Silicon Curtain

Livestream with Yuri RashkinLINKS:https://rashkinreport.substack.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rashkin-report/id1183073638----------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.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/-----------

Silicon Bites Ep420 | 2026-10-12 | Washington squeezes the victim, rewards the aggressor. Trump lies about a fictitious energy ceasefire agreed by both sides. There was no such agreement, Ukraine was not involved in any such discussion and Putin answers by bombing Kharkiv's power plant within hours. Some of you may still be clinging on to the forlorn hope, the delusion that this is about elections, politics, prices of diesel at the pump. No, it’s clear that Trump wants the war over, in a way that he can benefit from financially. And if that can’t happen, he’d like to grift from it even before its over. If the second hypothesis is the reality, then we must expect many more terrible things to come from Trump’s regime. This could include the shutdown of intelligence to Ukraine, the closure of the PURL arms for money program with Europe, as well as pressure to hand back the frozen Russian assets sitting in various jurisdictions, but mostly Belgium’s Euroclear. Allies could also be pressured to stop supporting Ukraine. Friends in Ukraine have circulated a very black joke, that the U.S. will provide its remaining Patriot PAC-3 interceptors to Russia to protect its refineries. But in this made world, it may not be a joke for long. ----------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:CNN — "US threatens to suspend intel sharing, weapons purchases if Ukraine continues Russia energy strikes, sources say" (11 Oct 2026)CNN via KESQ (full text, State Dept/Pentagon detail, FT first to report)UNN — "The US threatens to halt arms supplies to Ukraine over strikes on Russian oil refineries, PURL at risk – FT" (11 Oct 2026)Clash Report — "US Threatens Ukraine Arms Over Strikes on Russian Energy Sites" (12 Oct 2026)Kyiv Independent — "Russia struck Kharkiv's power plant shortly after Trump announced 'energy ceasefire'" (11 Oct 2026)ABC News via Yahoo — "Russia strikes power plant in Ukraine after Trump announces energy ceasefire" (11 Oct 2026)Euromaidan Press — "Hours after Trump declared an energy ceasefire, Russia hit Kharkiv power plant…" (11 Oct 2026)NPR — "Trump says Russia and Ukraine agree to an 'energy ceasefire'" (12 Oct 2026)The Washington Times — "Trump says Kyiv, Moscow agree to stop attacking each other's energy facilities" (11 Oct 2026)Kyiv Independent — "Exclusive: Putin puts a price on Trump's Ukraine energy truce — Kyiv fears the cost" (10 Oct 2026)----------

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)----------