Replies to post #477326 on Tornado Alley (PROG)

[sortagreen]

Zelenesky was modestly wealthy before. He had a successful acting and comedy career

But unlike his predecessor, Zelensky never was a billionaire. He’s currently worth roughly $20 million at most, based on reporting by Forbes Ukraine.

His main asset: an estimated 25% stake in Kvartal 95, a group of companies that produce humorous shows, which he transferred to his partners after being elected president, though he’ll likely regain his shares after leaving office. Kvartal 95 produced and owns the Servant of the People series, a popular political comedy starring Zelensky as a Ukrainian high school teacher who is elected president. Netflix, which previously streamed the show between 2017 and 2021, snapped up the rights again in March. With estimated revenues of $30 million annually, Forbes Ukraine values Zelensky’s stake at $11 million.

While he does own a flat in one of Ukraine’s most expensive apartment buildings in the center of Kyiv, it’s relatively modest by Western standards. Forbes estimates Zelensky’s entire real estate portfolio is worth $4 million, including two more wholly owned apartments, two that he co-owns, a single commercial property and five parking spaces.

Internet sleuths, or more likely Russian propagandists, have credited Zelensky with owning as many as five luxury yachts and three private jets, in addition to $60 million of shares in companies like Saudi Aramco, Meta and Tesla.

Forbes found no evidence of such a fleet, and if Zelensky does own stock in those companies it’s hard to believe those shares would be worth anywhere close to $60 million. We estimate he and his wife Olena Zelenska share a bank account that holds roughly $2 million in cash and government bonds. Their other assets, consisting of two cars and some jewelry, are worth no more than $1 million.

Zelensky won’t be making Forbes’ billionaires list anytime soon.

https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/leadership/leaders/president-zelensky-is-not-a-billionaire-so-how-much-is-he-worth

[arizona1]

David Kicks Goliath in the Nuts

The Allied bombing raids on the Ploesti oil refinery during WW2 helped to cripple the Nazi war machine. As the German Army rolled on towards the Caucuses there were but two prizes. One was important and the other was not. Without the oil from the Caucuses, the war couldn’t continue. The other prize was Stalingrad, and its value was mere vanity and media acclaim.

But the greedy little monkey wanted both, and so had neither. No fuel, no go. It really doesn’t matter how many tanks and airplanes you can build without any fuel. The Russian government has announced they will no longer publish its refined oil output or fuel on hand levels due to national security concerns. The Ukraine/Russia war has changed everything but changed nothing.

How far can a drone be sent to attack? No limit, it changes every day. This technology can fly umpteen number of miles and hit a specific delicate spot in the refinery. Too small to be seen on radar hugging the ground most of the way. A $5,000 drone can take out a $500,000,000 refinery. David kicks Goliath in the nuts.

For the Administration it is a delicate balancing act. Sending billions in weapons but warning, “don’t kick em in the nuts.” Obviously, we want to encourage Ukraine, but the fear of destabilizing the oil market during an election year is only logical. You will not get reelected on $9 a gallon gasoline. How could that ever be explained to the Reich wing mental midget maudlin multitudes?

But Ukraine attacked the oil refineries anyway, during the hold up of American aid due to Republican grandstanding. The Pentagon said, “Say, didn’t we tell you not to do that?” To which the Ukrainians promptly answered, “I remember you! You used to supply us with weapons. You used to supply them. Say, I have an idea. Why don’t you… fuck off! You’re not the boss of me!”

This is where diplomacy comes in. Did the Administration really mean it? Or was this just a cover story? “Stop, you really shouldn’t be doing that. If you keep that up, I’ll get mad someday. So, you stop until I can look away.”

It appears Russia’s hydrocarbon market is sufficiently isolated from the world market. And the Ukrainians have a long-term attack strategy for Russian refineries. This is the hole in the oligarch’s shoe as the refineries are private property and not state property. There’s never a Communist regime around when you really need one! Vladimir Putin vows to defend the oil refineries, but hasn’t managed to defend one yet. There are not enough radar sets or missile batteries. That’s the legacy of the Soviet Military for you; great with parades but lousy with inventory.

Just two weeks ago, the Administration was still warning the Ukrainians and settling geographic limits on the weapons sent. Then France, publicly announced Ukraine could use French weaponry anyway and anywhere they pleased. Quickly followed up by Germany and Poland and others in the EU. Was this more cover? Joe Biden the last to allow because he couldn’t be the first to allow, without a possible escalation?

From a Biden standpoint, he could not allow a Ho Chi Minh Trail strategy where Russia has safe haven to attack from across an artificial line. Within an hour of receiving American approval the Ukraine’s were attacking targets inside of Russia, including a building on the property of Vladimir Putin’s summer home. Guys! Come on! Not on the first day! That’s why Joe Biden was so worried, he was afraid you might do something like that!

The Russians have repeatedly cited red lines which must not be crossed, and the NATO allies have repeatedly crossed them. One red line was NATO weapons hitting territorial Russia. Check. Another was NATO troops inside of Ukraine. Check. As France will now send instructors and technicians into Ukraine. {See: Kennedy sends instructors to Vietnam.}

Russia began the war with an army of 350,000. That’s cooks, bottle washers, generals and streetcar conductors. That’s everybody and now two years later, have reportedly suffered 500,000 casualties. Which means if you are in the Russian military, chances are, you’re new in your job.

The war began over Crimea, but Ukraine is shaping the battlefield. The Black Sea Fleet (what’s left of it) is in hiding. The Crimean airfields and headquarters have been blown up. The water supply for Crimea is in Ukrainian hands. The other night the Ukrainians attacked the rail ferries across the Kerch strait. There are only three rail ferries and Ukraine damaged two of them. One damaged badly and the other unknown. Can you see the picture forming?

Russia occupies Crimea, but they no longer control it. They can’t use the port or air facilities anymore. It’s difficult if not impossible to ship goods in or out. Russia has lost the goal they went to war for.

The Germans lost 500,000 men in Stalingrad. The loss blew a hole in the front forty miles wide as an entire German army was wiped from the map. The loss meant Germany would never have the manpower necessary to overwhelm Russia. The losses would take a generation to replace.

Likewise, Russia has lost the flower of her military. (Stinkweed) You can draft all the country bumpkins you like and put them in green suits, but that doesn’t make them an army. If this were a boxing match the referee would have stopped it. Russia has lost her goal in the war and Russia has lost her military in the war. Now, she will soon lose her domestic economy. As much as 14% of Russian oil refining capacity is gone and due to Western sanctions is unlikely to be replaced anytime soon. But Russia will no longer publish production figures for available fuel on hand.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/6/2/2244291/-David-Kicks-Goliath-in-the-Nuts?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web