Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-23 and Invasion

[The Brain]

Isn't Russian gas imports to European countries traditionally paid in blood diamonds?

[The Larch]

IKEA to temporarely close all its shops in Russia and Belarus.

[HVC]

If I understand correctly SWIFT is just a messaging/information system. Being off SWIFT doesn't stop payments, just makes them a lot more difficult.

[The Brain]

IKEA to temporarely close all its shops in Russia and Belarus.

Finally. Good.

[Zanza]

[Syt]

This table can also be bought at IKEA. It's called LÖNGRÄNG.

[Zanza]

Interesting take on Russian economy from a Russia-born professor of economics in Chicago:


From here:
https://mobile.twitter.com/DmitryOpines/status/1499157917399977987?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1499157917399977987%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redditmedia.com%2Fmediaembed%2Fliveupdate%2F18hnzysb1elcs%2FLiveUpdate_5c993db4-9a99-11ec-9f4c-0628e2b08387%2F0

[The Brain]

Where will the Russians leaving Russia go? How many Western companies are hiring Russians now?

[Sheilbh]

There are anecdotal reports from EU agencies that Russian border staff/guards are questioning Russians who are trying to leave the country - there seems to be an exodus of people who can afford it, especially for young men who might be called up.

Edit: Also slightly worried we're not far from seeing a slightly more developed "freedom fries" moment at the current point. I said we should have cultural sanctions on Russia by which I mean sporting and cultural boycotts of the Russian state - no World Cup qualification or international friendlies, no big concert tours or orchestras touring Russia etc. What I don't mean and what I'm worried I'm seeing is that the rest of the world should boycott Russian culture - especially stuff that's already globally available - we absolutely shouldn't. I don't think that's the point

[Josquius]

I recall seeing a picture on reddit of a alcohol shop with all Russian products removed.

I really wouldn't be surprised if smirnoff launches an advertising campaign to highlight how British it is (after years playing up being Russian)

[Sheilbh]

Absolut are set to make a killing

[OttoVonBismarck]

I think that pretty much everyone has now conceded that Kherson has been captured, or at least the administrative buildings have been.  Sounds like Mariopol is just being leveled to the ground by artillery.  I wonder if that's a punishment to it for holding out during the 2014 war.

I doubt it. Russian military doctrine is built around artillery. They don't actually have any real way to seize a hostile city other than turning it to rubble with artillery and then moving infantry in. It's either that or expose their infantry to much higher casualty rates fighting street to street.

[Savonarola]

I recall seeing a picture on reddit of a alcohol shop with all Russian products removed.

I really wouldn't be surprised if smirnoff launches an advertising campaign to highlight how British it is (after years playing up being Russian)

There's been some articles about state run liquor stores here eliminating sales of Russian Vodka.  The problem is that Russian Standard is the only Russian label we get in any significant amount.  Even the Stolichnaya we get is made in Latvia.

[OttoVonBismarck]

Yeah almost all Russian vodka brands sold in the United States were sold off to non-Russian distillers ages ago.

Also all the top vodkas sold in the U.S. are not Russian made.

1. Smirnoff - Made in the UK
2. Tito's - Made in Texas
3. New Amsterdam - Made in California
4. Svedka - Made in New York
5. Absolut - Made in Sweden
6. Burnett's - Made in Kentucky
7. Pinnacle - Made in Chicago
8. Ketel One - Made in Netherlands
9. Skyy - Made in California
10. Barton's - Made in Louisiana

[Sheilbh]

There's been some articles about state run liquor stores here eliminating sales of Russian Vodka.  The problem is that Russian Standard is the only Russian label we get in any significant amount.  Even the Stolichnaya we get is made in Latvia.

Yeah I saw a piece about cocktail bars renaming Moscow Mules and an academic journal proudly announcing they were stopping publishing in Russian (a language also used in Ukraine). It just made me think this is dumb and not the point of a cultural boycott/sanctions.