Silicon Curtain

2026-01-17 | UPDATES #104 | Let’s start with a quote from Yaroslav Trofimov, Chief Foreign-Affairs Correspondent of The Wall Street Journal. “We are now at a stage when Trump calls NATO nations putting troops on the territory of a NATO ally a threat to world peace. Actually, he calls Denmark putting troops on Denmark’s own sovereign soil a threat to world peace:“Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland have journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown. This is a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet. These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable.”----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: Reuters (Jan 17, 2026): Trump vows tariffs on eight European nations over Greenland AP (Jan 17, 2026): Trump says 8 European countries face 10% tariff for opposing US control of Greenland Reuters (Jan 17, 2026): Macron says Trump tariff threat over Greenland unacceptable The Guardian (Jan 17, 2026): Starmer and UK politicians condemn Trump’s Greenland tariff threat Reuters (Jan 15, 2026): NATO scramble for Arctic security ideas “and survival” amid Greenland push (Rynning, Rutte, Pothier quotes)Reuters (Jan 17, 2026): USTR Greer urges Europe to “silo” Greenland tariffs from trade deal Washington Post (Jan 17, 2026): U.S. lawmakers contradict Trump on Greenland; Murkowski “ally, not asset” Financial Times (Jan 17, 2026): Anders Fogh Rasmussen attacks Trump’s “gangster” talk; calls it “weapon of mass distraction” Reuters/Ipsos (Jan 16, 2026): U.S. public opinion on Greenland acquisition and force Reuters (Jan 16, 2026): Zelenskyy warns on air-defence missile shortages; delegation heading to U.S. Reuters (Apr 2025): Why Russia was excluded from certain tariff lists (sanctions rationale)----------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----------

Livestream with Yuri Rashkinhttps://www.youtube.com/@rashkinreportperspectives/streams ----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 or newer, mainly Toyota Hilux or Mitsubishi L200, with low mileage and fully serviced. These are some of the greatest and the most reliable pickups possible to be on the frontline in Ukraine. Who will receive the vehicles?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA 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 front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------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/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------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/-----------

2026-01-17 | UPDATES #103 | If you think the number, the ratio 27:1 sounds obscene, that’s good. It should. Because it tells you two stories at once: the brutal arithmetic of Russia’s infantry-first “meat grinder” tactics, and the way Ukraine is learning to turn Russia’s mass into a liability. It’s a stark riposte to those that endlessly trot out the line that Russia has so many more people, so many more resources. To match Ukraine’s army at that ratio of loss, (match, mind you, not overwhelm) it would need an army of 21,600,000 – it does not have this, not even close to that number. Over the last couple of days, UK outlets reported that an intelligence assessment shared with the British military that put the Russian-to-Ukrainian loss ratio at roughly 27-to-1 in the Kupiansk fight — in other words, for every Ukrainian lost, around 27 Russians became casualties in that phase of the battle. The phrase being used is “kill ratio,” but treat it carefully: these figures come from briefings and assessments, not an independently audited body count – because such accurate numbers simply don’t exist – everything, by necessity, is conjecture. What matters is what the number is signalling about the fight: Russia didn’t just fail to take Kupiansk — it paid a punitive price for even trying to take it. (The Times)----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: The Times (Jan 15, 2026) — “Ukraine forces killed 27 Russians for every soldier lost at Kupiansk”https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/ukraine-killed-27-times-russians-kupiansk-control-vhkzp5vfxThe Independent — Bulletin item referencing the British-military briefing and 1:27 ratio (Jan 15–16, 2026) https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/ukraine-kills-27-russian-soldiers-for-every-loss-in-kupiansk-b2901725.htmlFinancial Times (Jan 15, 2026) — “Military briefing: Ukraine’s elite units dash to repel Russian frontline advances” https://www.ft.com/content/708aa803-e350-4961-b7ef-a0b878c179c2The Telegraph (Jan 16, 2026) — “Ukraine's robot machine gunner held off Russia for six weeks”https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/16/ukraines-robot-machine-gunner-that-held-off-russia-weeks/ Ukrainska Pravda (Jan 12, 2026) — “Ukrainian forces re-establish control over Kupiansk City Council building – video” https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/01/12/8015789/Kyiv Independent (Jan 12, 2026) — “Khartiia Brigade raises flag over Kupiansk city council building”https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-update-2026-01-12/Ukrinform (Jan 12–13, 2026) — “Ukrainian National Guard raises flag over Kupiansk city hall”https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4079590-ukrainian-national-guard-raises-flag-over-kupiansk-city-hall.htmlGwara Media (Jan 13, 2026) — “Ukrainian forces regain control of Kupiansk City Council building”https://gwaramedia.com/en/ukrainian-forces-regain-control-of-kupiansk-city-council-building/Ukrinform (Dec 22, 2025) — “AFU showcase ground robot holding frontline position for 45 days” (background on UGV claim/video) https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4072435-afu-showcase-ground-robot-holding-frontline-position-for-45-days.htmlUNN (Dec 17 & Dec 24, 2025) — items on Kupiansk claims and false reporting (background on “lying up the chain”) https://unn.ua/en/news/russian-military-leadership-continues-to-lie-to-putin-about-the-real-situation-in-kupyansk-center-for-countering-disinformationhttps://unn.ua/en/news/kupiansk-is-fed-russian-war-correspondents-admitted-the-loss-of-the-city-despite-putins-statementsCenter for Countering Disinformation (Ukraine) (Dec 8, 2025) — “russians are lying again about complete capture of Kupiansk” (background) https://cpd.gov.ua/en/international-threats-en/usa/russians-are-lying-again-about-complete-capture-of-kupiansk/----------

2026-01-16 | UPDATES #101 | “We’ll impeach him” — why an attempted invasion of Greenland would be a make-or-break for Trump, for America and its allies in Europe. And it would be a gift for Valdimir Putin. This is the moment that Trump’s dictator cosplay collides with a NATO tripwire. A real red line, that has already triggered an immediate response from Europe, who are sending token forces from a range of nations, in an action that is extraordinarily decisive, and which sends a strong signal. It seems that ambiguity and delay are not inevitable for Europe, when it really matters. Over the past 48 hours, the Greenland crisis has stopped being a weird talking-point and become a live test of American sanity, alliance credibility, and constitutional limits.----------SOURCES: Reuters/Ipsos polling on U.S. support for acquiring Greenland (Jan 15, 2026). Reuters: NATO scramble and Arctic security response; troop deployments; expert analysis (Jan 15, 2026). Reuters: U.S. lawmakers in Copenhagen; Rasmussen Instagram post; Shaheen remarks; “poll is fake” reaction; delegation details (Jan 16, 2026). Reuters: Greenland government statement rejecting takeover; NATO defence framing; Kubilius “end of NATO” warning (Jan 12, 2026). The Guardian live coverage: Frederiksen “fundamental disagreement”; Greenland “not for sale”; European troop arrivals; EU response (Jan 15–16, 2026). Al Jazeera: NATO Unity Protection Act funding ban (Jan 14, 2026). YouGov polling on buying Greenland / paying to secede (background polling, published this week).AP: Greenlanders’ reaction and public sentiment (Jan 16, 2026). Reuters: France warns U.S. Greenland seizure would endanger EU trade (Jan 16, 2026).Reuters: Fitch warning on NATO fracture and downgrades (Jan 15, 2026). Rep. Don Bacon impeachment remarks (via The Independent, reporting Omaha World-Herald) (Jan 15–16, 2026). Don Bacon X post: “This is really dumb…” (social media reaction). Lisa Murkowski X post: “ally, not an asset” framing (social media reaction). Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Shaheen/Tillis joint statement — background, Jan 6, 2026).----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 or newer, mainly Toyota Hilux or Mitsubishi L200, with low mileage and fully serviced. These are some of the greatest and the most reliable pickups possible to be on the frontline in Ukraine. Who will receive the vehicles?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------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----------

2026-01-16 | UPDATES #102 | Kadyrov’s Mafia Dynasty Wobbles. Car crash, failing kidneys and a gunfight in Mariupol – this episode has it all – intriguing, violence and drama. This is a dangerous time for Putin – a failed succession process in Chechnya could cause massive problems for him, and regime instability. The Kadyrov clan is wobbling, their brand is faltering, and Moscow is watching in trepidation. Chechnya’s ruler Ramzan Kadyrov is back at the centre of a storm of health rumours — kidney failure, dialysis, “hospitalized in Moscow,” succession panic — while his 18-year-old son Adam, the one being groomed like a crown prince, is reportedly in serious condition after a motorcade crash in Grozny. (RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty) All a coincidence? We must be wary to jump to that conclusion, as freak accidents that occur to the powerful and influential in both Moscow and Grozny rarely turn out to be coincidental. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: RFE/RL (North Caucasus Service), Jan 16, 2026 — Adam Kadyrov hospitalized after crash; sources on ICU/roads/“barrier”; NIYSO “obstacle” claim. Ukrainska Pravda, Jan 16, 2026 — Echoes Kavkaz.Realii / NIYSO reporting; includes source quote and “obstacle” wording. The Moscow Times, Jan 14, 2026 — What’s known on Kadyrov health rumors; denials; Ukrinform/HUR-linked dialysis claim context. FDD (Foundation for Defense of Democracies), Jan 14, 2026 — Analysis of HUR-sourced hospitalization claim and succession destabilization; notes appointment of son Akhmat. Caucasian Knot, Jan 14, 2026 — Compiles Kadyrov’s repeated health denials and quotes. Newdosh, Jan 15, 2026 — Translated denial quote (“I swear by God…”) and recap of repeated denials.OC Media, Jan 13, 2026 (background) — Kadyrov video response; “fake information” framing; quote about “kidneys have failed” rumor. UNITED24 Media, Jan 14, 2026 — Mariupol shootout report, citing Atesh; casualty claims and “Year of Friendship” embarrassment framing. Kyiv Independent, Jan 8, 2026 (background) — Zelensky “Why not Kadyrov?” remark context. ----------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----------