Dnipro, 27 Sept, Evening
Having spent the week watching the clown show we call the UN, I stand incredulous at just how clueless the collective western leaders are. Ukraine is being completely destroyed, daily strikes by drones, missiles and rockets have done so much damage it is unbelievable. Every time you drive anywhere, you see destruction.
There is now no economy here outside of the retail sector, and that is now being systemically destroyed as well.
Tax collections in Ukraine will now be at around 10 percent of the pre war total, and the countries monthly budget shortfall is now approaching 10 billion usd a month for its normal budgetary needs, and a further 10 billion usd a month to continue the military resistance... There is no exaggeration there, I was told it by a source in the Tax office senior personnel with whom I am friends.
In addition to that, as we discussed, even when the war finishes, if companies can afford to rebuild, it will be a decade before any of the large corporations in Ukraine ever pay tax, as all of the losses they are suffering now at the hands of Russian drones are full tax write-offs.
Prices are now rising, and the people are finally beginning to fight back. Attacks on TCC officers are now commonplace, and there are now demands for zelenksy to bring the conflict to an end in any terms.
Biletskiy and Azov have called for massive protests on 3 Oct and most think that will result in a coup, for my part I think not, it's an attempt by Biletskiy to flex his power and to start his presidential run. He like the western leaders is deluded, he will not survive this conflict alive or not in a Russian prison.
Drone and rocket attacks are continuous, Dnipro has been lightly effected, but the Russians are systemically destroying all major businesses in Ukraine. Attacks on energy and water infrastructure, military producers, shopping malls, logistics companies, pharmaceutical companies, and western owned companies are occurring every day, many times a day. The border crossings are systemically being destroyed, isolating Ukraine completely, and Odessa is a port now only in name.
Ukraine is now being strangled financially, as well as militarily. The Russians could merely hold their positions now, continue the attacks for another month and there will be nothing left of Ukraine. It seems to me that Putin knows this, and he is now using Ukraine in a proxy war with the west. Strangling it slowly while the west continues to demilitarise, deindustrialise and bankrupt themselves. Zelenksy is playing his part to a T, the last thing Putin wants now is negotiations, so Zelenksy is giving him exactly what he wants.
October 3 will be an interesting day, and definately worth watching is my guess.
In the meantime, internet services continue to work, albeit with reduced speeds. Reports of internet outages are simply not true. Fuel prices are now around usd 2.20 per litre, some servo's are short on diesel, but not many. People are expecting diesel rationing moving forward to ensure the military has enough.
Electricity is ok atm, but it's only a matter of time. It's cooling here already, and with the cold will come the blackouts and ultimately Russia will resume the shutdown of electricity in Ukraine which atm is not being done. Rains will soon come and the rasputitsa will begin in ernest.
Food is still no issue, I haven't seen any of the empty shelves I occasionally see on telegram or other reports, brand choice has reduced, but this far I don't see any real shortages. So much of Ukrainians food is fresh, and grown locally, I can't see it being a big issue tbh. I am sure some products, especially western, will be unavailable, but that's a good thing mostly anyhow.
The big American symbols of Coke, Maccas and Olivia have all left the chat, so here's hoping it's permanant.
Morale is low, although Ukrainians, like Russians are interesting as even when morale drops, they just keep on going without complaint. Hardship is genetic in slavs, and it doesn't effect them as it does those in the west.
I have to wonder what people in the usa, and Europe are really thinking though. Your own countries are being severely fucked over by trump, and your own leaders stupidity, and yet I see no real commentary about, or resistance to it. I guess we all get what we deserve. I certainly hope we do, without a short, sharp and destructive war in Europe, I can't see Ukraine returning to peace any time soon.
