captainmorgan
Well-Known Member
Russia's Saki Air Base in Novofedorivka, Crimea, has been hit by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 40 aircraft have been destroyed, no confirmation yet.
War
- Thread starter captainmorgan
- Start date
printer
Well-Known Member
”Skhemy” published satellite images of the Saka military airfield 4 hours before the explosions. There was a combat aircraft
"Skhemy" journalists published a satellite image of the Crimean military airfield "Saki" in Novofedorivka, which was taken by the Planet Labs apparatus four hours before the explosions.
Journalists note that this airfield is one of the key ones for Russian aviation on the peninsula. Previously, there was a base of the Navy of Ukraine, and now, according to Radio Liberty, the 43rd Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Russian Aerospace Forces is based there, which consists mainly of Su-30SM, Su-33 fighter planes, and Su-24M bombers.
The photo shows at least a dozen Su family fighters and 14 Su-24 bombers. Warehouses can also be seen at the airfield.
The occupation administration has already announced five injured civilians.
- On August 9, out in the occupied Crimea near the military airfield, which is located in the village of Novofedorivka (formerly Saki-4) near the city of Saki.
- The Russian Ministry of Defense said that the at the storage site. Equipment and military personnel were allegedly not injured.
”Skhemy” published satellite images of the Saka military airfield 4 hours before the explosions. There was a combat aircraft
The Planet Labs satellite captured the Crimean military airfield in Novofedorivka four hours before the explosions. Fighters of the Su type and Su-24M bombers stood on it
babel.ua
I could not get the link in the article for the pictures of the airfield.
But with a little more effort.
captainmorgan
Well-Known Member
printer
Well-Known Member
All here should find this interesting.
Tom Mutch reveals his time on the front line with Amnesty officials and the glaring oversights and errors in their recent much-criticised report
bylinetimes.com
Tom Mutch reveals his time on the front line with Amnesty officials and the glaring oversights and errors in their recent much-criticised report
Why did Amnesty International Ignore My Warnings about their Ukraine Investigation? – Byline Times
Tom Mutch reveals his time on the front line with Amnesty officials and the glaring oversights and errors in their recent much-criticised report
bylinetimes.com
BudmanTX
Well-Known Member
printer
Well-Known Member
Aksyonov: one person died during explosions in Crimea
As a result of explosions in the Crimea, one person died, his relatives will be provided with all the necessary assistance. This was announced in his telegram channel by the head of the republic Sergey Aksenov.
“Unfortunately, one person died. I express my most sincere condolences to family and friends. All necessary assistance will be provided," Aksyonov wrote.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that aviation ammunition detonated at a military airfield in Saki . The Ministry of Health of the Republic reported that five people were injured as a result of the explosions, writes RT . The fire at the airport is localized, according to the National News Service .
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation called the cause of the explosions in the Crimea
The cause of a series of explosions in the Crimea was the detonation of aviation ammunition. This was reported in the telegram channel of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
“On August 9, at about 15:20, on the territory of the Saki airfield near the settlement of Novofedorovka, several aviation ammunition detonated on a bunded storage site. No one was injured in the explosion. Aviation equipment at the airport was not damaged. There was no fire impact on the bunded ammunition storage area at the airfield, ”the Defense Ministry said.
Earlier, the Crimean authorities reported a series of explosions near the Russian military air base in Novofedorovka. According to local publics, there were at least 10 explosions.
Reuters: A series of explosions thundered in Crimea. Video
Explosions are heard from the Russian military airbase at Novofedorivka in Crimea. Reuters writes about this.
“Explosions are heard from the direction of the Russian military air base in Novofedorivka in Crimea. Local publics write about two arrivals, ”reports Reuters.
There are no official comments from local authorities yet. The causes of the explosions are unknown.
The United States “declassified” military facilities on the territory of the Saki airfield in Crimea
Mash: American company Maxar took a picture of the Saki airfield in Crimea
Photo: Yandex.Maps
On the territory of the Saki airfield near the village of Novofedorovka in the Crimea , where a series of explosions occurred earlier on August 9, there is a training complex in which an aviation regiment on Su-24M aircraft has been deployed since 2014. This is reported by the Telegram channel Mash.
It is noted that the US-based company Maxar "declassified" the object about a week ago, taking satellite images for international reports.
Since 1989, the Maxar Class 1300 satellite platform has been known to serve governments and businesses. In early June, the US main intelligence agency signed a contract with MAXAR. So, for 10 years of cooperation the company will receive 3.23 billion dollars.
On August 9, it became known about a series of explosions near the village of Novofedorovka. Eyewitnesses filmed the moment of one of them. Later, the Russian Defense Ministry clarified that the explosions occurred as a result of the detonation of several aviation munitions on the territory of a military airfield. The head of the Crimea , Sergei Aksyonov , reported one death as a result of the explosions, six people were injured .
Preliminarily, there are no signs of sabotage at the airbase. This was reported by RIA Novosti with reference to a source in the Ministry of Defense. The department clarified that a violation of fire safety requirements is considered as the main version of the explosions.
lenta-ru.translate.goog
The number of victims of explosions at the airport in the Crimea increased
The Crimean Ministry of Health announced an increase in the number of victims due to explosions in Novofedorovka to 9
Photo: Reuters
The Crimean Ministry of Health reported that the number of victims of explosions at a military airfield in Novofedorovka in the Saksky district in the west of the republic has increased. It is reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the press service of the department.
“The number of victims as a result of the incident in the village of Novofedorovka, Saki district, has increased to nine. The victim is still alone,” the ministry said.
Earlier it was reported that the number of victims due to explosions at an airfield in the Crimea increased to seven. Among them are two minors. The department clarified that the nature of the injuries in the victims was shrapnel wounds. One person died as a result of the incident .
On August 9, local residents reported a series of explosions near the village of Novofedorovka. One of them was captured on video. Later, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the explosions occurred on the territory of the Saki military airfield, where aviation ammunition detonated.
lenta-ru.translate.goog
Hard to hide this one. But they still try.
As a result of explosions in the Crimea, one person died, his relatives will be provided with all the necessary assistance. This was announced in his telegram channel by the head of the republic Sergey Aksenov.
“Unfortunately, one person died. I express my most sincere condolences to family and friends. All necessary assistance will be provided," Aksyonov wrote.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that aviation ammunition detonated at a military airfield in Saki . The Ministry of Health of the Republic reported that five people were injured as a result of the explosions, writes RT . The fire at the airport is localized, according to the National News Service .
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation called the cause of the explosions in the Crimea
The cause of a series of explosions in the Crimea was the detonation of aviation ammunition. This was reported in the telegram channel of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
“On August 9, at about 15:20, on the territory of the Saki airfield near the settlement of Novofedorovka, several aviation ammunition detonated on a bunded storage site. No one was injured in the explosion. Aviation equipment at the airport was not damaged. There was no fire impact on the bunded ammunition storage area at the airfield, ”the Defense Ministry said.
Earlier, the Crimean authorities reported a series of explosions near the Russian military air base in Novofedorovka. According to local publics, there were at least 10 explosions.
Reuters: A series of explosions thundered in Crimea. Video
Explosions are heard from the Russian military airbase at Novofedorivka in Crimea. Reuters writes about this.
“Explosions are heard from the direction of the Russian military air base in Novofedorivka in Crimea. Local publics write about two arrivals, ”reports Reuters.
There are no official comments from local authorities yet. The causes of the explosions are unknown.
The United States “declassified” military facilities on the territory of the Saki airfield in Crimea
Mash: American company Maxar took a picture of the Saki airfield in Crimea
Photo: Yandex.Maps
On the territory of the Saki airfield near the village of Novofedorovka in the Crimea , where a series of explosions occurred earlier on August 9, there is a training complex in which an aviation regiment on Su-24M aircraft has been deployed since 2014. This is reported by the Telegram channel Mash.
It is noted that the US-based company Maxar "declassified" the object about a week ago, taking satellite images for international reports.
Since 1989, the Maxar Class 1300 satellite platform has been known to serve governments and businesses. In early June, the US main intelligence agency signed a contract with MAXAR. So, for 10 years of cooperation the company will receive 3.23 billion dollars.
On August 9, it became known about a series of explosions near the village of Novofedorovka. Eyewitnesses filmed the moment of one of them. Later, the Russian Defense Ministry clarified that the explosions occurred as a result of the detonation of several aviation munitions on the territory of a military airfield. The head of the Crimea , Sergei Aksyonov , reported one death as a result of the explosions, six people were injured .
Preliminarily, there are no signs of sabotage at the airbase. This was reported by RIA Novosti with reference to a source in the Ministry of Defense. The department clarified that a violation of fire safety requirements is considered as the main version of the explosions.
США «рассекретили» военные объекты на территории аэродрома Саки в Крыму
На территории аэродрома Саки рядом с поселком Новофедоровка в Крыму находится учебно-тренировочный комплекс, где готовят летный состав палубной авиации, сообщает Telegram-канал Mash. Базирующаяся в США компания Maxar около недели назад «рассекретила» объект, сделав спутниковые снимки для...
The number of victims of explosions at the airport in the Crimea increased
The Crimean Ministry of Health announced an increase in the number of victims due to explosions in Novofedorovka to 9
Photo: Reuters
The Crimean Ministry of Health reported that the number of victims of explosions at a military airfield in Novofedorovka in the Saksky district in the west of the republic has increased. It is reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the press service of the department.
“The number of victims as a result of the incident in the village of Novofedorovka, Saki district, has increased to nine. The victim is still alone,” the ministry said.
Earlier it was reported that the number of victims due to explosions at an airfield in the Crimea increased to seven. Among them are two minors. The department clarified that the nature of the injuries in the victims was shrapnel wounds. One person died as a result of the incident .
On August 9, local residents reported a series of explosions near the village of Novofedorovka. One of them was captured on video. Later, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the explosions occurred on the territory of the Saki military airfield, where aviation ammunition detonated.
Число пострадавших из-за взрывов на аэродроме в Крыму увеличилось
Минздрав Крыма сообщил, что число пострадавших в результате взрывов в Новофедоровке увеличилось. «Количество пострадавших в результате происшествия в пгт Новофедоровка Сакского района возросло до девяти. Погибший по-прежнему один», — заявили в пресс-службе крымского ведомства.
Hard to hide this one. But they still try.
printer
Well-Known Member
Crimea announced the introduction of comprehensive measures to protect against external threats
The head of Crimea , Sergei Aksyonov , said that the republic had taken comprehensive measures to protect itself from an external threat. He announced this on the air of the Solovyov Live channel.
Aksyonov stressed that the introduction of the necessary measures in the Crimea provides almost 100 percent security for the inhabitants of the republic.
“Measures that are being taken today as to the most protected objects, the territory of Crimea is also protected ... At the moment, from the point of view of an external threat, exhaustive measures have been taken in full. Everything is possible in life, but 99 percent of it is enough to ensure safety,” he stressed.
The head of the republic added that the Ministry of Defense, the FSB , the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Russian Guard are taking measures to ensure security in Crimea .
Earlier, a yellow level of terrorist threat was introduced in Crimea . It will operate from 20:00 on August 9 to 20:00 on August 24, 2022 on the territory of the urban districts of Armyansk , Dzhankoy, Krasnoperekopsk and Dzhankoysky and Krasnoperekopsky districts.
Several explosions occurred at the Saki military airfield near Novofedorivka in Crimea on 9 August. Six people, including one child, were injured in the incident. One person died .
lenta-ru.translate.goog
And the Propaganda Channel
The source called the violation of security rules the only version of the explosions in Novofedorovka
The source called the main version of the cause of the explosions in Novofedorivka
Violation of fire safety rules is considered as the main cause of the emergency at the Saki airfield in Crimea, a source in the Russian military department told RIA Novosti.
"As the main reason for the explosion of several ammunition at the Saki airfield, only a violation of fire safety requirements is considered. There are no signs, evidence, and even more so there are no facts of intentional impact on ammunition in order to undermine it," the agency's interlocutor specified.
Earlier on Tuesday, explosions thundered near the village of Novofedorovka in Crimea. According to the Ministry of Defense, the incident occurred due to the detonation of aviation munitions, one person was killed, nine others, including two children, received shrapnel wounds. According to the regional Ministry of Health, six victims were sent home after providing the necessary assistance. The seventh continues to be in hospital.
According to the adviser to the head of the region Oleg Kryuchkov , 30 people were evacuated from the houses adjacent to the airfield, they will be settled in boarding houses and hotels.
ria-ru.translate.goog
Interesting some of the comments.
My bother was just in Saki and personally saw how three "cigarette butts" in the form of a fire safety violation flew into Saki garrison from the north.
According to the fashionable version, we have all the losses at the fronts and in the rear solely due to violations of fire safety, or because of applause
Well, yes. The cruiser "Moskva" also burned down itself.
The military power of Ukraine has increased several times since February 24, the half-million mobilized reserve has not yet begun combat operations, but is only being trained, including on American aircraft
It's like here. Konashenkov will not tell about the arrival of military engineering equipment in the Kherson region. There are good Samaritans.
(this is tongue in cheek)
The Russian army in small contingents destroyed 90% of the military tank and howitzer Soviet stocks of Ukraine, more than 70% of the Soviet stocks of Ukrainian armored vehicles and MRLs were also destroyed, naturally 200 thousand of the most combat-ready military of the Armed Forces were destroyed, half of the Ukrainian original population who are now in Russian territories who left for Russia who fled to Europe who died, all the military enterprises of Ukraine were destroyed, even 65-year-old old people and the disabled are caught in Avsu. Ukraine is now virtually defenseless like a lamb to the slaughter, and 20% of all military supplies of the NATO bloc transferred to Ukraine did not help either.
here is the official version: the magpies picked up the unextinguished cigarette butts and exported them directly to the shells! Forty were put on the wanted list and declared a state of emergency!)
The military power of Ukraine has increased several times since February 24, the half-million mobilized reserve has not yet begun combat operations, but is only being trained, including on American aircraft
It's like here. Konashenkov will not tell about the arrival of military engineering equipment in the Kherson region. There are good Samaritans.
More than 200 km from Sak to Ukraine. so some long-range cigarette butts flew into the Saki garrison!
That's how it is. Russia is already at the limit. The West didn't really start. Fight.
how vaguely described the situation! When will they stop being afraid to tell the truth and admit their mistakes!? Or maybe a firefly flew by at night and set fire to a container of ammunition?
You wanted to say that throughout the United States, Britain and the European Union, mercenaries are being collected for Svo in Ukraine, and the last male Ukrainians are being sought out in the cellars with subpoenas? Then everything is correct. And Russia has an Army of a million fighters plus 5 million in reserve, although only 90 thousand fighters of the Russian Army are involved in this SVO. According to international military research institutes, Russia has 45% of howitzers of those in the world, 40% of the world's tanks and about half of all missiles in the world, we use only 5% of our military potential, while 200 thousand military APU and more than 3,000 NATO mercenaries have already been destroyed. Plus, Russia protects the civilian population and the infrastructure of the remaining Ukraine, which no army has ever done, this naturally slows down its own.
again sabotage profukali! and write off on an unextinguished cigarette (((
The entry of the LPR troops into the territory of Soledar was announced on July 13. A month has passed. I remind you that this is a "city" with a population of 10 thousand people. Special Turtle Operation.
From our government, the truth is not heard.
When air defense does not cover, propaganda covers.
No. Because of the special operation. Since March 11, volunteers have been recruited by presidential decree. Did you just find out?
Russia has demilitarized Europe and finally closes the project Ukraine. Everything is logical. And Russia has weapons for 150 years of wars, don’t worry about those 2 shells that exploded.
The head of Crimea , Sergei Aksyonov , said that the republic had taken comprehensive measures to protect itself from an external threat. He announced this on the air of the Solovyov Live channel.
Aksyonov stressed that the introduction of the necessary measures in the Crimea provides almost 100 percent security for the inhabitants of the republic.
“Measures that are being taken today as to the most protected objects, the territory of Crimea is also protected ... At the moment, from the point of view of an external threat, exhaustive measures have been taken in full. Everything is possible in life, but 99 percent of it is enough to ensure safety,” he stressed.
The head of the republic added that the Ministry of Defense, the FSB , the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Russian Guard are taking measures to ensure security in Crimea .
Earlier, a yellow level of terrorist threat was introduced in Crimea . It will operate from 20:00 on August 9 to 20:00 on August 24, 2022 on the territory of the urban districts of Armyansk , Dzhankoy, Krasnoperekopsk and Dzhankoysky and Krasnoperekopsky districts.
Several explosions occurred at the Saki military airfield near Novofedorivka in Crimea on 9 August. Six people, including one child, were injured in the incident. One person died .
В Крыму заявили о введении исчерпывающих мер по защите от внешней угрозы
Глава Крыма Сергей Аксенов заявил, что в республике приняли исчерпывающие меры по защите от внешней угрозы. Об этом он сообщил в эфире канала «Соловьев Live». «В жизни быть может все, но на 99 процентов этого достаточно, чтобы обеспечить безопасность», — подчеркнул он.
And the Propaganda Channel
The source called the violation of security rules the only version of the explosions in Novofedorovka
The source called the main version of the cause of the explosions in Novofedorivka
Violation of fire safety rules is considered as the main cause of the emergency at the Saki airfield in Crimea, a source in the Russian military department told RIA Novosti.
"As the main reason for the explosion of several ammunition at the Saki airfield, only a violation of fire safety requirements is considered. There are no signs, evidence, and even more so there are no facts of intentional impact on ammunition in order to undermine it," the agency's interlocutor specified.
Earlier on Tuesday, explosions thundered near the village of Novofedorovka in Crimea. According to the Ministry of Defense, the incident occurred due to the detonation of aviation munitions, one person was killed, nine others, including two children, received shrapnel wounds. According to the regional Ministry of Health, six victims were sent home after providing the necessary assistance. The seventh continues to be in hospital.
According to the adviser to the head of the region Oleg Kryuchkov , 30 people were evacuated from the houses adjacent to the airfield, they will be settled in boarding houses and hotels.
Источник назвал основную версию причины взрывов в Новофедоровке
Нарушение правил пожарной безопасности рассматривают как основную причину ЧП на аэродроме Саки в Крыму, сообщил РИА Новости источник в российском военном... РИА Новости, 09.08.2022
Interesting some of the comments.
My bother was just in Saki and personally saw how three "cigarette butts" in the form of a fire safety violation flew into Saki garrison from the north.
According to the fashionable version, we have all the losses at the fronts and in the rear solely due to violations of fire safety, or because of applause
Well, yes. The cruiser "Moskva" also burned down itself.
The military power of Ukraine has increased several times since February 24, the half-million mobilized reserve has not yet begun combat operations, but is only being trained, including on American aircraft
It's like here. Konashenkov will not tell about the arrival of military engineering equipment in the Kherson region. There are good Samaritans.
(this is tongue in cheek)
The Russian army in small contingents destroyed 90% of the military tank and howitzer Soviet stocks of Ukraine, more than 70% of the Soviet stocks of Ukrainian armored vehicles and MRLs were also destroyed, naturally 200 thousand of the most combat-ready military of the Armed Forces were destroyed, half of the Ukrainian original population who are now in Russian territories who left for Russia who fled to Europe who died, all the military enterprises of Ukraine were destroyed, even 65-year-old old people and the disabled are caught in Avsu. Ukraine is now virtually defenseless like a lamb to the slaughter, and 20% of all military supplies of the NATO bloc transferred to Ukraine did not help either.
here is the official version: the magpies picked up the unextinguished cigarette butts and exported them directly to the shells! Forty were put on the wanted list and declared a state of emergency!)
The military power of Ukraine has increased several times since February 24, the half-million mobilized reserve has not yet begun combat operations, but is only being trained, including on American aircraft
It's like here. Konashenkov will not tell about the arrival of military engineering equipment in the Kherson region. There are good Samaritans.
More than 200 km from Sak to Ukraine. so some long-range cigarette butts flew into the Saki garrison!
That's how it is. Russia is already at the limit. The West didn't really start. Fight.
how vaguely described the situation! When will they stop being afraid to tell the truth and admit their mistakes!? Or maybe a firefly flew by at night and set fire to a container of ammunition?
You wanted to say that throughout the United States, Britain and the European Union, mercenaries are being collected for Svo in Ukraine, and the last male Ukrainians are being sought out in the cellars with subpoenas? Then everything is correct. And Russia has an Army of a million fighters plus 5 million in reserve, although only 90 thousand fighters of the Russian Army are involved in this SVO. According to international military research institutes, Russia has 45% of howitzers of those in the world, 40% of the world's tanks and about half of all missiles in the world, we use only 5% of our military potential, while 200 thousand military APU and more than 3,000 NATO mercenaries have already been destroyed. Plus, Russia protects the civilian population and the infrastructure of the remaining Ukraine, which no army has ever done, this naturally slows down its own.
again sabotage profukali! and write off on an unextinguished cigarette (((
The entry of the LPR troops into the territory of Soledar was announced on July 13. A month has passed. I remind you that this is a "city" with a population of 10 thousand people. Special Turtle Operation.
From our government, the truth is not heard.
When air defense does not cover, propaganda covers.
No. Because of the special operation. Since March 11, volunteers have been recruited by presidential decree. Did you just find out?
Russia has demilitarized Europe and finally closes the project Ukraine. Everything is logical. And Russia has weapons for 150 years of wars, don’t worry about those 2 shells that exploded.
captainmorgan
Well-Known Member
Lucky Luke
Well-Known Member
Lucky Luke
Well-Known Member
We are a family of 4 and a small chest freezer costs about $60 a year to run.
And that's my point. Here meat has gone up at the supermarkets something drastic but the price direct from the farmer has stayed the same.
cannabineer
Ursus marijanus
Having four to feed does make it a better proposition.
A typical Craigslist freezer here burns 1+ megawatt-hour a year. Last month, despite severe energy discipline, I had a few kWh at $0.64 per.
There is also the small problem that I am nowhere near current cattle country.
Lucky Luke
Well-Known Member
Agree it would be silly for a single person but then 4 single people can split an order..
We all have different energy plans etc but i recon $60 a year for me would be high. Seems the avg is less.
- It costs $54.78 per year to run a freezer, on average. This works out to $4.56 per month, $0.15 per day and $0.006 per hour.
- Compact chest freezers are the cheapest to run, costing $29.47 annually, on average.
- Upright freezers are the most expensive freezers to run, with the average cost coming in at $66.83 per year.
Cost To Run A Freezer [Based On 354 Models | 10 Cost Saving Tips]
How much does it cost to run a freezer? Find out here, based on 354 different models. And get 10 tips to keep your freezer running costs & carbon footprint low.
ecocostsavings.com
cannabineer
Ursus marijanus
somebody is not paying attention! I plainly stated my cost per kWh. It is nowhere near 15 cents per.Agree it would be silly for a single person but then 4 single people can split an order..
We all have different energy plans etc but i recon $60 a year for me would be high. Seems the avg is less.
- It costs $54.78 per year to run a freezer, on average. This works out to $4.56 per month, $0.15 per day and $0.006 per hour.
- Compact chest freezers are the cheapest to run, costing $29.47 annually, on average.
- Upright freezers are the most expensive freezers to run, with the average cost coming in at $66.83 per year.
Cost To Run A Freezer [Based On 354 Models | 10 Cost Saving Tips]
How much does it cost to run a freezer? Find out here, based on 354 different models. And get 10 tips to keep your freezer running costs & carbon footprint low.
Also, a freezer that burns only 200 kWh/annum will be tiny. Also, as a desert dweller the temperature gradient is rather steeper here than the national average. This has two consequences that stack:
1) reduced thermodynamic efficiency because the condenser side is hot.
2) increased heat flow in watts across the insulation.
Work with the numbers provided! This isn’t our first go-around regarding numeracy.
numeracy
1. ability to do basic mathematics: 2. ability to do basic mathematics:
Grandpapy
Well-Known Member
printer
Well-Known Member
War in Ukraine Has Sparked a New Race to Succeed Putin
The choice may between a "new Putin" or an "anti-Putin."
The war in Ukraine and ensuing sanctions have failed to cement Russia’s power vertical or unify the country’s influential business and political groups. Had President Vladimir Putin gotten the swift victory he was clearly counting on when he launched his “special operation,” he would have solidified his position as ruler, but as the conflict drags on, the elites are being forced to think of their future and to try to find their place within it.
Putin himself demonstrates no intention to step down but looks increasingly relegated to the past. The elites and potential successors are watching his every military move, but they can already see that he has no place in their postwar vision of the future. His sole remaining function in their perception of the new era of peace will be to nominate a successor and leave the stage.
The war has, therefore, set in motion a public race of the successors. In recent years, political maneuvering in Russia was kept in the shadows, but in this new era, loud proclamations and high-visibility political gesturing are again the norm. It is as though an active election campaign is already under way, with bureaucrats and functionaries within the ruling party doing their best to get into the limelight and even attacking one another. Until recently, such behavior was almost unthinkable: the presidential administration worked in silence, while high-status functionaries at the ruling United Russia party restricted themselves to making promises on social policies.
Former president, ex-prime minister, and deputy chair of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has been particularly busy making statements. His over-the-top, hardline comments on foreign policy issues and insults hurled at Western leaders often look comical, but the role he’s trying to play is clear. It blends tough isolationism with populism, firmly placing the blame for internal woes on the shoulders of external enemies.
Another politician newly making loud gestures is the first deputy chief of staff and curator of the Kremlin’s political bloc Sergei Kiriyenko, who has now been given responsibility for overseeing the breakaway republics in the Donbas. He has become one of the new era’s highest profile politicians, though previously—ever since he became a presidential envoy in the early 2000s—he had never demonstrated any inclination for the limelight.
But now Kiriyenko has taken to wearing khaki and talking loudly of fascists, Nazis, and the unique mission of the Russian people. He headlines public events, and in the Donbas he unveiled a monument to “Granny Anya,” the elderly woman the Russians tried to turn into a symbol of the “liberation” of Ukraine. He is clearly emphasizing his status as curator of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics” (DNR and LNR): something done by neither of his predecessors in that role, Vladislav Surkov and Dmitry Kozak.
Media reports have stressed that those taking up administrative jobs in the Donbas republics are alumni of the school for governors, Kiriyenko’s brainchild. And though Kiriyenko isn’t directly involved in the military campaign, he has clearly managed to carve out a niche for himself in Putin’s martial agenda.
The speaker of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, is another front-runner in the battle of the hawks. Since his transfer from the Kremlin (as first deputy chief of staff) to the State Duma, Volodin has stepped up his public profile, making numerous provocative statements that are guaranteed to be picked up as sound bites. Now he is redoubling his efforts, backing a ban on foreign words on shopfronts and calling for the death penalty to be kept in the DNR and LNR.
Other influential bureaucrats have adopted a very different strategy, choosing to steer as far away from the subject of the “special operation” as their position allows. That silence is in itself a political gesture.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, both regarded as contenders for Putin’s succession prior to the war, have been notably tight-lipped about the “special operation” in Ukraine. Sobyanin toed the line by appearing at a rally in support of it at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium in March, and traveled to the LNR in June, but he has yet to be spotted in army fatigues or to call for Nazism to be crushed. Mishustin, meanwhile, has avoided the subject of the war entirely.
The rational explanation for their silence is that war is a temporary affair, and relations with the West and even with Ukraine will, at some point and somehow, have to be restored. When that time comes, those who haven’t insulted “hostile countries” or directly participated in the military campaign will be better placed to go about that.
Remaining silent has its own risks, however. If Putin eventually requires complete commitment from all bureaucrats on the Donbas and military issue, the fact that they remained silent could be held against them.
This is all reminiscent of the situation in 2007, when Putin’s second term as president was coming to an end and he could not run for a third consecutive term under the constitution. There were two candidates for the role of successor: first deputy prime ministers Sergei Ivanov and Dmitry Medvedev. Ivanov positioned himself as a conservative and authoritarian, while Medvedev played the role of a liberal modernizer oriented toward the West.
The winner, Medvedev—who claimed back then that “freedom is better than non-freedom”—genuinely strayed from Putin’s beaten track, drawing closer to the West. He spoke sincerely about continuing his presidential career, but quickly folded when Putin wanted to return to the presidency in 2012.
Following Putin’s reelection in 2018, the issue of succession again arose, only to be cut short when Putin changed the constitution to reset the clock on presidential terms, enabling him to run for two more terms from 2024. Now the Russian elite is again looking around for a successor, but in this new era of political gestures, it is the potential successors who have fired the starting pistol, rather than Putin.
The two strategies—loud gestures and resounding silence—reflect the different approaches and assumptions of those who use them. The hawks operate on the basis that the successor will be chosen by Putin, so they mimic his behavior in their attempts to win his favor, indicating that they will preserve his legacy loyally. “After Putin there will be Putin,” Volodin once said.
Those remaining silent are counting on a different succession scenario, whereby the new leader is selected by the elites. As a rule, in this scenario, bets aren’t placed on the most popular potential candidate: they’re not backing anyone who likes to get up on the podium and flex. Instead, technocrats who are capable of taking into account the interests of various groups will become the leading candidates. A “new Putin” could start a redistribution of influence and property, and the elites have little interest in that.
The 2022 version of the successors’ race is a virtual event, of course. Putin hasn’t announced the start of casting and clearly isn’t planning to leave his job: the presidential administration is preparing for elections in 2024, and it goes without saying who will be in the central role. The war and potential annexation of further territories will remove the need for Putin to come up with a manifesto of any kind. He wants to go into the election as the man who defeated Nazism (irrespective of the actual results of the invasion) and as a historic figure who doesn’t need to make any promises to his people.
Nevertheless, the interest shown in the succession race by the most senior members of the elites—not to mention the enthusiasm of its participants—demonstrates that the system wants to discuss (and see) a post-Putin future. It might seem that the extreme circumstances of wartime should banish any thoughts of what will come later. But whatever that future looks like, there appears to be less and less room in it for Putin.
This article was originally published by the Carnegie Endowment for Peace.
www.themoscowtimes.com
The choice may between a "new Putin" or an "anti-Putin."
The war in Ukraine and ensuing sanctions have failed to cement Russia’s power vertical or unify the country’s influential business and political groups. Had President Vladimir Putin gotten the swift victory he was clearly counting on when he launched his “special operation,” he would have solidified his position as ruler, but as the conflict drags on, the elites are being forced to think of their future and to try to find their place within it.
Putin himself demonstrates no intention to step down but looks increasingly relegated to the past. The elites and potential successors are watching his every military move, but they can already see that he has no place in their postwar vision of the future. His sole remaining function in their perception of the new era of peace will be to nominate a successor and leave the stage.
The war has, therefore, set in motion a public race of the successors. In recent years, political maneuvering in Russia was kept in the shadows, but in this new era, loud proclamations and high-visibility political gesturing are again the norm. It is as though an active election campaign is already under way, with bureaucrats and functionaries within the ruling party doing their best to get into the limelight and even attacking one another. Until recently, such behavior was almost unthinkable: the presidential administration worked in silence, while high-status functionaries at the ruling United Russia party restricted themselves to making promises on social policies.
Former president, ex-prime minister, and deputy chair of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has been particularly busy making statements. His over-the-top, hardline comments on foreign policy issues and insults hurled at Western leaders often look comical, but the role he’s trying to play is clear. It blends tough isolationism with populism, firmly placing the blame for internal woes on the shoulders of external enemies.
Another politician newly making loud gestures is the first deputy chief of staff and curator of the Kremlin’s political bloc Sergei Kiriyenko, who has now been given responsibility for overseeing the breakaway republics in the Donbas. He has become one of the new era’s highest profile politicians, though previously—ever since he became a presidential envoy in the early 2000s—he had never demonstrated any inclination for the limelight.
But now Kiriyenko has taken to wearing khaki and talking loudly of fascists, Nazis, and the unique mission of the Russian people. He headlines public events, and in the Donbas he unveiled a monument to “Granny Anya,” the elderly woman the Russians tried to turn into a symbol of the “liberation” of Ukraine. He is clearly emphasizing his status as curator of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics” (DNR and LNR): something done by neither of his predecessors in that role, Vladislav Surkov and Dmitry Kozak.
Media reports have stressed that those taking up administrative jobs in the Donbas republics are alumni of the school for governors, Kiriyenko’s brainchild. And though Kiriyenko isn’t directly involved in the military campaign, he has clearly managed to carve out a niche for himself in Putin’s martial agenda.
The speaker of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, is another front-runner in the battle of the hawks. Since his transfer from the Kremlin (as first deputy chief of staff) to the State Duma, Volodin has stepped up his public profile, making numerous provocative statements that are guaranteed to be picked up as sound bites. Now he is redoubling his efforts, backing a ban on foreign words on shopfronts and calling for the death penalty to be kept in the DNR and LNR.
Other influential bureaucrats have adopted a very different strategy, choosing to steer as far away from the subject of the “special operation” as their position allows. That silence is in itself a political gesture.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, both regarded as contenders for Putin’s succession prior to the war, have been notably tight-lipped about the “special operation” in Ukraine. Sobyanin toed the line by appearing at a rally in support of it at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium in March, and traveled to the LNR in June, but he has yet to be spotted in army fatigues or to call for Nazism to be crushed. Mishustin, meanwhile, has avoided the subject of the war entirely.
The rational explanation for their silence is that war is a temporary affair, and relations with the West and even with Ukraine will, at some point and somehow, have to be restored. When that time comes, those who haven’t insulted “hostile countries” or directly participated in the military campaign will be better placed to go about that.
Remaining silent has its own risks, however. If Putin eventually requires complete commitment from all bureaucrats on the Donbas and military issue, the fact that they remained silent could be held against them.
This is all reminiscent of the situation in 2007, when Putin’s second term as president was coming to an end and he could not run for a third consecutive term under the constitution. There were two candidates for the role of successor: first deputy prime ministers Sergei Ivanov and Dmitry Medvedev. Ivanov positioned himself as a conservative and authoritarian, while Medvedev played the role of a liberal modernizer oriented toward the West.
The winner, Medvedev—who claimed back then that “freedom is better than non-freedom”—genuinely strayed from Putin’s beaten track, drawing closer to the West. He spoke sincerely about continuing his presidential career, but quickly folded when Putin wanted to return to the presidency in 2012.
Following Putin’s reelection in 2018, the issue of succession again arose, only to be cut short when Putin changed the constitution to reset the clock on presidential terms, enabling him to run for two more terms from 2024. Now the Russian elite is again looking around for a successor, but in this new era of political gestures, it is the potential successors who have fired the starting pistol, rather than Putin.
The two strategies—loud gestures and resounding silence—reflect the different approaches and assumptions of those who use them. The hawks operate on the basis that the successor will be chosen by Putin, so they mimic his behavior in their attempts to win his favor, indicating that they will preserve his legacy loyally. “After Putin there will be Putin,” Volodin once said.
Those remaining silent are counting on a different succession scenario, whereby the new leader is selected by the elites. As a rule, in this scenario, bets aren’t placed on the most popular potential candidate: they’re not backing anyone who likes to get up on the podium and flex. Instead, technocrats who are capable of taking into account the interests of various groups will become the leading candidates. A “new Putin” could start a redistribution of influence and property, and the elites have little interest in that.
The 2022 version of the successors’ race is a virtual event, of course. Putin hasn’t announced the start of casting and clearly isn’t planning to leave his job: the presidential administration is preparing for elections in 2024, and it goes without saying who will be in the central role. The war and potential annexation of further territories will remove the need for Putin to come up with a manifesto of any kind. He wants to go into the election as the man who defeated Nazism (irrespective of the actual results of the invasion) and as a historic figure who doesn’t need to make any promises to his people.
Nevertheless, the interest shown in the succession race by the most senior members of the elites—not to mention the enthusiasm of its participants—demonstrates that the system wants to discuss (and see) a post-Putin future. It might seem that the extreme circumstances of wartime should banish any thoughts of what will come later. But whatever that future looks like, there appears to be less and less room in it for Putin.
This article was originally published by the Carnegie Endowment for Peace.
War in Ukraine Has Sparked a New Race to Succeed Putin - The Moscow Times
Opinion | The war in Ukraine and ensuing sanctions have failed to cement Russia’s power vertical or unify the country’s influential business and political groups.
