pagerman @ work said:

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Gaeilge said:

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BREAKING: Russia is considering moving back to the US Dollar as part of a wide-ranging economic partnership with President Trump, per Bloomberg.

The partnership would include:

1. US and Russia working together on fossil fuels

2. Joint investments in natural gas

3. Offshore…

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) February 12, 2026

Quote:

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BREAKING: Russia is considering moving back to the US Dollar as part of a wide-ranging economic partnership with President Trump, per Bloomberg.

The partnership would include:

1. US and Russia working together on fossil fuels

2. Joint investments in natural gas

3. Offshore oil and critical raw material partnerships

4. Windfalls for US companies

5. Russia's return to the USD settlement system

If finalized, this deal would change the global economy.

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I'm afraid I know this answer, but how exactly does this work with a sanctions regime in place?

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Trump will lift them after thanking Zelensky for driving putin back to the US Dollar!

Now revealed publicly:
The Ukrainians set up bots in telegram to trick Russians into trying to repair their Starlinks and get onto the Ukrainian whitelist. As a result they got the exact details, and sometimes exact coordinates, of 2,420 Starlink terminals and made $6,000 from… https://t.co/Cpf1REdUtW

— Woofers (@NotWoofers) February 12, 2026

by every metric I can think of, the last week of January was the highest Russian KIA that we have counted to date.

If you calculate it looking forward in time, so which period of time marked the beginning of a surge in KIA. It is January 19th.

If you calculate it looking…

— Andrew Perpetua (@AndrewPerpetua) February 12, 2026

If you calculate it looking forward in time, so which period of time marked the beginning of a surge in KIA. It is January 19th.

If you calculate it looking backwards, so which period of time end up having the most KIA. It is January 26th.

If you calculate it as a middle point, so which date was in the middle of the most KIA. It is February 2nd.

Regardless, January 19th to now has been a blood bath, averaging 204 KIA per day in video footage alone, and it would be the third highest KIA month we've counted, except its not even a month long.

February, thus far, contrary to expectations, is the highest KIA/Day month we've seen so far, with 193 per day.

January was the previous high mark with 192.

Situational update on the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Hulyaipole/Pokrovs'ke direction as of February 12, 2026:

On February 5, coinciding with the disconnection of Russian Starlink terminals and heavy shelling of Russian positions, Ukraine launched a series of coordinated… pic.twitter.com/8XH5FPMkYO

— AMK Mapping 🇳🇿 (@AMK_Mapping_) February 12, 2026

“We’re in deep trouble,” one commander reportedly said after NATO’s Hedgehog 2025 exercises in Estonia. 16,000 troops. 12 NATO countries. A team of just ~10 Ukrainian drone operators playing the “enemy.” In half a day, they simulated destroying 17 armored vehicles and hit around…

— Olena Tregub (@OTregub) February 13, 2026

In half a day, they simulated destroying 17 armored vehicles and hit around 30 additional targets.
According to participants, the results were devastating for NATO forces.

Modern war has changed. Ukraine learned it the hard way. The question is: is NATO learning fast enough? NATO needs Ukraine.

Zelensky's right, by the way -- Putin is kinda 73 years old.

He doesn't have another 5 or 10 years to stop the war, leave Ukraine alone in stable peace, rearm his military, repair his economy, and attack Ukraine again in better shape when another opportunity comes.

Especially…

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) February 13, 2026

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Zelensky's right, by the way -- Putin is kinda 73 years old.

He doesn't have another 5 or 10 years to stop the war, leave Ukraine alone in stable peace, rearm his military, repair his economy, and attack Ukraine again in better shape when another opportunity comes.

Especially given the fact that Ukraine, in this post-war period, will also not be sitting idle.

If the psychotic maniac wants to see his lifetime dream come true and exterminate and erase Ukraine, he needs to get it done now or in the foreseeable future.

If he stops now, he'll never get Ukraine. At all.

Which is one of many reasons why he's not stopping the war and that any "peace deal" exists nowhere but Donald Trump's imagination -- right next to craving for his sweet "business opportunities" with the Kremlin.

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PJYoung said:

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“We’re in deep trouble,” one commander reportedly said after NATO’s Hedgehog 2025 exercises in Estonia. 16,000 troops. 12 NATO countries. A team of just ~10 Ukrainian drone operators playing the “enemy.” In half a day, they simulated destroying 17 armored vehicles and hit around…

— Olena Tregub (@OTregub) February 13, 2026

In half a day, they simulated destroying 17 armored vehicles and hit around 30 additional targets.
According to participants, the results were devastating for NATO forces.

Modern war has changed. Ukraine learned it the hard way. The question is: is NATO learning fast enough? NATO needs Ukraine.

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Said this a long time ago. Ukraine has real world experience with the latest in modern warfare. NATO, with all of its technology and airpower, does not.

Absolutely brutal. Needs to be higher if they want their 50,000/month KIA goal to materialize.

Photojournalist Kostiantyn Liberov writes on his Instagram about yet another evacuation of people affected by Russian aggression - this time from Kostiantynivka:

“Kostiantynivka. All roads into the city are controlled by enemy drones. Every street is a vast graveyard of… pic.twitter.com/q7TJlqi4xP

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) February 14, 2026

Recent Ukrainian tactical counterattacks have reportedly liberated multiple small settlements along the Yanchur and Haichur rivers in the Oleksandrivka and Hulyaipole directions.

These Ukrainian counterattacks are likely leveraging the recent block on Russian forces’ access to… https://t.co/axIZceQvVj pic.twitter.com/DVZLtpcUv8

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) February 16, 2026

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These Ukrainian counterattacks are likely leveraging the recent block on Russian forces' access to Starlink, which Russian milbloggers have claimed is causing communications and command and control (C2) issues on the battlefield.

Recent tactical Ukrainian counterattacks in the Oleksandrivka and Hulyaipole directions have likely further hindered Russian forces' ability to properly prepare for a summer offensive toward Orikhiv and Zaporizhzhia City from the east.

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The Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad chapter has come to an end for Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have lost control of both Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, which is now effectively in Russian hands. In recent weeks/months, the area east of Pokrovsk (zone 1) was first closed off by Russians, which… pic.twitter.com/AkLgJewg2K

— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) February 16, 2026

Made them bleed for it, though.

Interesting speculation.

"New reports which are quickly going viral claim that Ukraine has stood up a new mixed squadron with Ukrainian, U.S. and Dutch pilots flying combat missions together in the country's F-16s."

PILOTS

.......which Ukraine denies.

?????

In the 2 years since Russia captured the Avdiivka coke plant, they have advanced 41 km to the junction of the E-50 and T-504 Highway in Pokrovsk.

That's 56 meters a day.

They lost more armor than the Germans did in Operation Citadel.

— Malcontent News (@MalcontentmentT) February 17, 2026

PJYoung said:

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In the 2 years since Russia captured the Avdiivka coke plant, they have advanced 41 km to the junction of the E-50 and T-504 Highway in Pokrovsk.

That's 56 meters a day.

They lost more armor than the Germans did in Operation Citadel.

— Malcontent News (@MalcontentmentT) February 17, 2026

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Putin remains a master strategist…

74OA said:

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Interesting speculation.

"New reports which are quickly going viral claim that Ukraine has stood up a new mixed squadron with Ukrainian, U.S. and Dutch pilots flying combat missions together in the country's F-16s."

PILOTS

.......which Ukraine denies.

?????

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Honestly surprised it took this look. Sort of a no brainer.

txags92 said:

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PJYoung said:

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In the 2 years since Russia captured the Avdiivka coke plant, they have advanced 41 km to the junction of the E-50 and T-504 Highway in Pokrovsk.

That's 56 meters a day.

They lost more armor than the Germans did in Operation Citadel.

— Malcontent News (@MalcontentmentT) February 17, 2026

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Putin remains a master strategist…

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Solid strategy to tire out the enemy by having them kill all of your conscriptions.

Gaeilge said:

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txags92 said:

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PJYoung said:

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In the 2 years since Russia captured the Avdiivka coke plant, they have advanced 41 km to the junction of the E-50 and T-504 Highway in Pokrovsk.

That's 56 meters a day.

They lost more armor than the Germans did in Operation Citadel.

— Malcontent News (@MalcontentmentT) February 17, 2026

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Putin remains a master strategist…

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Solid strategy to tire out the enemy by having them kill all of your conscriptions.

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Think of all the money he is saving on food for his troops. Depleting the Ukrainian ammo supply by presenting them with a plethora of easy to hit targets. Genius…

https://imgur.com/a/W57RMnC

Normal movement? There's a lot of metal moving up and potentially out the East Coast?

That Congo line of stratotankers is nifty

ETFan said:

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https://imgur.com/a/W57RMnC

Normal movement? There's a lot of metal moving up and potentially out the East Coast?

That Congo line of stratotankers is nifty

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Likely part of the Iran buildup. Look at the Iran thread and I posted a screen shot of 10 tankers apparently headed for Europe tonight. KC-135s and KC-46s.

txags92 said:

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ETFan said:

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https://imgur.com/a/W57RMnC

Normal movement? There's a lot of metal moving up and potentially out the East Coast?

That Congo line of stratotankers is nifty

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Likely part of the Iran buildup. Look at the Iran thread and I posted a screen shot of 10 tankers apparently headed for Europe tonight. KC-135s and KC-46s.

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Oh my bad, didn't realize there was a thread.

ETFan said:

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txags92 said:

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ETFan said:

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https://imgur.com/a/W57RMnC

Normal movement? There's a lot of metal moving up and potentially out the East Coast?

That Congo line of stratotankers is nifty

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Likely part of the Iran buildup. Look at the Iran thread and I posted a screen shot of 10 tankers apparently headed for Europe tonight. KC-135s and KC-46s.

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Oh my bad, didn't realize there was a thread.

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It is the "protests erupt across Iran" thread. https://texags.com/forums/16/topics/3589318/

Looks like there are three more tankers and an E-3 over the UK headed east and potentially four more tankers leaving the west coast of the US headed east as well.

PJYoung said:

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In the 2 years since Russia captured the Avdiivka coke plant, they have advanced 41 km to the junction of the E-50 and T-504 Highway in Pokrovsk.

That's 56 meters a day.

They lost more armor than the Germans did in Operation Citadel.

— Malcontent News (@MalcontentmentT) February 17, 2026

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The ruskie soldiers are probably partying at the Coke plant. Ain't got time to push forward

From Moscow's reaction, it appears that Europe's recent action against Russia's shadow fleet of sanctioned oil tankers is starting to bite.

"Russia has warned of potential military action in the Baltic Sea, with senior Kremlin official Nikolai Patrushev stating that the Russian Navy could be used to break what Moscow describes as a possible maritime blockade, according to reporting by Militarnyi."

BALTIC

Russia now resorting to balloons in an attempt to replace its lost Starlink access.

"Regardless of FFAS intentions, however, even if it is perfected, the Barrage-1 system will not provide the same level of coverage as Starlink, which is made up of thousands of laser datalink-connected satellites covering the globe. In contrast, Barrage-1 will be guided by "a pneumatic ballast system, which allows changing the flight altitude to utilize wind currents and move in the desired direction."

FLOATING

Putin has long understood that Western resolve--or the lack of it--is the true center of gravity in his war.

"Wars are not fought solely on battlefields. They are fought in perceptions and narratives that influence political willand increasingly, economic expectations. Putin understands this. His strategy now depends less on decisive battlefield success and more on convincing the world, particularly the United States, that Russian victory is inevitable; that continued support for Ukraine is futile; and that pragmatic Americans would be wiser to prepare for profitable normalization than prolonged confrontation."

GAMESMANSHIP

Confused. Is the reasoning here that Russian corruption, cronyism (and oppression) better than Ukrainian style corruption?

aggiehawg said:

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Confused. Is the reasoning here that Russian corruption, cronyism (and oppression) better than Ukrainian style corruption?

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Are you saying Ukraine = Russia?

After the events of the last 4 years I'm sincerely confused.

PJYoung said:

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aggiehawg said:

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Confused. Is the reasoning here that Russian corruption, cronyism (and oppression) better than Ukrainian style corruption?

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Are you saying Ukraine = Russia?

After the events of the last 4 years I'm sincerely confused.

Do you really think Putin's Russia is stopping with Ukraine?

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No. I was asking about what Putin is saying that He will eventually wear down Ukraine and allies to accept Russian control, as if that is somehow better for the international community? That is what I am confused about.

aggiehawg said:

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PJYoung said:

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aggiehawg said:

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Confused. Is the reasoning here that Russian corruption, cronyism (and oppression) better than Ukrainian style corruption?

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Are you saying Ukraine = Russia?

After the events of the last 4 years I'm sincerely confused.

Do you really think Putin's Russia is stopping with Ukraine?

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No. I was asking about what Putin is saying that He will eventually wear down Ukraine and allies to accept Russian control, as if that is somehow better for the international community? That is what I am confused about.

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If you ask Putin, this is all a misconception. Putin will tell you that he and Trump are aligned in their prioritization on traditional Christian western values, and that he supports respective nationalist focus within their hemispherical spheres of political and military influence.

In other words, Russia and America should stop opposing one another and agree to allow the other to exert unimpeded control over their neighbors in whatever fashion they see fit. And then they can mutually profit further by friendly trade relations between one another.

And we all live happily ever after… unless you happen to live in one of the countries that ends up under someone's economic, political, or military heel.

And the unspoken starting point for Putin is that Russia and America are equals in every way.

Rossticus said:

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aggiehawg said:

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PJYoung said:

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aggiehawg said:

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Confused. Is the reasoning here that Russian corruption, cronyism (and oppression) better than Ukrainian style corruption?

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Are you saying Ukraine = Russia?

After the events of the last 4 years I'm sincerely confused.

Do you really think Putin's Russia is stopping with Ukraine?

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No. I was asking about what Putin is saying that He will eventually wear down Ukraine and allies to accept Russian control, as if that is somehow better for the international community? That is what I am confused about.

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If you ask Putin, this is all a misconception. Putin will tell you that he and Trump are aligned in their prioritization on traditional Christian western values, and that he supports respective nationalist focus within their hemispherical spheres of political and military influence.

In other words, Russia and America should stop opposing one another and agree to allow the other to exert unimpeded control over their neighbors in whatever fashion they see fit. And then they can mutually profit further by friendly trade relations between one another.

And we all live happily ever after… unless you happen to live in one of the countries that ends up under someone's economic, political, or military heel.

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Well that's just dumb and the horse is way out of the barn for that. USSR fell apart in the early 90s.

It ain't coming back.

Lyman direction. Russian forces have slipped through Ukrainian defenses near Yarova and entered the eastern outskirts of Sviatohirs'k, raising their flag over the cottage town Vremena Goda. Despite counterattacks near Novoselivka, the Ukrainian defensive positions in the area… pic.twitter.com/e0jUSLhD35

— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) February 19, 2026

“Sooner or later everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences.”
Robert Louis Stevenson

The combat losses of the enemy from February 24, 2022 to February 19, 2026. pic.twitter.com/XlTVXYpGJV

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 19, 2026

I prefer "The dildo of consequences rarely arrives lubed."