Edition No255 ||| Day 1,341 ||| 16-10-2025 - This is your Silicon Bites Daily Geopolitics Brief, with a rundown of news stories on 16th October 2025. We cover Ukraine, Russia, China and the global struggle against autocracy. Tonight’s rundown of the authoritarian front: Russia pounds Ukraine’s grid again; Kyiv’s drones torch refineries and substations deep inside Russia; London hammers the “shadow fleet” with a new, harsh packet of sanctions; Washington and Brussels tighten the screws; India and Japan feel U.S. pressure on Russian energy; and inside Russia, repression expands while Moscow hunts more foreign manpower for the trenches. London takes a hard swing at Russia: sanctions on Rosneft, Lukoil, and the “shadow fleet”.The UK just unveiled one of its most sweeping packages yet: new sanctions listings hitting Rosneft, Lukoil, cornerstones of Russia’s war revenues, and dozens of tankers used to skirt the price cap. Reuters: Britain targeted “its two largest oil firms… as well as 44 tankers in the ‘shadow fleet’.” (Oct 15) (Reuters)----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SOURCES: Reuters — “Russia’s seaborne fuel exports sank 17% in September after drone attacks” (Oct. 13, 2025)Reuters — “Storms, drone attacks and record oil exports pile pressure on Novorossiisk” (Oct. 15, 2025)Reuters — “Russian finance ministry proposes raising VAT to 22% to help finance war” (Sep. 24, 2025)The Moscow Times — “More Taxes for More War: Unpacking Russia’s 2026 Budget” (Oct. 7, 2025)Reuters — “Russia set to raise corporate profit tax” (May 23, 2024)Reuters — “Gazprom swings to net loss … 2024 (RAS)” (Mar. 17, 2025)TASS — “Share of loss-making entities in Russia was 31.6% in Q1 2025” (June 4, 2025)Financial Times — “Russia’s coal miners buckle under sanctions, weak prices and war” (Oct. 13, 2025)Reuters — “Russia’s Mechel halts some coal operations as industry faces crisis” (Aug. 28, 2025)Reuters — “Rostselmash: demand collapses as key rate hits 30%” (May 16, 2025). ([Reuters][13])Interfax — “Sales of Russian agricultural machinery fall 32.1% in H1 2025” (Aug. 4, 2025)Liga/Pravda summaries of *Vedomosti* interview — “Rostselmash to cut output ~30% in 2025” (Oct. 6, 2025)Jamestown Foundation — “Kremlin’s war economy driving recession in regions” (Sep. 26, 2025)The Moscow Times — “Belgorod to end housing payments for some displaced residents” (Jun. 27, 2025)Meduza — “Belgorod won’t repair homes of residents who left Russia until after the war” (Jun. 30, 2025)SIPRI — Preparing for a Fourth Year of War: Military Spending in Russia’s Budget for 2025 (Mar. 11, 2025)----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------