Ukraine Weekly Update

17th January 2025

Russian T-90 M

On January 15th, in answer to the prayers of many people, a ceasefire was agreed on Gaza which is due to start on Sunday 19th January for an initial 43 day period. Prisoners and hostages will be exchanged and the Israelis have promised to pull out of Gaza. However, on the 16th January Netanyahu delayed the deal claiming that the Palestinians had created a ‘last minute crisis’ by backing out of some aspects of the agreement, according to Politico. You can read more at Zero Hedge. I must say that this will not come as a surprise to many. Hundreds of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv to protest against the deal and some¹ in Netanyahu’s cabinet are not in favour perceiving the deal to be a defeat.

However, the deal was eventually signed in Qatar on the 17th January, according to Sputnik. So, the ceasefire in Gaza has been agreed while that in Lebanon which has never been honoured by the Zionists, is under threat. Israel’s ‘hardline’ National Security Minister, Ben-Gvir, has threatened to resign if the Gaza deal goes ahead. According to a Palestinian source, the Israeli Security cabinet will meet today (17th Jan) to rubber stamp the deal while the Israeli government as a whole will vote on the deal tomorrow. It is by no means certain that the deal will bring long term peace even though it is likely to survive these hurdles. There are reasons for such pessimism as you can read at Sputnik. The Palestinians are still being murdered as I write and even when the bombs stop they will continue to be at risk from disease and starvation.

As fires continue to burn in California, my good wishes go out to any of my readers² who have been caught up in this tragedy and many thanks to those who have provided information in the chat. The issues surrounding the fires are too complex for me to explore in the Update but Tyler Durden provides one perspective here while Kim Iverson offers a view from a different angle here. I have been following both commentators for years and respect their views. But there are many more perspectives out there for people to explore.

It seems that 8 mansions owned by the Ukrainian military elite were damaged. Forced labour (i.e. prisoners) was used to tackle the blaze. Therefore, as Maria Zakharova has pointed out, it is hypocritical of the Americans to criticise the Chinese for doing the same.

Creepy Joe Biden has finally admitted that his support for Ukraine risked a nuclear confrontation with Russia. Let that sink in. Biden escalated the conflict in Ukraine in the knowledge that this placed the survival of the human species at risk! And he bragged about it.

Just for you Sleepy Joe

In the Red Sea this week, the Houthis engaged in a nine hour battle with US Carrier Harry S Truman using drones and cruise missiles. The carrier was forced to flee north - according to a Palestinian source. The same source carries many stories of Israeli casualties and the regeneration of Hamas forces. Trump shared a video on social media that is critical of Netanyahu³ which could have been sending a message to get the ceasefire done. Little has changed in Syria though the Israelis have attacked HTS directly. Meanwhile Lebanon has elected a new leader.

Europeans continue to show that they are anything but united: no one talks about unity anymore for fear of sounding ridiculous. The EU/UK is simply all over the place; at war with itself really. There is no consensus on anything - not even the support for Ukraine that provided a semblance of unity nearly three years ago. Without Ukraine, what the hell are Europeans able to rally around? They are divided morally, culturally, politically and ideologically.

In Ukraine, the battlefronts continue to take their deathly toll as the Ukrainian forces in Kursk suffered 460 casualties in a single day while the Russians continue to take ground. The prospect of a Russian capture of Pokrovsk (see below) is devastating for the Ukrainians but this is not the only tense Direction their demoralised, understaffed and under equipped army has to deal with. Given the immense problems the fighting men are experiencing, it is a tribute to their resilience that they have managed to resist a superior opponent so far. However, it seems that a major Russian breakthrough must be close - though many of us have been saying this for a long time. The Ukrainian RADA has extended martial law and mobilisation until May 9th. Mark Rubio, Candidate for US Secretary of State, reflected the reality of the situation when he said that Ukraine’s problem is ‘not that it is running out of money but that it is running out of Ukrainians’.

The Ukrainians (and their American helpers) can’t help but express their terrorist nature as they attempted to prevent gas supplies traveling from Russia to Europe by attacking a compressor station on the TurkStream line in Krasnador region (see Ukrainian Terrorist Attacks below). It seems that even the globalist section of the EU is complaining alongside the likes of Fizo (Serbia) and Orban (Hungary). I wonder, have some Europeans become aware that the US is actually trying to destroy their industry by depriving them of cheap energy sources? Are they aware that they are destined to sink further under the yoke of US dominance? I doubt it.

Just when we thought that Bonkers Britain can’t get any worse or that Keir Starmer’s credibility can’t fall any lower, he is faced with the resignation of the woman he appointed as ‘anti-corruption Minister’ - because she is being investigated for corruption. Oh dear, poor Keir.

Oh, and because British windmills do not have enough wind to turn and the gas storage is running out, many of us on this miserable little island⁴ may face hours of candle lit canned dinners cooked on a camping stove.

But perhaps the most important issue of the week is the Hegemon’s inauguration of its Emperor in three day’s time - assuming that he manages to avoid assassination. I have no idea how the Deep State will react to this. But if he is serious in his claim to want an end to America’s wars then we all have to hope that he survives.

It’s been another eventful week.

Ukraine Could Collapse in 2025 - Patrushev

Top Putin Aide, Nikolay Patrushev, told Pravda in a recent interview that he believes that Ukraine could cease to exist this year. He also made it clear that Russia will deal only with the US in negotiations and that the status of the five oblasts⁵ which have voted to be part of Russia, is not negotiable. He was dismissive of the UK/EU’s role in negotiations:

There’s nothing to discuss with London or Brussels. The EU leadership, for example, has long lost the right to speak on behalf of many of its members, such as Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Romania, and several other European countries that are interested in stability in Europe and maintain a balanced position towards Russia.

He also confirmed that Russia’s objectives, announced by Putin at the start of the SMO, remain unchanged. Russia still wants the demilitarisation and de-Nazification of Ukraine and assurances that it will not join NATO. However, Russia will also want the five oblasts recognised, the lifting of sanctions and a security agreement that will benefit the whole region, including Ukraine. The demand for demilitarisation is lost on poor Keir Starmer who wishes to establish British bases in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Desertions on the Rise

According to this Ukrainian report, desertion rose to 550 per day in December.

Zelensky Kept in Dark?

Z visits the front - but they are hiding things from him.

According to a Ukrainian source:

Our sources in the OP reported that Andriy Yermak gave Syrsky the order not to report to Zelensky about the surrender of cities, and to describe the situation on the Eastern Front as difficult, but under control. The President does not tolerate information from the front very well, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces are losing two or three settlements every day, and there have been no victories since August 2023. The head of the OP is trying to keep Zelensky in a complete information vacuum, which allows him to control the President's psychological state.

A report from a Ukrainian source claims that the Military are confronting the Ukrainian administration and the General Staff of the Army regarding the resources wasted in what is seen as ‘PR exercise’ in Kursk. I have no idea what form the ‘confrontation’ took or how serious it was. Watch this space.

Ukraine Will Aid Denmark if Trump’s Invades Greenland

It seems that the recent agreement reached between Ukraine and Denmark would oblige the former to assist the latter in fighting off a US invasion of Greenland - hypothetically.

Ukraine - UK - 100 Year Deal

Zelensky and Starmer have signed a 100 year strategic agreement in which the latter has promised to provide aid to be stolen from the Russians:

Britain will give Ukraine $3 billion dollars from Russia's frozen assets. London will transfer 150 barrels of artillery to Kiev. Ukrainian military training will be expanded, and the creation of long-range weapons will also be developed. Military cooperation between the countries will be strengthened in the field of maritime security through a new structure to strengthen the security of the Azov, Baltic, Black Seas.

This could be the shortest 100 year deal on record.

Ukraine Terrorist Attacks

Many terrorist attacks on mainland Russia have been discovered and prevented by the Russian intelligence services over the past two years. The latest Ukrainian attempt involved an attack on employees of a Russian Defence Enterprise in Yaroslavl, north east of Moscow. The plan called for the placing chemicals in the air ducts of cars driven by the organisation’s employees. On January 13th, a Russian was arrested in connection with the plan. Arson attacks on Russian soil have also been made frequently.

10th/11th January

According to the War Chronicle:

According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, 85 Ukrainian UAVs were intercepted overnight over the territory of Russia. 31 drones were destroyed over the Black Sea, 16 were shot down over the Voronezh region and the Krasnodar Territory, 14 over the Sea of Azov, several more in the Kursk and Tambov regions.

In Belgorod region overnight, a kamikaze drone attacked a car, injuring two civilians. Elsewhere in Belgorod a drone attacked a bus, injuring the driver. In the DPR, the village of Svetlodarsk was attacked with 122mm MLRS fragmentation rockets killing three women and causing serious injury to a teenage girl, while four civilians were injured by HIMARS in Donetsk City.

11th January - Ukraine Attacks TurkStream

On the 11th January, nine fixed wing drones attacked the TurkStream gas pipeline in Krasnador region focusing on the compression station near Gay Kodzor. All the drones were shot down and fragments inflicted only minor damage to the compressor. The gas continues to flow. This was an attempt to stop the gas flow to European (including NATO) countries. You can read more at Sputnik. Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, has described the attempted sabotage of the pipeline as a threat to its sovereignty and called for it to be protected. He also described the attack as an act of aggression against Hungary and Serbia. It is not clear whether the Foreign Minister appreciated that the US is behind this terrorist attack because it wants to deprive Europe of Russian gas but Sergei Lavrov knows this. You can read more from Sergei at RT. A Turkish economics expert has warned that a successful attack on the pipeline could cause a 60% increase in gas prices since the TurkStream is the only gas pipeline still providing gas to Europe. You can read more at Pravda.

12th/13th January

Overnight, several drones were shot down/disabled over Voronezh. Drones were also shot down over Bryansk but some managed to get through damaging houses, killing one civilian and injuring another. Belgorod also suffered drone attacks which damaged houses and cars but caused only three casualties.

In Gorlovka (DPR) a man was killed by drone drop while driving his bus (see photo) while another ‘drone drop’ killed a man waiting at a bus stop. Three civilians were injured by shelling in Gorlovka and another in liberated Kurakhovo.

13th/14th January

Overnight, 14 drones were destroyed/disabled over Rostov and 16 over Tula. In Belgorod, drones damaged cars houses and power lines and injured a mother and her one year old child in the village of Zozuli. Elsewhere in Belgorod a woman was injured by a drone that attacked her car while in the DPR a man was injured by a drone drop on his vehicle.

14th/15th January

Overnight in Kherson, three civilians were injured by shelling which also damaged houses. In Belgorod, drone attacks injured two while in Gorlovka (DPR) two civilians were killed and another two injured by drone attacks.

15th/16th January

Belgorod suffered shelling and drone attacks overnight but no casualties were reported. In the DPR, drone fragments injured two elderly women while a drone drop injured a man in his car.

16th/17th January

Overnight in Zaporozhye, a drone hit a mini bus injuring the driver and a passenger. The bus was carrying humanitarian aid to children hospitalised in Melitopol. Belgorod suffered shelling and drone attacks overnight causing damage to cars and warehouses but only two civilians were injured. In Gorlovka (DPR) two people were injured by a drone drop on a car.

The Sea War

Sevastopol

10th/11th January

31 drones were destroyed above the Black Sea overnight.

14th January

According to the Two Majors, two Stormshadow missiles were destroyed over the Black Sea.

The Air War (Map)

MiG - 31s

Russian Missile/Drone Attacks

15th January - Large Russian Drone/Missile Attack

According to the War Chronicle:

Since 6 am, the Russian army has been launching a missile attack on targets in Western Ukraine, mainly: Lviv, Ternopil, Lutsk, Rivne. The Tu-95MS fired missiles at 6:45, 7 of our Tu-22M3 boards are launching Kh-22 missiles. Closer to the border in Sumy, a missile attack was carried out on the headquarters of the enemy grouping, the officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the commander of the "Kursk operation" were destroyed

Slavyangrad provided this report:

7 TU-22M3s and 6 TU-95ms, as well as MiG-31s, have launched missiles.

- Ballistics launch from Belgorod region is also reported.

- The missiles are already in Ukrainian airspace.

- There have been explosions in Kharkov.

- The AFU air force reports missiles in Sumy and Nikolaev regions, as well as Krivoy Rog and Chernigov region.

- The bulk of the missiles are now flying through Zhitomir, Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskiy regions on a course to the west, the Air Force and monitoring publics report.

- The missiles are already in Lvov region, regional authorities said.

- The sounds of explosions rumble in the Khmelnitskiy region.

The Russian MoD reported that electric and gas infrastructure was attacked and that all targets were hit. The Ukrainian side is reporting that very little damage has been inflicted.

16th/17th January

Overnight, the Russians attacked the Danube ports of Kilia and Ismail in Odessa along with the Black Sea port of Chernomorsk - according to SouthFront. Kiev was attacked by drones, while Krivoy Rog was hit by Iskanders.

Ukrainian Missile/Drone Attacks

13th/14th January - ATACMS Used in Bryansk

According to the War Chronicle:

Last night, the Bryansk region was attacked by ATACMS missiles with a cluster warhead. The arrivals fell on the area of the Bryansk Chemical Plant named after the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. Its main activity is the production of weapons and ammunition. The Kyiv regime continues to strike at our military-industrial complex. The plant, by the way, is located just 120 km from the border with Ukraine, while the ATACMS strike range is up to 300 km.

On the morning of the 14th January:

In the morning, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the Kazan "Orgsintez" UAV "Lyuty". As of this morning, three tanks are burning from the wreckage, including a gas tank.

The oil refinery at Engels in Saratov region was also attacked.

You can read more at Tass.

14th/15th January

According to the War Chronicle:

At night, UAVs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the Novolyadinsky distillery in the Tambov region, air defense shot down one Beaver drone.

15th/16th January

Overnight in Voronezh, fragments from destroyed drones set fire to an oil depot. Two fire fighting trains and several dozen ‘units of equipment’ are tackling the blaze which has not caused any casualties. You can read more at Tass.

The Ground War

Russian soldiers in Selidove

Russian MoD Reports (excludes Kursk)

w/e 27th December 12,910 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 487

w/e 3rd January 12,455 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 516

w/e 10th January 2025 13, 370 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 724 (record high).

w/e 17th January 2025 12,945 Casualties killed and wounded : equipment losses 661

MoD Report - Kursk

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 52,120 troops, 305 tanks, 229 infantry fighting vehicles, 170 armoured personnel carriers, 1,566 armoured fighting vehicles, 1,480 motor vehicles, 366 artillery guns, 44 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 16 anti-aircraft missile launchers, eight transport-loading vehicles…

As I have said above, the Ukrainians lost 460 in a single day of this week.

The Fronts

Sophisticated Front Line Cats

Some have learned to whisper

And some are learning to play piano

Others are learning to fight

Kursk

On the 17th January, according to the Two Majors:

In the Kursk region, the enemy transferred several detachments of former prisoners from the 225th separate battalion to the direction, bringing them into battle. This did not lead to success, the enemy's manpower was destroyed by drone strikes and artillery. Fighting is underway near Makhnovka, Pogrebki, Cherkasskaya Porechnaya, as well as in the forest belts of the Sudzhansky district.

Kharkov

By the end of the week, according to the Majors:

In the Volchansk direction of the Kharkov region, according to the North group of forces, the enemy is persistently transferring assault groups, including former air defense and aviation technicians, which it immediately tries to transfer to the northern bank of the Volchya River. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy launched three such counterattacks, which were thwarted by UAV operators.

Kupyansk

According to Yury Podolyaka:

The Russian army has expanded its bridgehead on the western bank of the Oskol river, capturing Kalinovo. Ukrainian troops here are short of manpower (as reserves from here were moved to Kursk) and face a logistical challenge with moving troops across the river. The Russian army also dominates in terms of artillery and firepower.

Chasiv Yar

According to Yury Podolyaka:

Ukrainian troops have abandoned their last stronghold at the refractory plant. Fighting continues for the area to its south. There are counter battles in the city center.

Toretsk

Toretsk came under control of the Russian armed forces on January 12th/13th according to the War Chronicle. According to Yury Podoloyaka:

The Ukrainian army continues to hold the Toretskaya mine, as well as the settlements of Petrovka and Scherbinovka to the west of Toretsk. Other than that, the city is largely under Russian control. Capturing Petrovka and Scherbinovka will enable the Russian army to envelop a large territory, but for the moment, there is strong Ukrainian resistance there.

Pokrovsk Detail - Marat Khairullin

The importance of Pokrovsk - Yury Podolyaka

Pokrovsk is important for its coking coal most of which is obtained here. According to Yury Podolyaka:

It's not just about coal. It also includes metallurgy and the production of semi-finished products that rely on coal as a key input.

But these are not the only losses. The coal industry in western Donbass is structured in such a way that Pokrovsk serves as its primary logistical hub. All railway lines converge here, and coal can only be transported along these routes. As shown on the map above, numerous coal enterprises that were under Ukraine's control before the war are logistically tied to Pokrovsk. In 2021, these enterprises accounted for 38% of Ukraine's total coal production, including two-thirds of coking coal output. Together with the Ugledar area, recently captured by the Russian army, the Pokrovsk area represents over 40% of Ukraine's pre-war coal production.

Furthermore, Pokrovsk is the largest logistical hub for the entire southern Donbass front of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, making it the most convenient point for supplying troops to the east and northeast, including Toretsk.

All of this will be lost by the Kiev regime with the fall of Pokrovsk.

Rather than take heavy losses in attempting to attack the city head on, the Russians are attempting to cut its supply lines which will force the Ukrainians to leave. On January 13th, the Russians were only 6.5 kms from the Dnipropetrovsk region where there are no fortifications and no large cities that can be used for defence. By the end of the week, the Russians were attempting to gain a foothold in Udachny and Kotlino while heavy fighting was taking place outside Zverevo (see Marat Khairullin’s Map).

The Importance of Pavlograd - Podolyaka

Yury Podolyaka provides some analysis of the situation regarding coal mines, suggesting that once the Russians have reached the dotted red line shown on the above map Ukraine will be deprived of 40% of its coal production. It will not be necessary for the Russians to capture Pavlograd in order to achieve this but they will need to advance up to 70kms further west.

Kurakhovo Detail - Marat Khairullin

According to Yury Podolyaka:

Russian troops have entered the eastern outskirts of Andreevka (north of the Volchya River) and took Yantarnoye. The situation is becoming critical for the Ukrainian troops in Dachnoye.

Vremyevka - Velyka (Bolshaya) Novosilka

In this Direction, Vremyevka has been captured which will make it difficult for Ukrainian troops to exit Bolshaya (Velyka) Novoselka.

Zaporozhye

At the end of the week, according to the Two Majors:

In the Orekhov direction of the Zaporozhye Front, an increase in attacks by the Russian Armed Forces is being recorded in the area of ​​Malaya Tokmachka and Novodanilovka, where the enemy had previously concentrated its reserves.

The Economic War

US-German Sanctions Breakers

I think I have said before that sanctions on Russia have been farcical in that they are not applied universally on all goods but have permitted ‘loopholes’ that are allowing Westerners to benefit from Russian goods. Russian uranium, for example, has not been sanctioned. In a recent article, Newsweek reported that the US is Russia’s largest foreign taxpayer followed by Germany and Austria. 123 large US companies continue to do business with Russia along with some 200 smaller companies generating tax revenues of $1.2 billions for Vladimir Putin. Zelensky, who has recently lambasted the effectiveness of sanctions on Russia, probably knows this.

US Imposes Sanctions on Russian Energy

In the latest round of Biden’s sanctions, 200 companies and individuals have been sanctioned along with 180 vessels involved in energy transportation. A Russian spokesman warned that it will respond. The measures, which are designed to restrict Russian access to energy markets and reduce its revenue, could impact negatively on global markets and could increase the cost of energy, including gas (petrol). Biden has admitted as much but is not interested in supporting the American consumer and is more concerned with damaging the Trump regime through higher gas prices. You can read more at Sputnik. A Russian spokesman has admitted that the sanctions will cause logistical problems initially and temporarily but in the long run they will not affect Russia oil revenues.

Russia Increases LNG Supplies to Europe

In spite of the loss of the Nord Streams, Russia is exporting record quantities of LNG to Europe. The gas is more expensive than pipeline gas but still much cheaper than US LNG. Russia will be tripling its LNG production by 2035. So it seems that Europe will continue to be dependent on Russian gas.

Sanctions Benefit US Companies - Wagenknecht

German politician Sara Wagenknecht, referring to claims that sanctions against Russia are meant to support Ukraine, said: ‘Let’s stop believing in this nonsense. It’s about the economic interests of American companies’. This is so true. Germany has been de-industrialised and cut off from cheap energy so that US companies can benefit. I think the Germans are beginning to wake up to the fact that they have been shafted.

German Economy Shrinks

The German economy declined by 0.3% in 2023 and the decline continued in 2024 when it shrank by a further 0.2%. This is the worse decline since the early 2000s.

World Politics

Countdown to the Inauguration

It will be interesting to see who has been invited and who has not. Of those who have received invites, it will be interesting to see whether they send their top delegates or not.

Xi Jinping has been invited but will not attend in person while Ursula Von der Leyen, bless her cotton socks, has not been invited.

This list was provided by InfoDefence:

Nigel Farage: British politician, broadcaster, and leader of Reform UK

Giorgia Meloni: Italian Prime Minister

• Javier Milei: Argentinian President

• Nayib Bukele: President of El Salvador

• Viktor Orbán: Hungarian Prime Minister

• Jair Bolsonaro: Former Brazilian President

• Éric Zemmour: French far-right politician

• Xi Jinping (China): Declined, sending Vice President Han Zheng or Foreign Minister instead

• Benjamin Netanyahu: Israeli Prime Minister

• A high-level Indian government representative is also expected

Note that Kier Starmer has not been invited.

Trump Understands

I get it!

In what Jeffrey Sachs has called the most important statement made by a US leader in years, Donald J has said that he understands Russia’s concerns about NATO expansion.

However, those who were expecting Trump to end the conflict will be puzzled to learn that he is encouraging the Ukrainians to lower the mobilisation age to 18 in order to stabilise the front. Perhaps Trump realises that these young men will be needed to prevent a collapse of Ukraine’s army which would not assist his negotiations.

Ramstein - Aftermath

According to Polish Foreign Minister Vladislav Kosinyak-Kamysh

The situation on the front line is very difficult. The fatigue (from military operations) in Ukraine is enormous. People are simply fed up.

Ukraine Must Accept Responsibility for Volhynia

Monument commemorating the massacre. It features the Ukrainian Trident which is often seen in Military and Civilian representations. You can read about the monument here.

Polish Presidential candidate, Karol Nawrocki, has called on Ukraine to accept responsibility for the massacre of 40,000-120,000 ethnic Poles by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) between 1943 and 1945. The UPA cooperated with the Nazis during the war. The Poles have been calling for the exhumation of those murdered and in November 2024 the Ukrainians agreed to allow this. Volhynia is situated west of Kiev and north of Lviv. Stepan Bandera, who has streets named after him in Ukraine, served in this collaborationist Nazi army. Ukrainian children sing songs in praise of this monster.

Soros’s Billions Bigger Threat to Sovereignty Than Musk

He’s bloody dangerous, I tell you!

According to Georgia Meloni, Elon Musk is less of a threat to the sovereignty of nations than the billions George Soros donates in order to undermine governments. Meloni pointed out that:

Elon Musk financed an election campaign in his country, by his candidate, in a system in which, by the way, I would point out that this is quite common…But I am not aware of Elon Musk financing parties, associations or political exponents around the world. This, for example, is what George Soros does…And yes, I consider that to be dangerous interference in the affairs of nation states and in their sovereignty.

Sleepy Joe Biden recently pinned a medal on Soros’s chest as a reward for his meddling.

You can read more at Zero Hedge.

Zoran Milanović Wins Croatian Election

Five years ago - but it is fitting.

Milanović, who is against funding Ukraine, has won the election with 74% of the vote. This vote has been secured through Zoran’s opposition to sending lethal arms to Ukraine and the apparent objective of weakening Russia:

What is the goal? Disintegration of Russia, change of the government? There is also talk of tearing Russia apart. This is mad.

Baltic Watch - or Intimidation?

NATO’s Rutte claims that this initiative, which involves frigates and marine patrol aircraft, is meant to protect undersea cables but we all know that this is about intimidation. Rutte admitted that this is about ‘enhanced surveillance and deterrence’. Why on earth would Russia wish to damage undersea cables? Ukraine, the UK and the US damage infrastructure, not Russia.

Protests

Romania

10,000 people took to the streets in a demonstration organised by the ‘far right’ ‘Alliance for the Union of Romanians’ (AUR) to protest the annulment of the recent election. Pro-Russian candidate, Călin Georgescu, was the frontrunner and it was claimed that the Russians had interfered with the election. In truth, the globalists in Romania are attempting to stem the rise of nationalism and election ‘interference’ in Romania is more likely to come from the EU and NATO. You can read more at the Islander.

Western Idiots - Rutte ‘Back NATO or Learn Russian’

Mark Rutte is warning European countries that unless they back NATO they will need to learn Russian, claiming that a Russian invasion is inevitable. Current military spending is around 2% of GDP for European countries while Donald J wants that increased to 5%. ‘We are safe now’, he said ‘but not in 4-5 years’. This reminds me of my childhood when other children warned that the ‘bogey man’ would get me while I slept. But I reasoned that if he wanted to get me, he would have done so long ago. So why would Russia wait 4-5 years to attack when Europe is severely weakened now. This is nonsense of course and insults intelligence. A Russian war with Europe would inevitably lead to a nuclear conflict because the Europeans will not be able to win a conventional war. As I have said before, it makes more sense to make friends with the bear rather than poking it. We are not children Mr. Rutte, so don’t treat us as such. You can read more at RT.

Wise Westerners - Max Otte - A More Sensible Approach

German Professor Max Otte exposed NATO as an instrument of US power which causes instability:

NATO's purpose is to keep the Americans inside, the Russians outside, and the Germans down.

Wise Westerners - David Kurten

Eurosceptic politician David Kurten of the Heritage Party is calling for the single intact Nord Stream pipeline to be activated, according to RT:

One of the four Nord Stream pipelines is undamaged and could be turned on again very quickly. Let's buy good, cheap gas from our friends in Russia once again.

It is rare indeed for a Brit to refer to Russians as ‘our friends’.

Alice Weidl from Germany’s AfD Party has also called for this.

The emerging Multi-Polar World

Indonesia Joins BRICS

Indonesia has the largest and fastest growing economy in South East Asia with a population of 270 millions. For the Global South, BRICS is fast becoming a beacon of hope that is attracting many nations which have long been subjected to Western influence and oppression. Indonesia will become the tenth full member of the organisation.

Russia-Iran Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

On January 17th, Vladmir Putin met with President Mojtaba Pezeshkian to discuss a partnership agreement which is being described as a ‘New axis of Sovereignty’ covering defence, energy, technology and economic ties. The defence aspect of the agreement will involved the two countries in joint military collaboration (including joint drills), arms development and intelligence sharing. Iran’s Defence Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has stated that the agreement does not imply a military union but will be used to combat terrorism and extremism.

The two countries will cooperate with regard to energy, including joint ventures in LNG and pipeline development. Trade between the two will be conducted in local currencies or cryptocurrencies rather than the dollar. Overall, the agreement is aimed at securing sovereignty enabling Iran to function in spite of Western interference and sanctions. You can read more at the Islander.

I have done lots of re-writing this week as events have changed unexpectedly. I don’t know whether to celebrate ‘peace’ in Gaza or not - even if the agreement is approved by Israel’s parliament. It has been yet another eventful week. Many thanks for your views, your subscriptions, shares, restacks, likes and follows.

Have a good week - Rob

Non subscribers can view Updates on Telegram: https://t.me/UWUupdate.

1. The deal is between Israel, the US and Hamas.

2. 4% of my readers come from California if I understand Substack’s stats correctly.

3. Glen Diesen provides a summary of Jeffrey Sachs’s Video here.

4. I still love living here.

5. Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye and Crimea.