Silicon Curtain

Silicon Bites Ep419 | 2026-10-11 | Ukraine snaps Putin's Donbas pincer closed — and starts to prove that an army that invests in machines, and can intelligently deploy them, can out-manoeuvre an army that has an advantage in human resources, and spends men like worthless and disposable meat. Last week, at the Valdai Club, Vladimir Putin told the world that Russia now holds 89 per cent of the Donetsk region. The Institute for the Study of War checked. The real figure is no more than 81. And the territorial gains of Russia have gone from incremental, into negative figures. Through September, pro-Kremlin media boasted that Russian troops had seized another 1,301 square kilometres of Ukraine. ISW went through the geolocated footage and the satellite imagery. In September, Russia didn't gain ground. It lost it. A net retreat of roughly 175 square kilometres. ISW's verdict on Putin's battlefield claims: they are "so far removed from reality that they resemble hallucinations."----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------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.org----------SOURCES:Euronews / ISW analysis — "Ukraine's Operation Vivaldi foils Russia's plan to encircle the Donbas, ISW analysis shows" (9 Oct 2026): https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/09/ukraines-operation-vivaldi-foils-russias-plan-to-encircle-the-donbas-isw-analysis-showsISW — Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, 7 October 2026: https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-7-2026/The New York Times — "Ukraine Claws Back Land in the Donbas, Thwarting a Russian Push" (7 Oct 2026), via syndication: https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/ukraine-russia-donbas-war-20261007.htmlKyiv Post — summary of NYT reporting on Vivaldi and the fortress belt: https://www.kyivpost.com/post/86375Reuters — "Ukrainian forces advance in key eastern battlefield, senior commander says" (28 Sep 2026), via The Star: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2026/09/28/ukrainian-forces-advance-in-key-eastern-battlefield-senior-commander-saysAtlantic Council — "Ukraine's innovative robot offensive just reversed a year of Russian gains": https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/?p=950285Newsweek — "How Ukraine scored major frontline breakthrough by fooling Russia": https://www.newsweek.com/how-ukraine-scored-major-frontline-breakthrough-by-fooling-russia-12459618Newsweek — "Ukraine faces winter challenge after surprise robot offensive": https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-faces-winter-challenge-after-surprise-robot-offensive-12521942CNBC reporting (Patrick Bolder, HCSS), via Times Brasil licensed translation (4 Oct 2026): https://timesbrasil.com.br/mundo/ofensiva-surpresa-de-robos-da-ucrania-expoe-vulnerabilidade-da-maquina-de-guerra-de-putin/Euromaidan Press — robots air-dropped 10 km behind Russian lines: https://euromaidanpress.com/?p=425833----------

Silicon Bites Ep418 | 2026-10-11 | The colouring in Red Diesel is now Ukrainian blood, the blood of children. The aging abuser and parasite, Donald Trump is acting fully to the benefit of Putin’s Russia and its genocidal war. He is now all-in, in the war that Putin is all-in until the end of his life, committed to attacking Ukraine until it capitulates, and attacking the democratic Western allies. The treacherous diesel deal was never about prices — it's a lever to disarm Ukraine before winter.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------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.org----------SOURCES:Kyiv Independent — "Exclusive: 'It felt like a trap.' How Ukraine was blindsided by Trump's Putin pivot" (10 Oct 2026)Axios — "Exclusive: Zelensky tells Axios Trump's diesel deal with Putin 'not fair and not honest'" (9 Oct 2026)Ukrainska Pravda — "Zelenskyy: US used meeting with us to strike deal with Putin behind our backs" (10 Oct 2026)Ukrainska Pravda — "Axios: US threatened to cut intelligence sharing with Ukraine over strikes on Russian oil refineries" (10 Oct 2026)Militarnyi — "USA Threatens to Stop Sharing Intelligence With Ukraine Over Attacks on Russian Oil Refineries — Axios" (10 Oct 2026)Kyiv Post — "US Envoys Warn Kyiv on Intel Cuts Over Refinery Strikes" (10 Oct 2026)Mezha — "Media: Trump's envoys threatened to cut off intelligence to Ukraine over strikes on Russian oil refineries" (10 Oct 2026)The Hill — "Trump rips Zelensky amid Russia diesel deal feud: 'I suggest they get a new leader'" (10 Oct 2026)UPI — "Criticized on Russia diesel deal, Trump says Ukraine needs new leader" (10 Oct 2026)Kyiv Independent — "'He better damn well stop' — Trump slams Zelensky… says Ukraine should get 'new president'" (10 Oct 2026)NBC News — "Trump eases Russia sanctions, says Putin will release diesel" (9 Oct 2026)Ship & Bunker — "US Lifts Sanctions on Russian Diesel for Six Months After Trump-Putin Call" (9 Oct 2026)----------

Silicon Bites SW26-227 | 2026-10-10 | Consequences for its aggression are starting to bite in Moscow. Ukraine’s drones and balloons shut Moscow’s skies, apparently forcing the tsar to circle his own capital until it’s safe to land. Can you even imagine having to be the minion on board that jet that must deliver the bad news to Putin – sir, we cannot protect you in the capital – because Ukraine controls the skies. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------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.org----------SOURCES:Kyiv Independent — "Russian airports closed amid alleged Ukrainian balloon and drone raid" (9 Oct 2026)Meduza — "Ukrainian drone alert disrupts Russian government flights returning from Putin's Turkmenistan trip" (9 Oct 2026)The Moscow Times — "All 4 Moscow Airports Restrict Flights Amid Drone Attack" (9 Oct 2026)RBC-Ukraine — "Drones reportedly prevented Putin's plane from landing in Moscow, media say" (citing Agentstvo)UNN — "Putin's plane managed to land in Moscow on its second attempt amid an attack on the airport"UNITED24 Media — "Mysterious Balloons and Drones Trigger Shutdown of All Four Moscow Airports" (9 Oct 2026)Censor.net — "Drones and balloons attack Moscow and Moscow region: operations at four airports restricted" (9 Oct 2026)UAWire — "All four Moscow airports suspend flights amid drone attacks" (9 Oct 2026)AOL / UK press round-up — "Putin 'stuck in the air' as 'Ukrainian drones' shut major Russian airports"Background: Aviation Week — "Ukraine Warns Airlines As Drone Strikes Threaten Russian Airspace" (2 Sep 2026)Background: Kyiv Independent — "Zelensky vows 'Russian sky will be de facto closed'… as Putin accuses Ukraine of state terrorism" (1 Sep 2026)----------

Silicon Bites Ep417 | 2026-10-10 | Consequence have arrived for a group of Russia’s leading propagandists. Montenegro detains and expels Rybar's Mikhail Zvinchuk — how he thought he could get away with filming propaganda reels in a NATO country is confusing a lot of people, not least other Z-Patriots. It’s also promoted former Russian president Medvedev to crawl out of a vodka bottle and issue a ludicrous hostage threat. Russia's propagandists thought their passport was a licence.to mock freedom and democracy, but a small NATO state just revoked their impunity and entitlement.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------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.org----------SOURCES:The Moscow Times (with Reuters), "Montenegro Expels Founder of Russian Pro-War Blog Rybar for 'Security Reasons'," 9 Oct 2026Newsweek, "Putin Ally Threatens To Take US Prisoners After Russian War Blogger Arrested," 9 Oct 2026 Meduza, "Montenegro expels founder of Russian pro-war Telegram channel Rybar, citing 'potentially dangerous' activities," 9 Oct 2026Meduza, "Montenegro detains Russian pro-war blogger behind Rybar," 9 Oct 2026CNN, "Leading pro-Kremlin war blogger detained in Montenegro and ordered to leave country," 9 Oct 2026 European Western Balkans, "Head of Russian information network 'Rybar' detained in Montenegro," 9 Oct 2026Ukrainska Pravda (via European Pravda / Vijesti), "Russian propagandist and founder of Rybar channel detained in Montenegro," 9 Oct 2026 Militarnyi, "Montenegro Arrests Head of Russian Propaganda Project Rybar," 9 Oct 2026France 24 / AFP, "Montenegro expels popular Russian war blogger wanted by US," 9 Oct 2026 Türkiye Today / AFP, "Montenegro detains Rybar founder Zvinchuk, citing hybrid warfare threats," 9 Oct 2026 Telegraf.rs, "Medvedev reacts to arrest in Montenegro of head of Putin's 'Rybar' group," 9 Oct 2026 UNN, "Montenegro expelled the founder of the Russian propaganda network 'Rybar' on security grounds," 9 Oct 2026 ----------

Silicon Bites Ep416 | 2026-10-09 | Primarily, he’s working for himself of course. But in serving his own ends, Trump is now overtly helping the enemy to win their genocidal war. After a phone call with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump announces Russia will pump millions of tonnes of diesel into American and global markets. Within minutes, the US Treasury issues a general licence to make it legal. Putin asks for sanctions relief — trump delivered. Is there any calculus behind this other than wanton appeasement of a murderous dictator? Does Trump believe that Russia’s miniscule contribution to the flows of diesel onto global markets will have any impact on prices? Because it’s unlikely to do that. What it does do, is use the U.S.’s authority to launder Russian blood diesel and create the optics of rehabilitation for a country that should be a pariah. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------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.org----------SOURCES:Kyiv Independent — "Trump says Russia agreed to supply millions of tons of diesel to US, global markets" (9 Oct 2026)ANI on X, reproducing Trump's full Truth Social post (9 Oct 2026)CNBC — "Trump strikes deal with Putin to supply Russian diesel to U.S. and global markets" (9 Oct 2026)AP via US News — "Trump Says US to Get Diesel From Russia, Relaxing Pressure on Moscow…" (9 Oct 2026)US Treasury (@USTreasury) on X (9 Oct 2026)NBC News — "Trump eases Russia sanctions, says Putin will release diesel amid massive price spikes" (9 Oct 2026)Kyiv Independent — "Exclusive: Putin puts a price on Trump's Ukraine energy truce — Kyiv fears the cost" (9 Oct 2026)The Moscow Times — "Trump Signs Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill" (19 Sep 2026)Baker Botts — "President Trump Signs Graham Sanctions Act" (Sep 2026)AOL / The Hill — "Zelensky, Merz speak out against US easing Russia oil sanctions" (Mar 2026, background)AOL — "Zelensky furious with Trump as 30-day Russia waiver…" (Mar 2026, background)OFAC — Russia-related General License 134A (19 Mar 2026, background)----------