The mad dog’s last gamble

Russia’s tyrant has reacted to Ukraine’s gains in the war by conscripting 300,000 additional soldiers, announcing fake referendums and threatening the use of “lots of Russian weapons” but such bluster only reveals Putin’s weakness rather than demonstrating strength.

Putin plays the imperialist card

Russia’s plan to annex 15% of Ukraine’s territory in the East will allow it to pretend it is defending its own territory, rather than invading another nation, but the pantomime only digs Russia deeper into the mire of its own making.

Putin flounders in Asia

Western sanctions are degrading Russia’s basket case economy and Putin’s appeal to Asia does nothing to mask his military humiliation in Ukraine.

Russia sinks into the quagmire

Putin shows no sign of backing down from his disastrous invasion of Ukraine, but the longer the war continues the more damaging it will be to Russia.

The battle for Russia

Russia’s thuggish dictator seems determined to wage war against the world, but may soon face a battle for personal survival himself.

Russia’s real enemy is Putin

“Russiaphobia’ means fear of Russia, not hatred of Russians, and is entirely rational given Russia’s brutal assault on Ukraine and threats against the rest of Europe. The biggest enemy of Russian interests isn’t “Russiaphobia” but the monster in the Kremlin.

King rat

Vladimir Putin fancies himself the king of a resurgent Russia, occupying Eastern Europe and cowing the West, but like the Bond villains he so closely resembles, his own hubris, self-indulgence and bloated self-serving ambition will ensure his downfall.

Being banned from hell is no dishonour

Being banned by Russia is a mark of honour, given the thuggish barbarity of its poisonous regime.

Russia’s doctrine of hatred

Russians have been fed a diet of lies and disinformation about Ukraine for years, stoking the inhuman actions of their troops during Putin’s invasion.

Wild honey

Russian poet Anna Akhmatova wrote that “wild honey smells of freedom” but Vladimir Putin has followed in the dark footsteps of Josef Stalin and other Soviet leaders in ruthlessly suppressing any opposition to his dictatorial rule, forcing artists to choose between leaving the country, silence, imprisonment or death.

The corporate exodus from Russia

While some global and domestic companies – not least Australia’s Canva – are still doing business with Russia, a swathe of corporate pull outs in the wake of intense public pressure to do the right thing is increasing the economic and social pressure on Putin’s criminal regime.

Russia’s reign of thieves

The pernicious effects of decades of authoritarianism and endemic corruption have been vividly on display during Russia’s botched invasion of Ukraine.