Silicon Curtain

By Jonathan Fink

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The podcast currently has 984 episodes available.

Silicon Curtain episodes:

January 09, 2025 585. Glen Grant - Fighting the Persistence of the Soviet Mindset Within Ukrainian Armed Forces after 2014
Glen Grant worked as a defence and reform expert in Ukraine working for
the Ukrainian Institute for the Future. He is also a Senior Fellow in
the UK Institute for Statecraft on Building Integrity Initiative
countering Russian influence. Glen graduated from the Royal Military
Academy Sandhurst, the Junior Staff Course Warminster and the Joint
Staff Defence College at the Royal Naval College Greenwich.
----------
LINKS:
https://x.com/GlenGrant
https://balticsecurity.eu/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/glengrant/
https://jamestown.org/analyst/glen-grant/
ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS:
https://www.kyivpost.com/podcasts/31754
https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/03/20/2023-is-a-time-and-chance-for-military-change-in-ukraine-glen-grant/
https://kyivindependent.com/author/glen-grant-15959/
----------
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain
https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain
----------
TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:
Save Ukraine
https://www.saveukraineua.org/
Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas
https://superhumans.com/en/
UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in
Ukraine
https://unbroken.org.ua/
Come Back Alive
https://savelife.in.ua/en/
Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen
https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine
UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy
https://u24.gov.ua/
Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation
https://prytulafoundation.org
NGO “Herojam Slava”
https://heroiamslava.org/
kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and
Przemyśl
https://kharpp.com/
NOR DOG Animal Rescue
https://www.nor-dog.org/home/
----------
PLATFORMS:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSilicon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain
----------
Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you
like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the
popularity of our content in YouTube’s algorithm. Our material is now
being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as
Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

...more
47min
January 08, 2025 584. Livestream with Jonthan MS Pearce - Welcome to Putin's Warped Vision of an Unstable Tripolar World
Trucks under Christmas Tree
Since 2022 an extraordinary group of people have been fighting the
information war for Ukraine in the global arena.
Car for Ukraine has now joined with a group of these special people and
their communities to bring Christmas to the frontline in the toughest
areas where the fight is happening right now.
https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain
The Goal of the Campaign for Silicon Curtain: € 10,000 to purchase 1
truck to save Ukrainian lives.
With this campaign, we will raise funds for 1 truck to help brave
warriors from the 237th battalion, 129th brigade who leverage technology
and manage to hold russian advance at the very edge of the frontline.
Who will receive the vehicle? 237 battalion 129 brigade aerial
reconnaissance unit.
https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain
Donate and get: Pins. Everyone who contributes with €100 (~$110) or more
will get a limited collection pin - THE INNOVATOR. This pin serves as a
sign of Ukrainians' ingenuity in this fight.
Custom branding: For €2,500 we will place your custom sticker on one
side of a truck. It could be your logo, name, or maybe your country's
flag.
"Your truck" at the frontline: The average cost of an armored pickup we
deploy to the frontline is €10,000. If you contribute with that amount
all the custom branding options will be yours. Plus you'll receive a
personalized reporting about the truck, where it ends up as well as some
surprise gifts from us.
About Car for Ukraine (as of November 30, 2024):
- 510+ Vehicles Delivered to the Frontline, mainly armored pickups
- 1,000,000+ Kilometers Covered Across Europe
- €4,000,000 worth of vehicles delivered to the frontline
https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain

...more
1h 38min
January 08, 2025 Silicon Bites #77 - Russian Propaganda Narratives that Inspired Lex Fridman's Interview Questions
Edition No77 | 08-01-2025 - When preparing this second part episode, I
was going to go through the interview chronologically and respond to
each part. But many YouTubers have already done this, and many of you
will have seen the interview in its entirety already. So, this likely
won’t be of great value.
----------
SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER
A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of
Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to
Ukraine's frontline towns.
https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras
----------
Zelenskyy’s answers are for the most part superb and push back strongly
against Russian disinformation narratives far better than I can. This is
perhaps one of Zelenskyy’s most forceful and accessible interviews. In
some ways it’s the naivety, and what could be described as ignorance of
context on the part of Fridman, that triggers Zelenskyy into providing
some of the most compelling answers ever given to Russian narratives and
talking points, many of which have been adopted by the MAGA bubble as
well as some in conservative political circles.
Also, it must be said by the far Left, and those who have traditionally
seen the Soviet Union as a template for an alternative society to
capitalism and as an antidote to American imperialism. Both are deeply
misguided, as Russia is a classic imperialist entity, perhaps one of the
most brutal imperial powers in history, and not a template for any kind
of civilisation that a reasonable person should aspire to live in or
help build.
~/ /~/ /~/ /~/ /~
So, in this episode, I’m going to examine the Russian myths and
propagandistic narratives that are the source for what seems to be much
of Lex Fridman’s research. He claims at the end of the interview to have
consumed many books on the history of Ukraine and Russia, it’s imperial
domination of the region and the more recent history that led up to the
full-scale war.
But unfortunately, his choice of themes and the construction of his
questions, suggest to me that his sources of information are weighted
towards podcasts, memes and conversations within a bubble, rather than
solid journalism and the writings of professional historians. There is a
strong bias in Lex’s framing of topics and questions towards Russian
inspired historical mythology and intentionally manufactured national
myths, which seem to be a more potent source of inspiration for Lex in
his choices, priorities and phraseology, than reliable sources.
Here is a breakdown of nearly all Lex’s questions that spanned the
three-hour interview, and how each correlate to a greater or lesser
extent to common Russian narratives. Some of the topics of course are
perfectly valid to bring up, and Russian propaganda rarely manufacturers
issues from scratch. It leverages existing problems, pours petrol on
the flames of real conflicts, and seeks to widen and weaponize existing
divisions.
But propaganda utilises these issues, and Lex has scored an almost
complete bingo card of them. Again, I suspect that his intention is not
to be propagandistic, but the framing of his questions, the language he
uses, betrays a lack of depth and seriousness to his research, as well
as a remarkable level of naivety about real-world politics.
----------
NEWS SOURCES:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u321m25rKXc
----------
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain
https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain
----------
TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:
Save Ukraine
https://www.saveukraineua.org/
Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas
https://superhumans.com/en/
UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in
Ukraine
https://unbroken.org.ua/
Come Back Alive
https://savelife.in.ua/en/
Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen
https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine
UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy
https://u24.gov.ua/
Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation
https://prytulafoundation.org
NGO “Herojam Slava”
https://heroiamslava.org/
kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and
Przemysl
https://kharpp.com/
NOR DOG Animal Rescue
https://www.nor-dog.org/home/
----------

...more
38min
January 07, 2025 Silicon Bites #76 - Finland Impounds Ship Suspected of Sabotaging Undersea Cables & Infrastructure
Edition No76 | 07-01-2025 - An anchor belonging to the oil tanker
Eagle S, suspected of being used to damage undersea cables in the Gulf
of Finland, has been located and retrieved from the seabed. This follows
the seizure by police in Finland of the Russian-linked dark fleet
tanker Eagle S.
This is the first time a ship suspected of sabotaging undersea
infrastructure has been taken into custody by authorities, according to
Estonia Prime Minister Kristen Michal. Estonia Foreign Minister Margus
Tsahkna said the damage to undersea infrastructure was not a
coincidence. “They have become systematic, and we must consider them an
attack on our infrastructure,” he said. The Finnish customs service
believes the Eagle S is part of a shadow fleet of ageing tankers being
used to evade sanctions on the sale of Russian oil.
----------
SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER
A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of
Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to
Ukraine's frontline towns.
https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras
----------
Trucks under Christmas Tree
https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain
The Goal of the Campaign for Silicon Curtain: € 10,000 to purchase 1
truck to save Ukrainian lives.
----------
Here are some interesting points about the seizure of the vessel, made
by expert Robin Häggblom on Twitter last week.
1) Finnish Defence Forces involvement seems to have been limited. It was
the Finnish Border Guard's flagship that shadowed the tanker and caught
it in the act, According to Robin this was largely handled by the
ministry of the Interior and Law Enforcement, rather than obvious
military forces units.
2) The Police told a reporter they don't plan on contacting the Russian
authorities. This was a strong and correct gesture of contempt for
Russia and its actions. But Robin notes that it may also mark an end to
the process of soft appeasement of Russia known as Finlandization, where
the USSR and Russia was given special consideration compared to other
states.
3) If the Russians have been foolish enough to use shadow fleet vessels
as SIGINT platforms, for monitoring and intelligence operations, then we
may expect must closer tracking of their grey fleet by NATO powers, and
potentially more interventions. The shadow fleet-concept, notes Robin,
rests on the right of innocent passage, while intelligence gathering
specifically is mentioned as *not* being part of that under UNCLOS
Article 19, 2. If there is reason to suspect innocent passage isn't
adhered to, it can up new legal actions, which the Western allies have
been loath to adopt until now.
4) The operation is typical for how Finland handles hybrid operations.
Everything is done according to the book and within a clear legal
framework. But the signalling around this operation appears to be
unusually strong, which may be intended as a clear message to Russia.
More of a show of force than was necessary may indicate that Finland and
other countries’ patience with Russia’s illegal, aggressive and risky
actions does have limits.
More on this story in forthcoming episodes with experts Elizabeth Braw
and Jerry Hendrix.
----------
NEWS SOURCES:
https://yle.fi/a/74-20135216
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finland-court-rejects-owners-request-release-oil-tanker-2025-01-03/
https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1151950/Finland-police-seize-Russian-linked-dark-fleet-tanker-Eagle-S-in-cable-cutting-investigation
----------
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain
https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain
----------
...more
11min
January 06, 2025 583. Lesia Dubenko - Breaking Down the Big Interview Between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Lex Fridman
SEE VIDEO ALSO AT: https://youtu.be/2EKB-pulmTU
An Emotional Ukrainian - format with Lesia Dubenko - Episode 3 -
2025-01-06
The big interview between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Lex Fridman.
----------
Lesia Dubenko is a Ukrainian journalist and analyst featured in the
Financial Times, Politico Europe, New Eastern Europe, Washington Times,
and more. She’s currently affiliated with Ukraine’s media outlet
Euromaidan Press. You can follow her on Substack for a dose of good and
satirical commentary https://lesiadubenko.substack.com
----------
LINKS
https://x.com/lesialvd
https://lesiadubenko.substack.com/
https://archive.kyivpost.com/author/lesia-dubenko
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesiadubenko/
https://euromaidanpress.com/author/lesiadubenko/
----------
SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER
A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of
Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to
Ukraine's frontline towns.
https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras
----------
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain
https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain
----------
TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:
Save Ukraine
https://www.saveukraineua.org/
Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas
https://superhumans.com/en/
UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in
Ukraine
https://unbroken.org.ua/
Come Back Alive
https://savelife.in.ua/en/
Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen
https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine
UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy
https://u24.gov.ua/
Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation
https://prytulafoundation.org
NGO “Herojam Slava”
https://heroiamslava.org/
kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and
Przemyśl
https://kharpp.com/
NOR DOG Animal Rescue
https://www.nor-dog.org/home/
----------
PLATFORMS:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSilicon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain
----------
Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you
like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the
popularity of our content in YouTube’s algorithm. Our material is now
being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as
Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

...more
36min
January 06, 2025 Silicon Curtain #75 - Dissecting the Zelenskyy Interview Conducted by Lex Fridman in Ukraine
Edition No75 | 06-01-2025 - Lex Fridman is in the enviable position to
interview some of the world’s leading writers, thinkers, scientists and
politicians. Some have accused him of peddling ‘low quality’ and
superficial content, but that cannot be true of all his video, given the
calibre of some of his guests. And this interview with Zelenskyy that
has just come out is one of his best. And it’s not because of the
quality of Fridman’s questions. His precision, erudition and wit.
Sometimes it’s the reverse, when the simplistic or naïve assumptions
behind his questions irked or irritated Zelenskyy, it elicited some of
the President’s clearest and best responses.
----------
SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER
A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of
Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to
Ukraine's frontline towns.
https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras
----------
Trucks under Christmas Tree
https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain
The Goal of the Campaign for Silicon Curtain: € 10,000 to purchase 1
truck to save Ukrainian lives.
----------
This is important, because the interview was not for Ukrainians, for
activists or the pro-Ukraine bubble. It was meant for people that may
have no regard for Zelenskyy or Ukraine, may be indifferent to its
plight, or who may even have been influenced by Russian talking points,
and have an active antipathy towards Ukraine’s leadership. If the
interview reached these people, and broke down some myths and
preconceptions then it will have been worth it. If the interview
succeeds in humanising Zelensky and Ukraine for people, then it can be
considered a success. If the interview undermines the propagandistic
narrative that Putin really wants peace, but is being obstructed by
Ukraine, then it will have strategic importance ahead of Trump’s
inauguration, and the negotiation process that he clearly wants to
initiate. If Trump’s supporters move away from the idea of peace through
capitulation, to peace through strength, then this interview will have
served a very important purpose.
----------
NEWS SOURCES:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u321m25rKXc
----------
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain
https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain
----------
TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:
Save Ukraine
https://www.saveukraineua.org/
Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas
https://superhumans.com/en/
UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in
Ukraine
https://unbroken.org.ua/
Come Back Alive
https://savelife.in.ua/en/
Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen
https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine
UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy
https://u24.gov.ua/
Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation
https://prytulafoundation.org
NGO “Herojam Slava”
https://heroiamslava.org/
kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and
Przemysl
https://kharpp.com/
NOR DOG Animal Rescue
https://www.nor-dog.org/home/
----------

...more
36min
January 05, 2025 Silicon Bites #74 - Ukraine Launches Bold Counterattack in Kursk Oblast Surprising Russian Forces
Edition No74 | 05-01-2025 - Ukraine has launched a new offensive in
Russia's Kursk Oblast. Early reports on its success are incomplete and
mixed. Much of the detail is coming from the Russian Z-blogger community
and therefore needs to be view as potentially unreliable. This has not
stopped the first media headlines reporting on Ukraine’s surprise
counterattack in Kursk today from leading with the reactions of the
Russian voices and incorporating their phraseology into article
headlines.
----------
SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER
A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of
Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to
Ukraine's frontline towns.
https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras
----------
Trucks under Christmas Tree
https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain
The Goal of the Campaign for Silicon Curtain: € 10,000 to purchase 1
truck to save Ukrainian lives.
----------
‘Last ditch attempt’ to catch Russia off guard, and ‘last chance’ to
take back land, scream the headlines, directly reflecting quotes from
Z-bloggers. But both statements involve massive assumptions, and indeed
reflect Russian interests, rather than reality. There’s no way to tell
how many new offensives or counter-offensives Ukraine has the resources
for, or will have in 3 months’ time, 6 months’ time, etc.
Throughout the war, it’s served the interests of Russia to reinforce the
myth that it cannot be beaten, that a Russian victory is inevitable,
that ever setback for Ukraine is de facto a catastrophe, and every
catastrophe for Russia is of no consequence. And many in the media have
duly complied, in their use of both explicit and implicit language, to
add to this strategic mythology of Russian invincibility, their capacity
to apparently tolerate any hardship, and their infinite resources. None
of this is of course true.
Phrases such as ‘bold’ and ‘surprising’ could equally be applied to the
situation, but it seems there is a reflexive bias in the minds of some
journalists and policymakers, to automatically position Ukraine as a
victim, incapable of achieving victories, and underplay their successes.

----------
NEWS SOURCES:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/05/ukraine-launches-surprise-operation-in-kursk-region-according-to-reports
https://www.vietnam.vn/en/tong-thong-ukraine-thong-bao-ton-that-nang-ne-cua-quan-doi-nga-va-trieu-tien-o-kursk/
https://www.politico.eu/article/hundreds-north-korea-troops-dead-kursk-ukraine-war/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14250611/Putins-forces-slaughtered-attack-Kursk-village.html
https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-kursk-losses-2008486
https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/01/05/ukrainian-forces-launch-attacks-in-multiple-directions-in-russias-kursk-oblast-officials-say/
https://kyivindependent.com/russia-claims-2/
----------
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain
https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain
----------
TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:
Save Ukraine
https://www.saveukraineua.org/
Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas
https://superhumans.com/en/
UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in
Ukraine
https://unbroken.org.ua/
Come Back Alive
https://savelife.in.ua/en/
Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen
https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine
UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy
https://u24.gov.ua/
Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation
https://prytulafoundation.org
NGO “Herojam Slava”
https://heroiamslava.org/
kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and
Przemysl
https://kharpp.com/
NOR DOG Animal Rescue
https://www.nor-dog.org/home/
----------

...more
9min
January 04, 2025 Silicon Bites #73 - Russia's Ability to use Energy as a Cynical Weapon of Blackmail just got Reduced
Edition No73 | 04-01-2025 - Is the stopping of gas transit via Ukraine
'One of Moscow's biggest defeats'? That is what Zelensky is claiming,
as Ukraine terminated Russian natural gas transit on 1st Jan. 2025. Kyiv
has repeatedly warned it would not extend the agreement to allow
Russian natural gas to transit through its territory to Europe, and
indeed the expiry of that agreement was a natural point for Ukraine to
make good on its threats. It’s remarkable in fact that this gas transit
has continues for 3 years of the full-scale war, given how important gas
has been in the financing of Russia's war.
----------
SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER
A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of
Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to
Ukraine's frontline towns.
https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras
----------
Trucks under Christmas Tree
https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain
The Goal of the Campaign for Silicon Curtain: € 10,000 to purchase 1
truck to save Ukrainian lives.
----------
"When Putin was handed power in Russia over 25 years ago, the annual gas
pumping through Ukraine to Europe stood at over 130 billion cubic
meters. Today, the transit of Russian gas is 0. This is one of Moscow's
biggest defeats," Zelensky said.
"Turning energy into a weapon and cynical energy blackmail of partners
is what deprived Russia of its most attractive and geographically
accessible market." Zelensky has suggested that three years is a long
enough period for European countries to adapt to the termination of
Russian gas supplies. For some countries it’s been easier than others,
and some have been more proactive in weaning themselves off Russia gas.

Zelensky also suggested that having a greater diversity of suppliers and
partners could increase competition in the market and help to drive
down prices. "The more gas from Europe's true partners is available on
the market, the sooner the last negative consequences of European energy
dependence on Russia will be overcome," Zelensky said. With a degree of
sarcasm, he added “it will be necessary to withstand the hysteria of
some European politicians who prefer mafia schemes with Moscow to
transparent energy policy."
Two examples of leaders that prefer to maintain so-called ‘mafia
relations’ with Russia, are Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister,
and Slovak counterpart Robert Fico. As the most vocal opponents of
Ukraine's decision to stop Russian gas transit, they have also shown a
willingness to also pay homage at the court of the killer Tsar in the
Kremlin, despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine and are the main promoters
of pro-Russian narratives in Europe.
----------
NEWS SOURCES:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/01/breakaway-moldovan-region-cuts-heating-and-hot-water-as-russia-stops-gas-flow
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russian-gas-pipeline-ukraine-gazprom-b2673631.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/02/moldovan-region-transnistria-shuts-down-its-industries-after-loss-of-russian-gas
https://kyivindependent.com/slovak-state-energy-company-to-continue-to-supply-electricity-to-ukraine-despite-ficos-threats/
https://kyivindependent.com/one-of-moscows-biggest-defeats-zelensky-on-stopping-russian-gas-transit-via-ukraine/
https://kyivindependent.com/transnistria-rejects-offer-to-buy-gas-from-europe-expects-russia-to-resume-supplies/
----------
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain
https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain
----------
...more
15min
January 02, 2025 Silicon Bites #72 - Psycho was Bored - Was this on Anyone's 'Causes of Putin's War' Bingo Card?
Edition No72 | 02-01-2025 - Vladimir Putin summed up the results of
the year and answered questions from journalists and the people of
Russia in a live broadcast. December 19, 2024
"We have already received over 2.2 million questions, including 1.2
million via telephone, about 43,000 via SMS messages, and over 140,000
via the website. We can see that the number of questions is increasing
in real time."
----------
Trucks under Christmas Tree
https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain
The Goal of the Campaign for Silicon Curtain: € 10,000 to purchase 1
truck to save Ukrainian lives.
----------
SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER
A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of
Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to
Ukraine's frontline towns.
https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras
----------
Anna Suvorova: Before we start taking questions from our people and our
colleagues, journalists, I would like to ask the first general question.
In recent time, everyone has been feeling a disturbing sense that the
world is going crazy, or already has, because the potential for conflict
is off the charts in every part of the world, and the global economy is
struggling. How does Russia manage not only to stay afloat, but also to
continue growing in this situation?
Vladimir Putin: You know, when all is calm and life is measured and
stable, we get bored. This amounts to stagnation, so we crave action.
When action begins, time starts whistling by – or bullets do, for that
matter. Unfortunately, bullets are what is zipping past our heads these
days. We are scared, yes – but not as “all get out” kind of scared.
Our economics are the ultimate measure of things. As is traditional, I
will start with the economy. Although your question was a bit
provocative, I will turn to the economy anyway. The economy is number
one; it is the cornerstone. It has an impact on living standards,
general stability, and the country’s defence capability. The economy is
everything.
The economic situation in Russia is generally positive and stable. We
are growing in spite of everything, in spite of any external threats or
attempts at outside influence.
What this means is that our economy will have grown by eight percent
over the past two years. After all, the tenths and hundredths of a
percent make for a negligeable difference. This is what experts have
been telling me – we exchanged views this very morning. About eight
percent over the past two years, compared to a growth rate between five
and six percent for the United States, one percent for the Eurozone, and
zero for Germany, the EU’s leading economy. It seems that next year
that country will also have zero growth.
----------
NEWS SOURCES:
http://www.en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/75909
----------
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain
https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain
----------
TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:
Save Ukraine
https://www.saveukraineua.org/
Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas
https://superhumans.com/en/
UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in
Ukraine
https://unbroken.org.ua/
Come Back Alive
https://savelife.in.ua/en/
Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen
https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine
UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy
https://u24.gov.ua/
Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation
https://prytulafoundation.org
NGO “Herojam Slava”
https://heroiamslava.org/
kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and
Przemysl
https://kharpp.com/
NOR DOG Animal Rescue
https://www.nor-dog.org/home/
----------

...more
31min
January 01, 2025 Silicon Bites #71 - Georgia Pre-crime Detention Marks Slide into Kremlin-inspired Authoritarian Rule
Edition No71 | 01-01-2025 - As the slide toward dictatorship in
Georgia accelerates, this episode will review the mechanics of law that
mark an increasingly repressive and desperate regime. As we’ve examined
in previous episodes, the Georgia Dream party has now ripped off the
mask and shed any last vestige of ambiguity they are a Kremlin proxy
party that is intent on deconstructing Georgia’s fragile democracy and
subverting institutions that have been evolving since independence to
bring rule of law and civic liberties to society.
----------
SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER
A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of
Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to
Ukraine's frontline towns.
https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras
----------
Here is a summary of the laws brough in, posted on X by the excellent
Anna Gvarishvili, who has been a recent guest on this channel.
The following restrictions have bene rushed into law, and will take
effect on Dec. 30:
1. Drivers joining protests with processions: If police determine such
actions obstruct traffic, drivers will be fined 1,000 Lari and have
driving license suspended for a year.
2. Unauthorized protest stencils/signs/posters: Fines for damaging the
city’s appearance have been increased from 50 Lari to up to 1,000 Lari.
3. Blocking roads during protests: can lead to a fine on each person of
5,000 Lari (a 10-fold increase in the fine for this offence). Those
deemed to be organizers, can face fines of 15,000 Lari. This rule also
applies to violations under Georgia’s “Law on Assemblies and
Demonstrations,” including blocking building entrances. Instead of a
fine, administrative detention of up to 15 days can also be imposed.
4. Presence of pyrotechnics at protests: Regardless of whether they are
used, individuals will be fined 5,000 Lari. If this is deemed an
organized act, the organizer may face a fine of 15,000 Lari.
Administrative detention of up to 15 days may also be applied instead of
a fine.
5. Possession of laser or bright light-emitting devices: 2,000 Lari
fine.
6. Covering one’s face with masks or other means: This will result in a
2,000 Lari fine.
7. Minors at protests: If a minor is deemed to have violated Article 173
(disobedience to lawful police demands), their parents will be fined
for improper upbringing, with fines ranging from 100 to 300 Lari.
This is the one that triggered the title of this episode, and it has
sinister connotations of the pre-crime detection unit in the Sci-Fi
book, Minority Report.
8. Preventive detention: Police can now detain individuals preventively,
assuming they may commit an offense based on prior violations.
9. Detention for court appearance: Police can detain individuals solely
to ensure their appearance in court, even if they do not refuse to
attend voluntarily. This provision allows police to detain someone even
if no case has yet been filed in court.
10. Expanded grounds for personal and property searches: Personal
searches, inspections of items, and confiscation of belongings and
documents are now permitted under these same grounds.
----------
NEWS SOURCES:
https://oc-media.org/from-fireworks-to-the-public-sector-georgian-dream-introduces-new-legislation-amid-protests/
https://oc-media.org/us-sanctions-bidzina-ivanishvili/
https://eurasianet.org/georgia-government-set-to-pass-laws-bolstering-police-state
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-sanctions-georgian-officials-responsible-for-brutal-crackdown-on-media-and-protestors
https://civil.ge/archives/645520
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crk01xyd22eo
https://oc-media.org/when-we-get-in-the-minibus-the-fun-will-start-how-georgian-police-torture-detained-protesters/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/27/lets-see-who-will-be-leaving-georgias-presidential-standoff-nears-crunch-point
----------
...more
21min

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