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Russia's economy is hurting. We have the cards.

Airyaman

Airyaman

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While 2024 was a decent year for Russia's economy, they are in a downturn. Inflation is high at around 9.6%, but could be as high as 20%. Their central bank raised rates to 21% (!) to combat inflation. With lower oil prices, they are getting less money from the biggest input into their economy.

Plus, Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries have created gas shortages in Russia, and the lines to get petrol are incredibly long in some areas. Some are waiting up to 8 hours to get fuel!





Russia is on the ropes, economically, and that is the advantage to press to end this war. Economic sanctions need to be maximized, and frozen assets should be used to fund the war effort in Ukraine.



If Russia's economy collapses, the people may finally wake up and realize Putin needs to go. You can't fund a war with no income.

Out the window with you Vlad.
 
The fuel is being spent in Ukraine so they can liberate Ukraine and then make a trade deal with Trump for Ukraine's resources.
 
Can't imagine living in a supposed 'civilized country' where you can't buy Levi's Apple, Samsung or hundreds of other common brands.
No Netflix, Disney, Warner Brothers, Sony, McDonalds, nothing.
Worldwide shipping options like Fed Ex and UPS aren't even available.
I feel bad for Russian citizens, it's not their fault that their government are douche bags.
 
Airyaman said:
While 2024 was a decent year for Russia's economy, they are in a downturn. Inflation is high at around 9.6%, but could be as high as 20%. Their central bank raised rates to 21% (!) to combat inflation. With lower oil prices, they are getting less money from the biggest input into their economy.

Plus, Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries have created gas shortages in Russia, and the lines to get petrol are incredibly long in some areas. Some are waiting up to 8 hours to get fuel!





Russia is on the ropes, economically, and that is the advantage to press to end this war. Economic sanctions need to be maximized, and frozen assets should be used to fund the war effort in Ukraine.



If Russia's economy collapses, the people may finally wake up and realize Putin needs to go. You can't fund a war with no income.

Out the window with you Vlad.
Click to expand...


Dictatorships can bear economic hardship for a long time.
 
Part of a dictatorship is keeping the trains running on time.
 
HenryChinaski said:
Can't imagine living in a supposed 'civilized country' where you can't buy Levi's Apple, Samsung or hundreds of other common brands.
No Netflix, Disney, Warner Brothers, Sony, McDonalds, nothing.
Worldwide shipping options like Fed Ex and UPS aren't even available.
I feel bad for Russian citizens, it's not their fault that their government are douche bags.
Click to expand...
Sorry to say this but so long as China chooses to supply Russia, their citizens are largely fine. You mentioned phones? Here’s the reality.


Russians bought more smartphones in the first half of 2025 than ever before, and yes, all the major brands were represented. After all, they can simply import them from China.

Rinse and repeat for all the staples - clothing, toys, household goods.

The war keeps going and Russia avoids collapse so long as China sees fit to keep them a going concern.

China is the one holding the cards.
 
phoenix2020 said:
Sorry to say this but so long as China chooses to supply Russia, their citizens are largely fine. You mentioned phones? Here’s the reality.


Russians bought more smartphones in the first half of 2025 than ever before, and yes, all the major brands were represented. After all, they can simply import them from China.

Rinse and repeat for all the staples - clothing, toys, household goods.

The war keeps going and Russia avoids collapse so long as China sees fit to keep them a going concern.

China is the one holding the cards.
Click to expand...
The Chinese brands on that list are low tiered junk. Ones that you see in dollar stores here.
Any Iphone's or Samsung's imported into Russia can't be serviced properly as Apple and Samsung don't operate there. Warranties? Forget about it.
And it's likely that those Levi's imported from China are counterfeit as are many of the other name brands.
Chinese counterfeits is a billion dollar industry and much of that shit is passed off to Russians.
 
HenryChinaski said:
The Chinese brands on that list are low tiered junk. Ones that you see in dollar stores here.
Any Iphone's or Samsung's imported into Russia can't be serviced properly as Apple and Samsung don't operate there. Warranties? Forget about it.
And it's likely that those Levi's imported from China are counterfeit as are many of the other name brands.
Chinese counterfeits is a billion dollar industry and much of that shit is passed off to Russians.
Click to expand...
Apple and Xiaomi are low tier junk? Heck, the phone on the top of the list was the iPhone 16 Pro Max. That’s low tier junk?

If so, if you don’t mind my asking, what do you consider to be a good smartphone?

Just ask a Russian, they can buy any electronics they want. If China makes it, they can buy it. And China makes everything.

 

Russia's economy is hurting. We have the cards.​

Unfortunately, Putin has the photos and the videos, so expect Trump to continue to be led around on his leash.
 
phoenix2020 said:
Apple and Xiaomi are low tier junk? Heck, the phone on the top of the list was the iPhone 16 Pro Max. That’s low tier junk?

If so, if you don’t mind my asking, what do you consider to be a good smartphone?

Just ask a Russian, they can buy any electronics they want. If China makes it, they can buy it. And China makes everything.

Click to expand...

Do you want an Iphone imported through grey area smuggling operations (many stolen and second hand) at inflated prices with non existent tech-support or warranty options?
I don't. I'd rather walk into an Apple Store.
 
HenryChinaski said:
Do you want an Iphone imported through grey area smuggling operations (many stolen and second hand) at inflated prices with non existent tech-support or warranty options?
I don't. I'd rather walk into an Apple Store.
Click to expand...
So now you’re agreeing that Russians can and do in fact buy and own the same phones that you have access to? Good.
 
Questerr said:
Dictatorships can bear economic hardship for a long time.
Click to expand...
True, but when the money runs out to pay the troops, the war is over. Putin can let the average citizen suffer and even starve, but his soldiers will not continue to fight without pay.
 
phoenix2020 said:
So now you’re agreeing that Russians can and do in fact buy and own the same phones that you have access to? Good.
Click to expand...
Black market, possibly stolen or used with non-existent tech support or warranty options.
Fake Levi's and Chuck Taylors, sounds like paradise.
 
911Sparky said:
True, but when the money runs out to pay the troops, the war is over. Putin can let the average citizen suffer and even starve, but his soldiers will not continue to fight without pay.
Click to expand...

…you have no idea how the Russian military treats its soldiers do you?

They have a hard time getting food, let alone pay.
 
Questerr said:
…you have no idea how the Russian military treats its soldiers do you?

They have a hard time getting food, let alone pay.
Click to expand...
I have read that signing bonuses for Russian soldiers have been cut by as much as 50%, they are taking golf carts and scooters to battle instead of tanks and troop carriers, wounded soldiers, some even on crutches, are on the front lines. As Ukraine continues to hit Russian oil refineries fuel supplies are becoming scarce, per the OP video, and oil is one thing China cannot provide to Russia.
 
911Sparky said:
I have read that signing bonuses for Russian soldiers have been cut by as much as 50%, they are taking golf carts and scooters to battle instead of tanks and troop carriers, wounded soldiers, some even on crutches, are on the front lines. As Ukraine continues to hit Russian oil refineries fuel supplies are becoming scarce, per the OP video, and oil is one thing China cannot provide to Russia.
Click to expand...

Too be fair, the Ukrainians do that too. Lots of pickup trucks and civilian SUVs.

When you are fighting in relatively static lines without long lines of site (lots of front lines in Ukraine are anchored on tree lines), you don’t need a big armored vehicle to move troops up behind the frontlines, and stuff like golf carts have a relatively small sound and heat signature.
 
HenryChinaski said:
Black market, possibly stolen or used with non-existent tech support or warranty options.
Fake Levi's and Chuck Taylors, sounds like paradise.
Click to expand...
It’s not paradise but it’s not hardship either. “Oh no we better stop this war because I have to buy my iPhone from the local electronics big box store rather than an Apple Store!”

You really don’t know what hardship is, do you?
 
Questerr said:
Too be fair, the Ukrainians do that too. Lots of pickup trucks and civilian SUVs.

When you are fighting in relatively static lines without long lines of site (lots of front lines in Ukraine are anchored on tree lines), you don’t need a big armored vehicle to move troops up behind the frontlines, and stuff like golf carts have a relatively small sound and heat signature.
Click to expand...
Fair point, but even golf carts and scooters need fuel. If Ukraine can hold out until spring, with help from their EU partners, I predict that Putin will come to the peace table with a much smaller list of demands. I believe Putin recognizes the trouble coming at him, and is using trump as a potential off ramp and face saving shield. If he can get trump to help him negotiate an end to the war, keeping the land he has currently seized, he can end the war and claim victory. If the war continues as is with Russia's economy tanking more every day there will be no way for Putin to claim victory.
 
911Sparky said:
Fair point, but even golf carts and scooters need fuel. If Ukraine can hold out until spring, with help from their EU partners, I predict that Putin will come to the peace table with a much smaller list of demands. I believe Putin recognizes the trouble coming at him, and is using trump as a potential off ramp and face saving shield. If he can get trump to help him negotiate an end to the war, keeping the land he has currently seized, he can end the war and claim victory. If the war continues as is with Russia's economy tanking more every day there will be no way for Putin to claim victory.
Click to expand...

Russia isn’t producing zero oil. They can prioritize the military and power plants still. And it’s possible for them to set up ersatz production like the Nazis and imperial Japan did.

Remember the Nazis operated on considerably tighter oil margins than the Russians have to for years.
 
We need to be looking at the bigger picture here.

The reason Russia's economy is being harmed is everything is being redirected to the effort in Ukraine. Oil and fuel being sold to China and India is about funding, Oil and fuel being routed to Ukraine for combat is about that goal. A distant third place is Russia doing for its own economy, harmed both by minimal resources to the public and a large percentage of younger men being spent on conflict.

It is the core motivation for Putin to manipulate Trump into pushing Ukraine (and Europe) into surrendering portions of their nation and remain largely unprotected from future Russian aggression.
 
phoenix2020 said:
It’s not paradise but it’s not hardship either. “Oh no we better stop this war because I have to buy my iPhone from the local electronics big box store rather than an Apple Store!”

You really don’t know what hardship is, do you?
Click to expand...
There's levels of hardship.
Life in NK is worse than Russia.
Life in Russia is worse than the UK and New Zealand.
Russian citizens can be imprisoned for speaking negatively about the the government.
They're less free than other civilized nations.
And they don't have the luxury of access to everyday pleasures that we take for granted.
They cant even do something so routine and mundane like patronize a McDonalds or Starbucks.
They have to visit shitty copycat knockoffs, Vkusno & Tochka and Rostics because McDoanld's and Starbucks took a stand and ceased operations in Russia.
 
HenryChinaski said:
Can't imagine living in a supposed 'civilized country' where you can't buy Levi's Apple, Samsung or hundreds of other common brands.
No Netflix, Disney, Warner Brothers, Sony, McDonalds, nothing.
Worldwide shipping options like Fed Ex and UPS aren't even available.
I feel bad for Russian citizens, it's not their fault that their government are douche bags.
Click to expand...
Yes, it is their fault. They have a culture that accepts and glorifies dictators.
 
RobertU said:
Yes, it is their fault. They have a culture that accepts and glorifies dictators.
Click to expand...
I would hope that the majority or Russian citizens don't and that they are simply not being reflected in their voting process as the outcomes are predetermined by the dictators in charge.
 
HenryChinaski said:
There's levels of hardship.
Life in NK is worse than Russia.
Life in Russia is worse than the UK and New Zealand.
Russian citizens can be imprisoned for speaking negatively about the the government.
They're less free than other civilized nations.
And they don't have the luxury of access to everyday pleasures that we take for granted.
They cant even do something so routine and mundane like patronize a McDonalds or Starbucks.
They have to visit shitty copycat knockoffs, Vkusno & Tochka and Rostics because McDoanld's and Starbucks took a stand and ceased operations in Russia.
Click to expand...
Life in Russia is sufficiently comfortable that the Russian people aren't particularly motivated to shift their government's policy, which is the whole point of sanctions. They have access to all the same everyday pleasures that we do, and only an American who has never been abroad would think that life is about McDonalds and Starbucks, as if Russia doesn't have its own coffee shops and places to eat out that serve excellent coffee and food and more than satisfy the local population.

I have to admit, this is the first time I've heard of "McDonalds and Starbucks" being described as the very symbol of luxury.

Huh. I guess some people have low standards.
 
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