Free Republic

Russia's Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad, sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland, became part of the Soviet Union after World War II. It has a population of about 430,000 people and hosts the headquarters of Russia's Baltic sea fleet. ***** The EU sanctions list includes coal, metals, construction materials, and advanced technology. Anton Alikhanov, the governor of the Russian oblast, said the ban would cover around 50 percent of the items that Kaliningrad imports. Alikhanov said the region, which has an ice-free port on the Baltic Sea, will call on Russian federal authorities to take tit-for-tat measures against the EU country...

In a move of staggering stupidity and hubris, Lithuanian banned the transit of Russian goods to Kaliningrad effective today, June 18, 2022. Kaliningrad, which is wedged between Poland on the west and Lithuania on the east, is home to almost a half-million Russians and the headquarters for the Russian Navy’s Baltic Sea force. Lithuania claims it is simply abiding by the sanctions imposed by the European Union. After all, Lithuania is a member of the European Union and NATO. But that is the point. This is a deliberate provocation. It is laying economic siege to a vital interest of Russia....

An eighth Russian colonel has been killed in Ukraine in another devastating blow to Vladimir Putin's faltering invasion which has seen the loss of many high-ranking officers. Kyiv said it had 'eliminated' Colonel Denis Kurilo, commander of the 200th separate motorised rifle brigade, who led Russia's bloody assault in Kharkiv where he was killed in battle. The brigade had suffered massive losses in the fierce fighting, the Ukrainian army's press office said. A picture of Kurilo was shared with a red X through it to announce his death. Two battalion groups in the 200th brigade were destroyed, with a staggering...