Silicon Curtain

Marathon fundraisers for:Easter Pysanky Trucks 2026https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/easter-pysanky-trucks-2026Silicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampireshttps://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampires?project=Jonathan%20Fink%20for%20Kupiansk%20Vampires----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/iwihttps://www.patreon.com/iwi----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyslhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/iwiInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwi/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/iwiPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/iwiBuy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/iwi----------

Silicon Bites Ep344 | 2026-05-29 | The Institute for the Study of War's assessments through May 2026 have documented, with consistent emphasis, that Russia is "escalating its efforts to set informational conditions for possible future aggression against the Baltic states." The 19-21 May 2026 unannounced Russian strategic nuclear exercises, which ISW characterised as "using unannounced strategic nuclear exercises to posture strength against Ukraine's allies and distract from mounting battlefield weaknesses," coincided with Putin's Beijing summit and the Kallas-acknowledged Russian effort to "divide Ukraine from its European partners and diminish support for Ukraine's defensive effort." The September 2025 incursion of three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets into Estonian airspace for 12 minutes without permission was, in Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna's framing, "a blatant, reckless, and flagrant" violation. The German Navy's vice admiral Jan Christian Kaack told The Times this month that NATO faces a "rapid threat" from Russia in the Baltic Sea, and that "a possible escalation will occur in the maritime domain."----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------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----------SOURCES:----------

2026-05-31 | UPDATES #209 | A Russian drone hits a Romanian apartment block 72 hours after trump pulled us forces from NATO — what are the chances this was an accident, when it aligns in so many requests with the doctrine and psychology of Russian military practice as seen during this war. Mainstream media and analysts will wait for conclusive evidence – which may never be forthcoming, as Russia may be aiming for plausible deniability around its drone provocation. But I argue that we do not have the luxury to dismiss the idea this was an intentional strike. If we do, and fail to ask the right questions, and to make the right response, then Russia will chalk it up to a strategic win, a successful hybrid and kinetic operation, and will ratchet up to the next level. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: Reuters / US News — "Romania Says Russian Drone Hit Block of Flats in Galati Injuring Two" (29 May 2026) CNN — "NATO members condemn Russia after drone slams into Romania apartment building, wounding two" (29 May 2026)NBC News — "Drone hits Romania apartment block during Russian attack on neighboring Ukraine" (29 May 2026)CNBC — "Russian drone hits apartment block in NATO state Romania" (29 May 2026) UNITED24 Media — "Russian Drone Hits Apartment Building in NATO Member Romania During Strike Near Ukrainian Border" (29 May 2026) The Journal (Ireland) — "EU and Nato condemn 'reckless' Russia after drone hits apartment block in Romania" (29 May 2026) News On Air (India) — "NATO Jets Scrambled as Russian Drone Makes Deepest Incursion Into Romanian Airspace" (25 November 2025)News On Air (India) — "NATO Heightens Security After Russian Drone Breaches Romanian Airspace Amid Ukraine Strikes" (14 September 2025) NBC News — "Putin is testing NATO's defenses. How will it respond?" (September 2025)----------

2026-05-28 | UPDATES #208 | How the May 26th Pentagon announcement may just have handed Putin the greatest strategic gift of the 21st century. A prize that barely could have been conceived of before Trump returned to the White House. 26–27 May 2026 — a third of us jets pulled from NATO, destroyers cut, every submarine withdrawn, drones slashed — and Russian forces drilling for Baltic operations in the same week. As I predicted in 2025, Europe is now on its own. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: Der Spiegel (via Military Times) — "Report: US to cut strategic bombers and warships available to NATO in a crisis" (26 May 2026)RT — "US plans to slash contributions to NATO – Spiegel" (26 May 2026) Daily Mail (via PapaLinc/Intel Drop syndication) — "Trump's secret NATO ultimatum sparks panic as US 'pulls jets, bombers and EVERY submarine from Europe'" (26-27 May 2026)CNN Politics — Natasha Bertrand, "US military withdrawing some troops from Eastern Europe" (29 October 2025) The Hill / Yahoo News — "GOP chairs blast Trump's move to pull troops from Romania" (October 2025) CBS News — "Trump administration's Europe troop drawdown fuels concern amid NATO allies, draws fire even from Republicans" (October 2025) — Estonia's Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur statement on continued US commitment; Pentagon's "force posture adjustment will not change the security environment in Europe" framing; "primary responsibility for the conventional defense of Europe" languagePBS NewsHour / AP — "U.S. to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany in next 6 to 12 months" (May 2026)CNN Politics — "Trump is cutting the numbers of US troops in Europe. Here's how" (14 May 2026)Fox News — "Congress moves block Pentagon from cutting US troops Europe South Korea" (late 2025/early 2026) House Armed Services Committee / Wicker.senate.gov — "Chairmen of Senate and House Armed Services Committees: We Strongly Oppose the Pentagon's Decision to Scale Back the U.S. Troop Presence in Romania" (29 October 2025) Yahoo News / The Hill — "Pentagon cuts troops in Eastern Europe, prompting rare pushback by GOP lawmakers" (October-November 2025) ----------

2026-05-27 | UPDATES #207 | Putin is losing. Every authoritarian decisional principle, every historical precedent, every piece of strategic-studies literature on cornered-dictator behaviour says the same thing. When a dictator perceives that the war he started is unsalvageable on his current trajectory, he escalates. This is why Europe needs to send a clear signal, push back hard and define red lines. A desperate dictator, detached from reality and strategic consequences is dangerous. Now we must contain him, and our response needs to punch back so hard, that he cannot ignore the signal, so that his minions cannot explain it away or hide the truth from him. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: National Security Journal — "'Putin Has Cancer': The Headline That Just Won't Go Away" (early May 2026) Global Security archive — "Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin - Health" — Comprehensive historical record of Putin health speculation; Valdai Club November 2024 four-hour appearance with 40+ instances of mispronouncing words, stammering, and misspeaking while reading from a paper; Peskov's "fantastic capacity for work" framing; long-standing pattern of health-information controlFox News / Reuters / AP — "Putin says health 'fine' after two-day checkup, refuses blood pressure test at AI event: report" (November 2025) UNITED24 Media — "Why Russia Fires Ballistic Nuclear Capable Oreshnik Missile in Massive Attack Against Ukraine" (24 May 2026) Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) — Jack Watling, "Russia is Losing – Time for Putin's 2026 Hybrid Escalation" (December 2025) Institute for the Study of War — "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 19, 2026" (19 May 2026) Atlantic Council — "Toplines: Deterring Putin's aggression against NATO" (March 2026) — Five Russian-aggression scenarios in Nordic-Baltic region; NATO posture inadequate; recommendation framework: place NATO brigades in Nordic-Baltic per Madrid 2022 promise; BALTOPS-type comprehensive exercise schedule for Svalbard/Åland; mobilise NATO alliance and Europe writ largeBelfer Center (Harvard) — "Russian Threats to NATO's Eastern Flank: Scenarios, Strategy, and Policy for European Security" (February 2026) Foreign Policy — "I Attacked NATO as Russia's Commander in a War Game" (15 May 2026)NBC News — "Putin is testing NATO's defenses. How will it respond?" (September 2025) ----------