Frontline report: Russian drone factories now staffed by teenagers as adult workforce collapses
Students recruited from technical schools now live in guarded dormitories at the Alabuga complex, working under surveillance with punishments for errors and reports of forced overtime.
It is at last becoming clear to Putin he is losing his war against Ukraine. He's running out of money to continue. His National Wealth Fund which is down 75%. His oil and gas revenue has declined dramatically, and he cannot borrow from international institutions. His friends, Xi, Jong Un and Modi are creating distance. They don't come to him; he goes to them begging for help. He has also joined the rest of the world in not knowing what Trump will do next.
Putin's military losses are unsustainable. His post-Soviet Union stocks of arms and ammunition have been bled dry. His tanks losses in the past two weeks are as low as two per day while his infantry losses remain high indicating he has few tanks left. His air force has lost close to 50% of it's aircraft to drone attacks and efficient Ukrainian air defences. Russian pilots no longer want to get close to Ukraine to launch their payloads. The Russian Black Sea Fleet is loath to leave harbour but even there, marine drones have struck capital ships. This week another Russian corvette missile launcher was seriously damaged in the Sea of Azov. Ukraine's new ‘Flamingo’ Cruise missiles are ramp launched, mobile and carry one ton of explosives with a range of 3000km. There is no US or European input or oversight to their use. They can reach almost anywhere in Russia and will be able to strike Russian industry and infrastructure throughout the coming winter.
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https://robinhorsfall.substack.com/p/a-desperate-moment-for-putin