, Ravil Maganov, the chairman of Russia’s second-largest oil company, died after purportedly falling out of a hospital window, plummeting six stories to the ground.
― Elvis Telecom, Monday, 19 December 2022 10:15 (one year ago) link
I'm seven years older than that guy? Proof positive that when you accumulate wealth past a certain event horizon, it drains you into a husk more effectively than any leech or ghoul.
― Elvis Telecom, Monday, 19 December 2022 10:18 (one year ago) link
I mean, not to make excuses for late Russian oligarchs, but he looks about 50 to me.
― peace, man, Monday, 19 December 2022 12:35 (one year ago) link
oh shit, apparently there's a war going on
RIGA, Latvia — After nearly 10 months of war, but referring to the brutal invasion of Ukraine instead as “a special military operation,” Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday finally called it a “war” for the first time, setting off an uproar among antiwar Russians who have been prosecuted for merely challenging the Kremlin-approved euphemism.“Our goal is not to spin this flywheel of a military conflict, but, on the contrary, to end this war,” Putin said during a televised news conference following a government meeting on Thursday. “This is what we are striving for.”
“Our goal is not to spin this flywheel of a military conflict, but, on the contrary, to end this war,” Putin said during a televised news conference following a government meeting on Thursday. “This is what we are striving for.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/22/putin-war-ukraine-special-operation/
― Karl Malone, Thursday, 22 December 2022 20:56 (one year ago) link
https://64.media.tumblr.com/d892e26be4d5c85bd78aad31b801fb6a/tumblr_mff7wxN8AF1rlho0no1_500.gif
― the shaker intro bit the shaker outro in the tail, hard (breastcrawl), Thursday, 22 December 2022 21:29 (one year ago) link
love Putin's whole "Look, I didn't want this either" strategy
― Andy the Grasshopper, Thursday, 22 December 2022 21:47 (one year ago) link
Russia’s richest MP mysteriously dies in India
In India, found the body of the richest deputy of Russia Pavel Antov. His body lay in a pool of blood under the windows of the hotel where he celebrated his 65th birthday.The Russian Telegram channel Shot reports that the body of billionaire Antov was found on Saturday in Rayagad (Odisha state). Previously, it was established that the richest deputy of the Russian Federation fell from the third floor.
The Russian Telegram channel Shot reports that the body of billionaire Antov was found on Saturday in Rayagad (Odisha state). Previously, it was established that the richest deputy of the Russian Federation fell from the third floor.
― Elvis Telecom, Monday, 26 December 2022 18:48 (one year ago) link
there is nowhere safe for these Russian billionaires on the hitlist, even if they buy a holiday on the ISS - they are going through the window.
― calzino, Monday, 26 December 2022 19:44 (one year ago) link
It's just what the tabloids traditionally called "a gangland slaying".
― more difficult than I look (Aimless), Monday, 26 December 2022 19:48 (one year ago) link
when u come at the prez be careful not to fly out a window or off a balcomy
― normal AI yankovic (Hunt3r), Monday, 26 December 2022 21:56 (one year ago) link
So clumsy
― The Beatles were the first to popularize wokeism (President Keyes), Monday, 26 December 2022 22:29 (one year ago) link
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/sudden-russian-death-syndrome/ar-AA15MHof
― sleeve, Saturday, 31 December 2022 01:17 (one year ago) link
Putin is increasingly isolated 👀!!!!https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/30/putin-isolated-russia-ukraine-war/
― Lord Pickles (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 31 December 2022 19:03 (one year ago) link
Has a special TV channel where he watches sables fight each other to the death
― Lord Pickles (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 31 December 2022 19:04 (one year ago) link
Feel like I've been seeing variations on that article since the day the invasion started.
― Twa pehs an' an ingin ane an' aw (Tom D.), Saturday, 31 December 2022 19:14 (one year ago) link
Putin is not isolated from his secret police and state surveillance apparatus. So don't worry, he's still OK.
― more difficult than I look (Aimless), Saturday, 31 December 2022 19:23 (one year ago) link
Great piece on the politics of protest in Russia and with a bit on Belarus.
I've been frustrated, depressed and alarmed at this "what's wrong with Russians for not rising up" debate, which I find dishonest, venal and dangerous. Since it's not going away, I took a stab at it. With lots of personal stories from Russia and beyond.⬇️https://t.co/E7PybmRQIs— Almut Rochowanski (@rochowanski) January 11, 2023
― xyzzzz__, Friday, 27 January 2023 14:11 (one year ago) link
I don't think anyone believes that Russians are not overthrowing their government because the population is egoistic and doesn't feel that strongly about the war in Ukraine or their own woes. Unless you know nothing of the world and where unhappy populations are controlled and repressed.
― Nabozo, Friday, 27 January 2023 14:41 (one year ago) link
One up-and-coming Ukrainian journalist tweeted in all seriousness that Russians, unlike Ukrainians, “just don’t have a history of revolutions” (I’m not linking to her tweet, because that would be unkind).
lol
― INDEPENDENTS DAY BY STEVEN SPILBERG (President Keyes), Friday, 27 January 2023 14:43 (one year ago) link
Ha, that could either be deep sarcasm or maybe an implicit "at least not GOOD ones."
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 27 January 2023 14:46 (one year ago) link
― Nabozo, Friday, 27 January 2023 bookmarkflaglink
Part of it is responding to discourse on twitter where sadly people do go off.
― xyzzzz__, Friday, 27 January 2023 14:47 (one year ago) link
nazism in ukraine
― CerebralCaustic, Friday, 27 January 2023 16:22 (one year ago) link
Watched two of the BBC's Putin vs The West three part doc.
There's a lot of predictable hypocritical shit from those you'd expect (the UK PMs and associated high-ups especially). Talk of Russians bombing hospitals in Aleppo and then going back to hit them again (no suggestion of this being anything other than calculated)...no mention of Western Allies also hitting hospitals (if only via misdirection or incompetence) which was documented at the time.
Maybe the only worthwhile bits are when people, albeit with obvious bias, are quoting Putin and the contrast between those quotes demonstrating his blinkered ideological rhetoric and the predictable framing elsewhere in the doc of Putin as master poker player. Particularly in this case the late night bickering between Cameron and Putin that ensued after negotiations broke down with Cameron claiming he brought up LGBT rights ahead of Sochi 2014 only for Putin to actually trot out the 'if I give those rights we will have even fewer babies' as a defence.
All the footage of Putin (and Medvedev) hanging out in London, France, meeting Biden and Obama etc. only 8-10 years ago does look like from some distant parallel reality now.
― nashwan, Thursday, 2 February 2023 11:01 (one year ago) link
This St.Petersburg cafe explosion thing seems fishy.
― Daniel_Rf, Monday, 3 April 2023 21:29 (one year ago) link
whatever the russian media reports will be what the russian government (aka Putin) thinks will gain him the most pro-war propaganda value. beyond that it's anyone's guess.
― more difficult than I look (Aimless), Monday, 3 April 2023 22:46 (one year ago) link
dunno what could be fishy about a propagandist blogger killed by an exploding trophy at a cafe owned by a mercenary warlord engaged in a power struggle with the ministry of defense
― official representative of Roku's Basketshit in at least one alternate u (lukas), Monday, 3 April 2023 22:56 (one year ago) link
The only thing fishy is that the blogger dude didn't fall out a window while having a cigarette
― Andy the Grasshopper, Monday, 3 April 2023 23:07 (one year ago) link
This makes me think it was an explosive rigged Billy Bass trophy that took this guy out.
― The Artist formerly known as Earlnash, Tuesday, 4 April 2023 00:56 (one year ago) link
Film from Putin's latest cabinet meeting...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psTfieh911M
― Elvis Telecom, Tuesday, 4 April 2023 07:02 (one year ago) link
5 1/4" Male Baseball Explosion Trophy Hand Painted Resin These Hand Painted resin trophies feature an Exploding Design that Explodes Right Out at You!
― calzino, Tuesday, 4 April 2023 10:34 (one year ago) link
https://rumble.com/v2g4xfw-aussie-cossack-appeals-to-wagner-group-boss-evgeniy-prigozhin.html
Simeon Boikov with a list of suggestions of Australians and New Zealanders to Prigozhin to capture for a potential prisoner exchange between Russia and Australia
― anvil, Thursday, 6 April 2023 02:43 (one year ago) link
Probably more for the sovereign citizen thread, I'm not sure Prigozhin has time for this cat at the moment
― anvil, Thursday, 6 April 2023 02:59 (one year ago) link
Pretty interesting article on the relationship between Putin and the Russian vodka industry, including a history of just why vodka is so important to the Russian treasury:
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/05/05/vladimir-putin-vodka-empire-00095109
― Andy the Grasshopper, Tuesday, 9 May 2023 00:10 (one year ago) link
Yeah read that yesterday — fascinating deep dive.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 May 2023 00:40 (one year ago) link
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/05/22/senior-russian-official-dies-after-privately-bemoaning-fascist-invasion-a81223
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Wednesday, 24 May 2023 11:06 (eleven months ago) link
Dodik back in Moscow again, not a good sign
― anvil, Wednesday, 24 May 2023 19:48 (eleven months ago) link
OK Roman Super is a great real name.
― nashwan, Wednesday, 24 May 2023 20:42 (eleven months ago) link
Some interesting stuff on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/romasuper/posts/pfbid02acSu1nMWXWsxMFci4Q1aFKhrdR7GH1i18JENxLQtsMVHER96raJ9Fu5T1sziqrR5l
― official representative of Roku's Basketshit in at least one alternate u (lukas), Wednesday, 24 May 2023 20:52 (eleven months ago) link
So, uh...
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 23 June 2023 19:58 (ten months ago) link
Following news that the FSB has charged Prigozhin with inciting an armed rebellion, he’s suddenly gone silent on Telegram...— Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) June 23, 2023
― official representative of Roku's Basketshit in at least one alternate u (lukas), Friday, 23 June 2023 20:11 (ten months ago) link
Last seen hanging from a window ledge by his fingertips while black-suited men stamp on his hands
― darts macabre (Matt #2), Friday, 23 June 2023 20:23 (ten months ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acl_k4Xav_A
Interesting interview with Russian volunteer medic who was on the Kharkiv front. The interviewer struggling a little bit but does a good job, though the guy is a touch unnerving
― anvil, Wednesday, 5 July 2023 19:40 (ten months ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QGaKhiOCTo
Part II
A little less intense but might just be that I got used to his weird laughing at stuff. Thought the interviewer did a good job in keeping himself to a minimum
― anvil, Thursday, 6 July 2023 07:20 (ten months ago) link
its pretty long altogether, nearly 2 hours, so there's a lot in it
- Has treated and worked with Wagner people, good guys and professional- Doesn’t know whats behind Prigozhin’s recent turn, maybe the war changed him.- Almost all injuries treated from mines or artillery, almost no bullet wounds of any kind- Since going back to Moscow has received a lot of praise and gratitude from people for having the balls to go to the SMO- Sanctions havent affected him personally other than unable to install Zoom on his phone- Banking apps are more sophisticated in Russian than UK or Germany- Corruption is normal in every country but has declined since the start of the SMO- Support for the military is high, same for PMCs. There are a few percent against it but these malcontents exist in every country- Ukrainians, Moldovans, and the Baltics are separatists and should be treated as such. Not real countries. Equivalent of Wales or Catalonia. I think same for everyone in post-soviet space but didn’t elaborate or mention specifically, and interviewer didn’t ask- Has some level of respect for Ukrainians but they must understand they have to live within Russian borders- Bucha was a psyop- Hasn’t seen any torture or mistreatment only things like punching pows in the face nothing more serious. Hasn’t treated many Ukrainian POWs though, mostly Russians- Constitution protects freedom of speech you might get a fine but thats probably it- Nuclear strike is very unlikely because why would Russia strike their own lands- War will be won but will probably need to draft another million- “Loves the tsar hates laws passed by the Duma” (said a little tongue in cheek)- Putin still thought of well, but is more of an arbiter than a dictator. There is no alternative anyway- Everyone understands war was inevitable but why didn’t Putin do it in 2014. Too timid?- Russia has been too soft. We know where the politicians live why do we not bomb them?
― anvil, Thursday, 6 July 2023 07:32 (ten months ago) link
Blandly declaring that the nearly 50 million people who live in Ukraine, Moldava, or the Baltic nations must simply reconcile themselves to being reabsorbed by Russia because, uh, just because this is what they must do. Very persuasive.
― more difficult than I look (Aimless), Thursday, 6 July 2023 16:30 (ten months ago) link