#Russia is happy in love with #Putin. 66% ppl want him to stay in power after 2018. It's 30% more than 1.5 year ago. http://t.co/I1pi9CsXMz
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) June 25, 2014
Driving around in Rostov, the southern Russian city that borders Ukraine. Support for separatists high. pic.twitter.com/ttFe1jQNh8
— Olaf Koens (@obk) June 25, 2014
There is an interesting, potentially provocative, op-ed from Vladislav Inozemtsev in "The Moscow Times" today on how the economic fallout of the Ukraine crisis probably won't have that much of an impact on Russians, mainly because Russia is not a normal economy:
Many politicians sincerely believe that Russia's economy has virtually stopped growing, in light of current tensions between the West and Russia resulting from Russia's annexation of Crimea and the economic sanctions that followed.
They also believe that Russia's economy may face additional challenges due to new restrictions imposed — and that this will reduce the government's credibility and so create problems for President Vladimir Putin.
For better or for worse, nothing like this will happen. Russia today is a unique place where the rate of economic growth changes neither the behavior of elites nor the loyalty of the population. Upon a closer look, it is easy to realize why — but to do this one must forget how economies are supposed to work.
First, Russia is not an industrial, but rather a resource economy. The well-being of its citizens depends primarily on just one sector of the economy. Export duties on oil and gas, as well as federal mining tax contribute 49.4 percent of federal budget's revenues — although crude oil and natural gas production has not increased since the mid-2000s. In 2013 only 8 percent more oil was pumped in Russia than in 2006, and 1 percent less of gas.
Both the political situation's stability and the level of popular support for the government depend not on growth in the real sector but from the dynamics of personal incomes — and these hang not so much on development but on oil and gas.
Read the entire article here
Shadowy Putin proxy @MedvedchukVV denies he represents separatists in Ukraine talks, despite OSCE claim to contrary https://t.co/huy54I7V5M
— max seddon (@maxseddon) June 24, 2014
@maxseddon @ChristopherJM omg that CHEST HAIR. how had I not seen his facebook page before??
— Laura Mills (@lauraphylmills) June 25, 2014
@ChristopherJM @lauraphylmills that's what gives him away as a fierce Russian bear and not a docile Ukrainian vedmed
— max seddon (@maxseddon) June 25, 2014
Dmitry Tymchuk's military blog: No peace despite declared ceasefire http://t.co/PXMjeecjOl pic.twitter.com/sdxg6MPjnR
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) June 25, 2014
Moscow revoking 'right' to send army to Ukraine doesn't end conflict. Kiev says pro-Russia militants violated ceasefire 44 times in 3 days.
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) June 25, 2014
Obama Said to Ready Sanctions on Russian Industries Over #Ukraine http://t.co/fxb1i5hX58
— Jason Corcoran (@jason_corcoran) June 25, 2014
Baby killed with shot from grenade launcher in Luhansk region http://t.co/QcksYHIPn6
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) June 25, 2014
Ceasefire in Luhansk: business as usual UKR forces get shot at http://t.co/DtiWJyaa9I
— Ryskeldi Satke (@RyskeldiSatke) June 25, 2014