Ukraine War Brief Podcast
@ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
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Rob Gaudette on Twitter. Hosted by a Ukrainian and produced by an American with a PharmD. thepeoplesmedia.substack.com
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ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
If I use an estimated 6 trillion ruble deficit—instead of the “very optimistic” 3.8 trillion rubles currently under consideration—the gap is even more profound.
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
Update: The Simferopol thermal power isn’t on fire, but the Simferopol thermal 330kV substation is! They’re close to each other.
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
Regime propagandist “economist” Zubarevich said restaurants were thriving. It appears the restaurant industry is the next to enter a crisis in Russia.

Traffic is down 30-40% this year, and many restaurants and bars are shutting their doors.

m.realnoevremya.ru/articles/358...
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
Official inflation in Russia, per Rosstat’s underestimate, m/m (seasonally adjusted)
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
There is one more quarter to go in the year, and Russia has only raised a net of 354 billion rubles through bond auctions. Russia needs at least 5.7 trillion rubles by the end of the year.

Tick tock, bitch.
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
Apparently, the Simferopol thermal power plant is on fire, as traffic has been routed around it. And the 200kV substation in Kefe was attacked last night as well.

Crimea going to be without fuel, heat, or electricity at this rate.
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
FIRMS is detecting heat anomalies 6 km long 🥹

This must be a huge fire. Feodosia, Crimea.

firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#d:24hrs...
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
Zelenskyy spoke to Trump yesterday, and then spoke to him again today. On Wednesday, Andriy Yermak (the backup President) and the new Prime Minister are coming to Washington. 👀

Something good is happening.
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
🔥 Crimea won’t have fuel by the end of the month at this rate.
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
The oil depot in Feodosia is on fire… again!
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
The United States is attacking Russian infrastructure with Ukraine by providing critical intelligence on targets’ vulnerabilities. 😍

www.ft.com/content/f9f4...
The US has for months been helping Ukraine mount long-range strikes on Russian energy facilities, in what officials say is a co-ordinated effort to weaken Vladimir Putin's economy and force him to the negotiating table.

American intelligence shared with Kyiv has enabled strikes on important Russian energy assets including oil refineries far beyond the frontline, according to multiple Ukrainian and US officials familiar with the campaign. The US intelligence helps Kyiv shape route planning, altitude, timing and mission decisions, enabling Ukraine's long-range, one-way attack drones to evade Russian air defences, said the officials familiar with the matter.

Three people familiar with the operation said Washington was closely involved in all stages of planning. A US official said Ukraine selected the targets for long-range strikes and Washington then provided intelligence on the sites' vulnerabilities.
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
No it doesn’t…

Come up with something more insuasive than that
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
I don’t think they do. The grand strategist’s plan is to buy another month. And another month. And another month.

Russia might have to amend the budget a final time to authorize more borrowing before or after actually doing so. We shall see.
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
Rosstat* rate of price growth of gasoline (blue) and diesel fuel (red) since the beginning of this year.

Rosstat, Russia’s state statistical agency, often understates price growth, sometimes by up to half.
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
7. Coal sector, eg Mechel, 17,000 workers laid off.

8. Steel—crisis impending.
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
2. Russian Railways- 3 unpaid days a month extra

3. Gorky Automotive Plant (GAZ), manufacturers vans, 4 day workweek

4. KAMAZ, truck maker, 4 day workweek

5. Alrosa, diamonds, reduction of wages by 10% (shortened workweek/RIFs)

6. Sveza, paper/lumber, closed Tyumen mill, laying off 300 workers.
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
Yes, the federal budget has to top it up somehow. Where they’re going to get the money is anyone’s guess, but I’d bet on central bank printing via REPO.
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
The Mandatory Medical Insurance Fund is also in huge deficit at 89 billion rubles, an increase of 4.7 times over last year!
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
The Russian Pension Fund has an 800 billion ruble deficit—the only larger deficit was in 2022 (1 trillion rubles).

Revenues this year are 12 trillion, but obligations are 17 trillion rubles.

Federal budget transfer was cut from 5.47 to 3.64 trillion rubles.

www.moscowtimes.ru/2025/10/07/v...
В бюджете Пенсионного фонда России образовалась «дыра» на 800 миллиардов рублей - Русская служба The Moscow Times
www.moscowtimes.ru
ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
The U.S. Department of Energy forecasts Brent crude will average just $52 a barrel in 2026. If discounts remain as they are now, Urals prices could average just $40.

Russia’s budget plans for $59 a barrel Urals prices next year 🤡

www.finversia.ru/news/markets...