Putin always portrays the image he is well hung

So far as I know the current construction is all about building temporary bridges to allow access by machines and equipment to the actual bridge construction sites.
Also I understand the bridge design is not yet finalised, for example, rail and road alongside each other or one over the other.
Another thing that was kept quiet was about a Turkish ship that went off course and destroyed most of one of the new temporary bridges. The ship is currently being held hostage while they work out who pays for what!
The Turks claim the bridge site was not well marked

What was a French far-right "activist" doing in Eastern Ukraine?


Ukraine Arrests French Citizen Who Allegedly Planned Euro 2016 Attack
Also: http://www.euronews.com/2016/06/06/u...ing-euro-2016/


“The Frenchman spoke negatively about his government’s actions, mass immigration, the spread of Islam and globalisation, and also talked about plans to carry out several terrorist attacks,” Gritsak told journalists.

"What was a French far-right "activist" doing in Eastern Ukraine?" Probably a good place to buy weapons?

He could have bought them in some friendly Parisian neighbourhoods though..

Don't think they have any tanks for sale in the Banlieues?

100,000 flee 'worsening oppression' as Russia tightens grip on Crimea

Quote "As for why this is taking place, campaigners point to Russia's escalating campaign against dissent. Arrests and unexplained disappearances have become routine in Crimea."

Source

Prime Minister Medvedev was caught on camera telling an elderly woman in Crimea that there was "no money left" in Russia's budget when he was asked why the state pension of 8,000 Russian rubles a month (around $125 a month) was not higher given the rising cost of living.

The video on YouTube has now been watched over 3.5 million times.

Source and link to video.

Russia's reserve funds will dry up next year. The presidential election is the year after that. Will be interesting to see how they can keep the masses happy with the current leadership when the wallet is empty and they have to cut pensions, salaries, etc.... No wonder Russia is lobbying so hard to get sanctions lifted.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ru...-idUSKCN0ZL114

I have the feeling they can cut and cut, the people will just take it stoically.
They count on the fact that "simpletons" will not be able to do anything against current government due to poor social cohesion. Putin will deviate public attention to something else to keep people occupied..
Unfortunately, in the end it's only simple folks that will suffer because of all these geo-political games.

That's the prevailing theory. But with Russia, you never know. Don't forget the protests that rocked Moscow in 2012 after Putin was "re-elected", nobody really expected that either.

Since then, Putin has made stricter new laws punishing separatism (ironically while fueling separatists in Ukraine), and Putin has also created a personal new army that answers directly to him to enforce that new law, so he also seems to see an uprising as a credible threat....

Seems that Putin is raising the stakes in Crimea; maybe seeking a military adventure that could go as far as a land corridor to East Ukraine.
It looks like the bridge connecting Crimea to the mainland will not appear anytime soon so putting pressure on Russia's ability and resources to supply Crimea.
Anyway it is never been clearly stated why the Kerch Straight bridge will be so large; why do you need a four lane highway and a dual track railway to connect places currently served by ferries.
Currently the ferries carry 2,000 passengers a day and plan to increase to 6,000; the new rail bridge alone could carry at least 6,000 passengers an hour (e.g. five Elektrichka's per hour) plus the capacity of the road bridge (3,000 per hour?).

With elections coming up Putin needs some pseudo victories to cement his popularity!

Article here with some interesting points.

Maybe he is just manoeuvring to have the sanctions lifted?

An ongoing Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders may indicate preparations for conventional military conflict. It certainly marks a dramatic escalation of tensions that will have significant repercussions in Ukraine.
Russia has deployed additional military forces and systems to Ukraine’s northern, eastern, and southern borders.
In a five-day period August 7-12th, Russia has deployed additional naval and air units, ground forces and military hardware, as well as the S-400 air defense system on August 12th.
Ukrainian intelligence reported that Russian paratroopers from the 331st parachute regiment rotated into frontline positions in Donetsk as Russia deployed additional artillery systems in Donbas.

Source

And I was thinking about buying Russian stocks. Guess I'll wait a bit.

Russia has been in a downward spiral since their Crimea/Ukraine adventure in 2014. The sanctions are not just for show, the whole relationship between US/EU and Russia is heading in a more adversarial direction, and there is no sign of that improving. Plus there's the low gas prices thing. So yea, you might want to hold off on any Russian stocks until you see things improving in US/EU relations. But that will be a while, so look for something else in the meantime.

As for the recent buildup of Russian troops along the Ukraine border, Russia's military exercises in Transnistria, and the Russian-staged "attack" by "Ukrainian saboteurs" on Crimea are indeed heightening tensions. But the consensus is that Putin is trying to frighten EU leaders into pressuring Ukraine to cave in to Russian demands on Donbass, in order to ease or drop sanctions against Russia. Putin is hurting for money, and the Donbass war is dragging out too long. He wants to wrap it up, but on his terms of course. And the best way to do that in his eyes is to "double down" and use more threats of violence, rather than soften his stance and back down or comprimise in some areas.

"the Donbass war is dragging out too long" Syria too! Altogether costing Russia a fortune.

How Russia is managing to keep their museum piece fighters and bombers flying in Syria is an extraordinary activity.
One rumour about Russia now using the Iran air base for Syrian missions is that this gives them access to the Iranian spares inventory for Russian fighters!

From an investment POV oil is the main thing.

He needs to keep the illegitimate Ucraine government from getting closer to EU/NATO. Keeping the conflict going is a surefire way to that aim.

Russia Needs combat Training for ist newe warplanes like the Sukhoi T-50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J38eKcQWimk and the Rosov-Sevastopol-Latakia axis foits navy


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty97x5OkZqw

Another Russian active duty soldier was captured in Ukraine this week. Ironic that the guy has Nazi tattoos, as the "sales pitch" that Russia sold to start the war was the "Ukrainian fascists" were coming to get them

In other news, the pro-Russian leader who took up arms against the Ukrainian government says:

Interesting article by Bellingcat here.

Seems Russia handed out thousands of "For Distinction in Combat" medals in 2014 and 2015.
Since Russia was not at war at the time then how could Russian soldiers receive war medals? Maybe they were fighting in Ukraine?

Also an Ukrainian video here claiming to show Russians ceasing Ukrainian oil rigs in the Black Sea; maybe the oil rigs voted to be Russian?

Who knows what's happening there...I see almost no news related to Ukraine. At least not anymore. The US ambassadors in various European countries started to practice a double game, it's obvious we assist (helplessly) at yet another deal between the powers that be.