Silicon Curtain

Edition No216 | 06-08-2025 - Belarus's New Martial Law Proposal. Today, we unpack Belarus's proposal to expand martial law and what it might mean—not just for Belarus, but for Ukraine, its NATO neighbours, and Europe's beleaguered democracies.In August 2025, Belarus’s Defence Ministry submitted a new bill giving it the power to declare martial law not only in the case of aggression against Belarus, but also if Russia or the “Union State”—their supranational alliance—is attacked (The New Voice of Ukraine). As one summary put it, "if, for example, a Ukrainian drone strikes Russian territory, Belarus could legally impose martial law on its own soil".The official justification: Belarus cites threats to the Russian‑Belarusian Union State, an integrated bloc formed in the 1990s to align foreign, economic, and defence policies between Russia and Belarus (UNITED24 Media). Now it’s a matter of debate whether Belarus can be considered a sovereign and independent country, given that its policy making is so closely aligned with Kremlin ambitions and intentions. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: * Militarnyi.com, “Belarus Proposes Introducing Martial Law…” (Aug 2025) * NV.ua / RBC.ua, “Belarus may declare martial law…” (Aug 2025) * Belsat.eu, on expanding grounds for martial law * Wikipedia Union State, treaty ratification details March 2025 (Wikipedia)* EUNEWS.eu, EU suspects Belarus behind migrant flows from Libya (Aug 2025)* Maghrebi.org, investigation linking Belarus in Libya migration (Aug 2025)* Wikipedia and other sources on weaponised migration (Wikipedia)* EU records: Frontex stats 2024 rising Belarus route by 192% (Reuters)* Reuters & Politico / Newsweek on Lithuanian drone incidents (Aug 5 2025) * Kyiv Independent on drone carrying explosives* CEPA analysis of Baltic hybrid drone threat ----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Edition No215 | 05-08-2025 - Today we take apart the drama that unfolded in Sochi — and the unexpected fascistic pop‑culture fallout. Strap in. It’s going to be weird — why the fall of Russia, and Putin, will be live streamed by idiots, and will hardly seem real. In the early hours of August 3, 2025, Ukraine launched a drone strike that ignited at least two fuel tanks at the Rosneft-Kubannefteprodukt oil depot near Sochi, Russia’s Black Sea resort. According to Governor Veniamin Kondratyev, more than 120 firefighters fought the blaze. Flights at Sochi Airport were briefly halted as a precaution. (The Kyiv Independent)This episode marks a sharp intensification in Ukraine’s campaign to disrupt Russian energy infrastructure in retaliation for Moscow’s war operations since February 2022. Ukraine has hit facilities across Penza, Voronezh, Smolensk, and recently near Adler, Sochi—no longer the glamorous Olympic city, and showcase of Russia’s economic and cultural power, sporting prowess and triumphant leadership – now it’s a frontline target. Smouldering and ruined, a fitting metaphor for what Putin’s Russia has become. (Financial Times)Russia's defence ministry claimed it shot down 93 Ukrainian drones overnight, though Kyiv later confirmed it had carried out the strike, targeting a fuel depot at Sochi Airport. (Reuters)----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: “Ukraine’s drone strike reportedly sparks fire at oil depot in Russia’s Sochi”, Kyiv Independent, 3 Aug 2025 “Ukrainian attack sparks blaze at Russian oil depot…”, The Guardian, 3 Aug 2025“Russian firefighters extinguish Sochi oil depot blaze …”, Reuters, 3 Aug 2025 “Ukraine’s Drones Light Up Sochi Airport Fuel Depot”, Kyiv Post, 4 Aug 2025 “Young Woman Fined for Filming Oil Depot Fire…”, Moscow Times, 4 Aug 2025 )“Russian TikTokers … forced to issue grovelling apology …”, The Sun, 4 Aug 2025 Timeline context from Wikipedia of prior drone attacks (Los Angeles Times)----------TRUCK FUNDRAISER - GET A SILICON CURTAIN NAFO PATCH:Together with our friends at LIFT99 Kyiv Hub (the NAFO 69th Sniffing Brigade), we are teaming up to provide 2nd Battalion of 5th SAB with a pickup truck that they need for their missions. With your donation, you're not just sending a truck — you’re standing with Ukraine.https://www.help99.co/patches/nafo-silicon-curtain-communityWhy NAFO Trucks Matter: Ukrainian soldiers know the immense value of our NAFO trucks and buses. These vehicles are carefully selected, produced between 2010 and 2017, ensuring reliability for harsh frontline terrain. Each truck is capable of driving at least 20,000 km (12,500 miles) without major technical issues, making them a lifeline for soldiers in combat zones.https://www.help99.co/patches/nafo-silicon-curtain-community----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Edition No214 | 04-08-2025 - The mounting power of the Axis of Authoritarian States is troubling, and their apparent impunity and immunity to external pressure —Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. We ask: has Russia’s war in Ukraine now actually transformed into China’s proxy war against the West? We’ll explore naval drills, the supply of Chinese drone parts that is fuelling the devastation in Ukraine, oil diplomacy, and the elephant in the room: Taiwan.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: * Bloomberg Opinion: “Anti‑US Axis Isn’t Dead ...”* Atlantic Council: U.S. ambassador on China proxy war* Reuters / AP: Joint Sea‑2025 naval exercises* United24 Media / Ukraine intelligence: Chinese components in drones* Reuters: Chinese drone engines shipped as cooling units* CEPA: China–Russia drone alliance and deeper ties* WSJ: Fault Lines in the Autocratic Axis* U.S. threat assessment / ODNI & DNI quotes* The Diplomat, Politico, Newsweek on sanctions, drone parts* Reuters/realclearnews on energy pressure to India, China, Turkey* Kyiv Independent on drone component sanctions* U.S.C.C. report on China’s position* Order and naming according to sources above----------TRUCK FUNDRAISER - GET A SILICON CURTAIN NAFO PATCH:Together with our friends at LIFT99 Kyiv Hub (the NAFO 69th Sniffing Brigade), we are teaming up to provide 2nd Battalion of 5th SAB with a pickup truck that they need for their missions. With your donation, you're not just sending a truck — you’re standing with Ukraine.https://www.help99.co/patches/nafo-silicon-curtain-communityWhy NAFO Trucks Matter: Ukrainian soldiers know the immense value of our NAFO trucks and buses. These vehicles are carefully selected, produced between 2010 and 2017, ensuring reliability for harsh frontline terrain. Each truck is capable of driving at least 20,000 km (12,500 miles) without major technical issues, making them a lifeline for soldiers in combat zones.https://www.help99.co/patches/nafo-silicon-curtain-community----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

https://dzygaspaw.com/projects/jonathan-for-danWebsite: https://dzygaspaw.com/Here at Dzyga’s Paw Charity Fund, we understand that the work of this scale can’t be accomplished alone. The collaboration shared vision, and collective efforts of dedicated Ukrainian and foreign businesses and individuals enable us to make a lasting impact on the lives of Ukrainian Heroes protecting our freedom.----------TRUCK FUNDRAISER - GET A SILICON CURTAIN NAFO PATCH:Together with our friends at LIFT99 Kyiv Hub (the NAFO 69th Sniffing Brigade), we are teaming up to provide 2nd Battalion of 5th SAB with a pickup truck that they need for their missions. With your donation, you're not just sending a truck — you’re standing with Ukraine.https://www.help99.co/patches/nafo-silicon-curtain-communityWhy NAFO Trucks Matter: Ukrainian soldiers know the immense value of our NAFO trucks and buses. These vehicles are carefully selected, produced between 2010 and 2017, ensuring reliability for harsh frontline terrain. Each truck is capable of driving at least 20,000 km (12,500 miles) without major technical issues, making them a lifeline for soldiers in combat zones.https://www.help99.co/patches/nafo-silicon-curtain-community----------LINKS:https://x.com/dzygaspawhttps://x.com/dim0kqhttps://dzygaspaw.com/triad-night-droneshttps://kovyla.pub/dimko--------------------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

ANDREI YAKOVLEV is an Associate at Harvard University’s Davis Centre for Russian and Eurasian Studies and a Visiting Research Fellow at SCRIPTS project at Freie Universität Berlin.VLADIMIR DUBROVSKIY was a Senior Economist at CASE Ukraine. He is an expert on Applied institutional and political economics (corruption, economic reforms, etc.)----------LINKS:https://www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/putins-new-hermit-kingdom-closed-dictatorship----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Edition No213 | 03-08-2025 - Russia’s new missile, Oreshnik—the "hazelnut" makes a comeback. Why now, and should we take these threats seriously? Putin has announced “mass production” of the missile complex, teased deployment in Belarus, and claimed it can “dual” U.S. defenses. But how real is it? What threat does Europe face? And how much is psychological propaganda and bluff?On August 1, 2025, President Putin announced alongside Belarus’s Lukashenko that “Preparatory work is ongoing, and most likely we will be done with it before the year’s end”, saying the first Oreshniki and their systems have entered service. That same day regime supporting outlets reported “serial production of the latest Oreshnik medium‑range missile system is under way,” with range up to 3,425 miles (5,500 km), able to strike Europe and parts of the US. (New York Post)Analysts remain skeptical. Oreshnik appears based on the RS‑26 Rubezh—functionally repackaged, not radically new. As one expert put it, it was "a series of old technologies ... put together in a new way"—perhaps only 10 % of which was new. (Wikipedia) U.S. officials emphasize it's still experimental, and Russia likely only has a limited number of them.So, while mass‑production is claimed, in truth it may mean only a small initial batch—and more psychological signalling than industrial capacity. Of course, the choice of warhead is just as important, in terms of what impact the munition can have. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: * Euronews (Aug 1, 2025, deployment announcement)* AP News (deployment in Belarus)* Business Insider (mass-production claims & analysis)* Wikipedia (Oreshnik detailed history & capabilities)* RUSI and RIAC commentary (technical & strategic analysis)* Foreign Policy on submunition threat* Le Monde on Dnipro deployment* Kyiv Independent / Zelensky parts warning* The Guardian on missile escalation context* The Sunday Times via Times (UK vulnerability gap)----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Ostap Slyvynsky is a Ukrainian poet, essayist, translator, literary critic, and academic. He is the author of several collections of poetry and was a recipient of Ukrainian and international literary awards. He is also noted for translating several works of fiction from other languages into Ukrainian. He is the author of five poetry collections, numerous essays, columns, and reviews in Ukrainian and foreign periodicals. His works have been translated into 16 languages. He translates fiction and scholarly literature from English, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Polish, and Russian. ----------DESCRIPTION:The Language of War: A Conversation with Ostap Slyvynsky in OdesaIn this captivating episode, we are joined by Ostap Slyvynsky, a translator, writer, and associate professor at the Ukrainian Catholic University, to discuss his book, 'Dictionary of War'. The conversation delves into the spontaneous creation of the book amidst the backdrop of Russian aggression against Ukraine, the profound changes in wartime language, and the manipulation and distortion of terms like 'war' and 'peace' by Russian propaganda. The episode further explores the challenges and psychological defenses in Ukrainian society facing the ongoing war, the concept of victory, and the broader implications of Ukraine's role as a frontier of democratic values against authoritarian regimes. Tune in for an in-depth analysis of language, propaganda, and the enduring spirit of Ukraine.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:41 The Spontaneous Creation of 'Dictionary of War'03:05 Language Evolution in Wartime04:44 The Semantics of War and Peace07:25 Russian Propaganda and the Concept of War11:00 Ukraine's Role and Identity in the Conflict22:16 The Future of Ukraine and Democratic Values32:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts----------LINKS:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostap_Slyvynskyhttps://www.wordsforwar.com/ostap-slyvynsky-biohttps://pen.org.ua/en/members/slyvynskyj-ostaphttps://brooklynrail.org/2024/10/books/ostap-slyvynsky-winter-king/https://lithub.com/the-sky-is-innocent-new-writing-by-ukrainian-poet-ostap-slyvynsky/https://chytomo.com/en/authors/ostap-slyvynsky/----------BOOKS: A Ukrainian Dictionary of War (2024)Grace Mahoney (Translator), Taras Malkovych (Translator), Ostap Slyvynsky (Compiler)(Poetry)The Winter King, (Lviv, 2018)Adam, (Chernivtsi, 2012)Driven by Fire (2009)Ball in the Darkness (Kyiv, 2008)Midday Line, (Khmelnyts'ky-Kyiv, 2004)Sacrifice of Big Fish, (Lviv, 1998)----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqmLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Edition No212 | 02-08-2025 - It’s all about oil, stupid. Russia’s aggression is enabled and powered by hydrocarbons. The fact the world has let them export and sell for more than three years to support genocidal aggression is a scandal and morally indefensible. In this episode we ask – “Is Putin screwed?” now the sources of income for his aggression are finally being cut off. The Penza and Samara strikes on Russia’s refinery infrastructure, Russia’s war economy oil dependency, tightening of EU sanctions, India’s pause in accepting Russian tankers, and the shadow‑fleet tanker issue.Ukrainian drones have struck the Penza and Samara oil refineries, and global pressure is mounting on Russia’s oil lifeline — from EU sanctions to India’s hesitation about continuing to binge buy Russian oil. It’s all about the oil and ships keeping Putin’s war machine afloat.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------DESCRIPTION:Is Putin's War Machine on the Brink of Collapse? | Oil Sanctions and Strategic StrikesIn this episode, we explore how Ukraine's strategic strikes and tightening global sanctions are crippling Russia's war economy. Topics include the recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Penza and Samara oil refineries, the EU's new sanctions on Russian crude, India's pause on Russian oil imports, and the impact of these measures on Russia's war capabilities. We delve into Russia's oil dependency, the shadow fleet of tankers, and the global efforts to cut off the revenue streams fueling Putin's aggression. Join us as we analyze the physical, psychological, and economic toll of these actions and how they may signal a turning point in the conflict.----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgements00:33 Is Putin's War Machine in Trouble?01:19 Strikes on Penza and Samara03:28 Russia's Oil Dependency and Sanctions04:32 EU's New Sanctions and Their Impact05:52 The Shadow Fleet and India's Role10:01 Conclusion: The Future of Russia's War Machine----------SOURCES: https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/explosions-hit-penza-and-samara-areas-in-1754104103.htmlhttps://unn.ua/en/news/explosions-in-penza-and-samara-oblast-drones-hit-oil-refinery-and-defense-plantshttps://kyivindependent.com/drones-strike-industrial-sites-across-russia/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/31/business/india-russia-oil-trump.htmlhttps://www.gtreview.com/news/europe/eu-tackles-russian-oil-refining-loophole-in-major-sanctions-crackdown/https://energyandcleanair.org/fact-sheet-five-ports-received-57-of-russian-crude-transported-by-uk-sanctioned-vessels/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyvn35dej19ohttps://united24media.com/latest-news/sanctioned-russian-oil-tankers-left-stranded-off-india-as-refineries-turn-them-away-10359https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/07/31/indian-state-refineries-halt-russian-oil-imports-after-trump-tariff-threats-a90050https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/indian-state-refiners-pause-russian-oil-purchases-sources-say-2025-08-01/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-01/tankers-with-russian-oil-idle-off-india-as-refiners-seek-steer----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Edition No211 | 01-08-2025 - The July 31, 2025, drone‑and‑missile attack on Kyiv was one of the most substantial and devastating of the war. It was also entirely indiscriminate and purely targeted at civilians. We’ll break down: the scope of the attack, its human toll, the increasing difficulty of interception, voices calling out from Ukraine—and what the implications are for dealing with Russia, that has now cemented its identity as terror‑state, the Al-Qaeda of the European Continent.In the early hours of July 31, Russia unleashed one of the deadliest aerial assaults on Kyiv since the war began. Over 300 drones initially were counted and eight Iskander‑K cruise missiles, but according to Ukraine’s air force later that count rose to 539 drones and 11 missiles, targeting the capital. Air raid sirens blared for hours while explosions shattered sleep and infrastructure. President Zelensky described it as a “deliberately massive and cynical” attack, timed hours after a phone call between Trump and Putin. He made the connection explicit: the strikes began “almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin.”----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: * United24 Media: “Death Toll from Russian Attack on Kyiv Climbs to 31—159 Wounded…”* United24 Media: photographic reportage “What Russia’s Deadly Strike on Kyiv Left Behind…”* Associated Press: “Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv kills at least 13 and injures more than 130”* Reuters: “Russia launches drone and missile waves killing 16, injuring well over 100”* TIME / AFP via United24: largest drone attack record July 3/4 coverage* Kyiv Independent / United24 / international coverage of Meaghan Mobbs comments* Wikipedia timelines and drone attack summaries (Kyiv strikes)----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

Edition No210 | 01-08-2025 - Dima Medvedev is rattling the nuclear sabre again, in a highly entertaining spat with Donald Trumo, who in turn is calling the economies of Russia and India ‘dead’. What does all this rhetoric mean? Does it amount to little more than political theatre, until Trump takes real measures to restrain Putin's war machine.We unpack a startling clash: Dmitry Medvedev’s nuclear threats and Donald Trump’s sweeping dismissal of India and Russia as "dead economies." The former probably was already on your Bingo card, the latter possibly not. What does the spat reveal—and will anything follow to curb Putin’s war machine?Dmitry Medvedev, Putin’s longtime loyalist now serving as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, has been resurrecting his role as hawk-in-chief. Over the last three years, he’s issued chilling warnings:As early as May 2024, he wrote: “Russia regards all long‑range weapons used by Ukraine as already being directly controlled by servicemen from NATO countries… This is no military assistance, this is participation in a war against us.” (Financial Times)In late September 2024: “If Ukraine is allowed… to use Western long‑range missiles… we would reduce Kyiv to a ‘giant melted spot.’” (POLITICO)In July 2023: “Russia would have to use a nuclear weapon” if a NATO-backed offensive regained Russian-occupied land. (Wikipedia)All these things happened, the long-range strike capabilities, the campaigns in Kursk, and continued supply of munitions to Kyiv by its allies. Maybe not at the scales required, but substantial nonetheless, and Dimon’s threats proved to be hollow bloviating bluster. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/31/ex-russian-president-entering-dangerous-territory-trump/https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/trump-tariffs-russia-india-dead-economies-7mvr38w85https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-medvedev-putin-russia-ukraine-war-b2800085.htmlhttps://www.ndtv.com/world-news/as-donald-trump-brands-india-russia-dead-economies-russian-official-warns-him-of-nuke-strikes-8993532https://www.politico.eu/article/donld-trump-calls-russias-dmitry-medvedev-failed-president/https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/07/30/7524131/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5429394-donald-trump-russia-india-dmitry-medvedev-ceasefire/https://kyivindependent.com/trump-warns-russias-medvedev-to-watch-his-words-accuses-him-of-entering-dangerous-territory/https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/dmitry-medvedev-russia-trump-ceasefire-tariff-13917074.htmlhttps://time.com/7306697/trump-medvedev-russia-ukraine-nuclear-war-putin/https://global.espreso.tv/world-about-ukraine-diplomat-explains-what-verbal-clash-between-trump-medvedev-signalshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2025/07/31/trump-lashes-out-at-india-and-russias-dead-economies-and--responds-to-medvedevs-war-threat/----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------