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▲ 1.4k r/FreedomofRussia+4 crossposts

Ukraine forces Russia to go green: Massive fuel shortages leave drivers stranded.

When you try to erase a sovereign nation but end up stranded on the M-4 highway with an empty tank. Drone strikes are causing massive shortages across the country, and locals are complaining that 'The Hunger Games continue.' Who knew imperialism would be so inconvenient?

Everything is going exactly according to plan! Just a slight, miles-long delay in the morning commute while Ukraine successfully redesigns the Russian oil industry. 11 out of 34 major refineries hit in August alone: guess those holiday road trips to Krasnodar will have to wait.

u/BarbecueChickenBBQ — 5 hours ago
▲ 1.1k r/FreedomofRussia+1 crossposts

Partisans who call themselves the People's Will torched police cars in Russia. The video ends with a woman saying: "I am ready. Are you?" Posted 19.08.2026

u/GermanDronePilot — 5 hours ago
▲ 28 r/FreedomofRussia+1 crossposts

A "hole in the balance sheet" and a 1,700% increase in loan defaults were discovered at Rosneft Bank.

Moscow Credit Bank, which has close ties to Rosneft, has faced a growing wave of loan defaults, according to its financial statements published by banki.ru.

As of July, the bank—which ranks among the top 10 by assets and is designated as systemically important—had 14.8% of all outstanding loans in default, a rate five times higher than the banking system average. In total, customers failed to repay 277 billion rubles to MKB on time.

“MKB has a hole in its balance sheet,” write analysts at InvestFuture. According to the financial statements, the bank’s volume of non-performing loans increased by 1,716% over the past year. The first problems arose last summer: from August through December, the volume of “past-due” loans grew 11-fold—from 15 to 160 billion rubles. From January through July of this year, non-performing loans increased by another 1.7 times (+117 billion rubles).

Founded by billionaire Roman Avdeev, MKB came under the influence of Rosneft in 2017, when it found itself on the brink of bankruptcy along with other banks in the “Moscow Ring”—Otkritie Financial Corporation, Binbank, and Promsvyazbank. Rosneft effectively rescued the bank by injecting funds into its capital and placing long-term deposits maturing in 2066. The company also transferred reverse repo transactions worth hundreds of billions of rubles to MKB, which it used to finance its operations.

It is unclear exactly which entities failed to repay their loans to MKB in 2025. According to the Central Bank, in recent months, companies in the metallurgical and coal industries, as well as the construction and real estate sectors, have experienced debt difficulties—they requested that banks restructure loans they were unable to service.

According to a source for *Kommersant*, MKB’s problems were uncovered last year during a Central Bank audit, following which the bank’s management was replaced. In the summer of 2026, the bank’s majority shareholder also changed, though it is unknown who took over. Credit institutions currently have the right not to disclose the identities of their controlling beneficiaries.

According to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, as of April 1, only 3.9% of loans issued by banks were “bad”—about 3.5 trillion rubles. However, the share of non-performing loans is three times higher—11.6%—and in monetary terms amounts to 11.2 trillion rubles—equivalent to two annual budgets of Moscow. This amount includes loans for which banks were forced to ease terms because borrowers were unable to keep up with payments.

Potential difficulties with debt servicing are even more likely for loans totaling 36 trillion rubles—which account for three-quarters of the total debt of the largest companies, according to the Central Bank’s assessment. Among the largest companies in critical condition are those in the coal and construction industries, as well as in trade and machine building, the Central Bank noted.

source: The Moscow Times https://archive.is/hxfJo

u/bochnik_cz — 5 hours ago
▲ 267 r/FreedomofRussia+1 crossposts

Russian military strategist, former General Staff member and Doctor of Military Sciences, Konstantin Sivkov, warns that the country is on the verge of a "social-political explosion"',

s "the capital's irritation with government policies" and "a split" within the Russian elite are reaching a breaking point.

u/IndistinctChatters — 1 day ago
▲ 965 r/FreedomofRussia+1 crossposts

russian woman is asking putler to give her a machinegun so that she could shoot down drones that wont let her sleep. Says if he does that, there wont be any more warehouses burning, shell take down all the drones

u/bochnik_cz — 2 days ago
▲ 133 r/FreedomofRussia+1 crossposts

Gasoline is available at only 28% of gas stations in Russia (down from 41% last week)

Gasoline and diesel as of August 16 were available only at 28.1% of Russian gas stations, follows from the data of the GdeBENZ service, which was analyzed by Izvestia. A week earlier, fuel was available at 41% of gas stations. GdeBENZ is a user service: information about the availability of fuel, queues and restrictions at specific gas stations is added to it by the drivers themselves.

According to the service, over the week, the availability of gasoline and diesel decreased in the Volgograd, Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, Voronezh, Samara, Penza, Saratov, Lipetsk and Rostov regions, as well as in Tatarstan. On August 17, Izvestia checked 21 gas stations in Moscow and the Moscow region: AI-92 was at seven of them, AI-95 at six, AI-98 at five. Diesel fuel was also not available at all gas stations. At the same time, a source of The Insider said that the other day, when driving a car from the north-east of Moscow towards the region, he did not come across a single gas station where gasoline was available.

A new wave of fuel shortages began in Russia in August after the authorities reported stabilization of the situation at the end of July. During the week from August 10 to 15, at least six regions returned or tightened restrictions on the sale of gasoline. In the Kaluga, Lipetsk and Orenburg regions, in particular, they introduced refueling of cars on even and odd days, depending on the number of the car, in a number of regions there are restrictions on the amount of fuel in one hand.

The fuel crisis has been going on in Russia since the end of May and is primarily associated with the consequences of a series of Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries. During the spring and summer, at least 16 Russian refineries, including Volgograd, Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Omsk, Moscow, Saratov and Syzran, completely or partially stopped refining. According to Reuters, by July 10, gasoline production in Russia provided only about 65% of seasonal demand: the daily deficit was estimated at 40-45 thousand tons with consumption of 115-120 thousand tons. In July, some enterprises began to return to work, but refineries with a total capacity of more than 45 million tons of oil per year by July 20 had not yet resumed fuel sales on the St. Petersburg Exchange.

By the end of July, the situation began to improve, the regional authorities began to lift restrictions, and Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced the stabilization of the fuel balance. However, in August, the crisis escalated again after new attacks and emergency shutdowns of refineries against the backdrop of traditionally high summer demand. In particular, on August 11, after a drone strike, the Orsk refinery completely stopped. The authorities of the Orenburg region said that the restoration of damaged imported equipment could take up to 6 months.

The government, in response to Ukrainian attacks on refineries, banned fuel exports, softened environmental requirements for gasoline, introduced measures to stimulate imports and began importing gasoline from abroad. The first batch of gasoline from India of about 42 thousand tons arrived in Murmansk in early August, but its delivery to the domestic market was delayed due to a dispute over the price.

Source: Insider https://archive.is/gHBiq

reddit.com
u/Dizzy_Response1485 — 1 day ago
▲ 110 r/FreedomofRussia+1 crossposts

Putin's Defense Bank reported multibillion-dollar losses due to loan defaults.

PSB Bank, which is the support bank of the Russian military-industrial complex, completed the first half of 2026 with a loss. As follows from the bank’s reporting under RAS, in 6 months it lost 50 billion rubles against a profit of 72 billion rubles for the same period a year earlier.

The problems of the bank, which is in the top 5 in Russia in terms of assets and holds more than 1 trillion rubles of individual deposits in its accounts, were caused by non-payments on loans, it follows from its reporting. For the year 6 months, PSB allocated almost 195.7 billion rubles to reserves for possible credit losses - four more than in the same period a year earlier.

Serving the defense industry and being under 100% state control, PSB became the only Russian bank among the top largest that became unprofitable, notes RSHB Asset Management analyst Isa Aliev. Bank He “bears risks due to directed lending with a non-market margin,” explains Aliyev: through PSB, military factories are financed, supplying the army sent to conquer Ukraine.

The scale of the bank's losses on these loans is such that they "eat up" almost its entire interest margin - that is, income from the difference between the cost of loans issued and the rates on accepted deposits. Taking into account expenses on reserves, PSB’s net interest income in the first half of the year fell 10 times - from 168.7 billion rubles to 16.9 billion, as follows from its reporting. In addition, the bank received 22.8 billion rubles in “other losses”, the essence of which is not disclosed.

PSB's losses will be compensated by the budget, Aliyev points out. Since the beginning of 2026, the state has already poured money into the bank’s capital four times, the last time on July 15 - 39.3 billion rubles, before that on June 10 - 3 billion.

According to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, as of April 1, 3.9% of loans issued by banks were “bad” - about 3.5 trillion rubles. However, the broader non-performing loan rate is three times higher at 11.6%. In monetary terms, the volume of problems on bank balance sheets reached 11.2 trillion rubles - an amount equal to two annual budgets of Moscow. This includes loans for which banks were forced to soften terms because borrowers could not keep up with payments.

Potential difficulties with debt servicing are possible for loans worth 36 trillion rubles - this is three-quarters of the total debt of the largest companies, according to the Central Bank. Some of the largest companies in critical condition are in the coal and construction industries, trade and mechanical engineering, the Central Bank wrote.

source: The Moscow Times https://archive.is/Uif58

u/bochnik_cz — 2 days ago
▲ 1.5k r/FreedomofRussia+1 crossposts

In Moscow drivers have begun receiving fins dating back at least 5 years, In most of the notices, there are neither photos nor indications of the location of the violation. The fines expired in 2023 and the local police advises to visit the police station to resolve the issue.

u/Physical-Cut-2334 — 6 days ago
▲ 17 r/FreedomofRussia

Russian Partisan Activity Brief — 09 Aug 2026 – 16 Aug 2026

1. ATESH Confirms Destruction of Lugansk Fuel Depot Supplying Two Russian Armies (09 Aug 2026)

ATESH agents conducted prolonged intelligence operations against a major oil depot in occupied Lugansk, identifying tank locations, delivery schedules, and fuel tanker concentrations. Coordinates were relayed to Ukrainian forces, enabling four precision strikes since September 2025. By August 2026, the depot — the primary fuel source for Russia's 41st and 20th Combined Arms Armies — was confirmed completely inoperative.

  • Source: Telegram - atesh_ua/11000

2. Black Spark Sabotages Railway Rolling Stock in Tyumen and Yekaterinburg (10 Aug 2026)

Black Spark claimed destruction of two railway assets within two days. In Tyumen, mainline diesel locomotive 2TE116-1117 ("Fantomas") was burned. In Yekaterinburg, a unique Czechoslovak motor carriage ACh2-047 — used by the Novator Design Bureau, a Kalibr and Iskander missile developer — was destroyed, eliminating staff transportation for a key defence-industrial facility.

  • Source: Telegram - atesh_ua/11007

3. Black Spark and Ukrainian MTR Strike Russia's Largest Petrochemical Complex in Tobolsk (10 Aug 2026)

Black Spark, in coordination with Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (MTR), struck ZapSibNeftekhim LLC in Tobolsk, Tyumen region — Russia's largest petrochemical complex, producing approximately 2.5 million tonnes of polymers annually including dual-use materials. The facility, owned by Putin-linked oligarchs Timchenko and Kovalchuk via the SIBUR holding, was forced into long-term repairs after the strike.

  • Source: Telegram - atesh_ua/11007

4. ATESH Conducts Anti-War Propaganda Campaign in Veliky Novgorod (11 Aug 2026)

ATESH agents deployed a large-scale propaganda operation in Veliky Novgorod, placing anti-war materials and resistance appeals across shopping areas, public transport stops, and residential neighbourhoods. The campaign aimed to exploit growing public disillusionment with Kremlin narratives and expand the movement's support base in a region previously suppressed by security forces.

  • Source: Telegram - atesh_ua/11013

5. RDK Marks Fourth Anniversary, Confirms Ongoing Intelligence and Combat Operations (11 Aug 2026)

The Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) marked its fourth anniversary, confirming its role within the "Timur Special Unit" of Ukraine's GUR. The organisation documented its combat history including cross-border raids into Bryansk and Belgorod regions, Dnipro river landings, and special intelligence operations. RDK described itself as the vanguard of anti-Kremlin armed resistance composed of Russian nationals.

  • Source: Telegram - atesh_ua/11013

6. ATESH Agents Destroy Electric Locomotive Cabin in Voronezh Region (10 Aug 2026)

ATESH agents sabotaged an electric locomotive in the Voronezh region, destroying its cabin to halt a train bound for the Kupyansk direction. The disruption cascaded through subsequent train scheduling, delaying delivery of ammunition, fuel, weapons, and heavy equipment to frontline units. ATESH assessed the loss of a single logistics link as sufficient to degrade Russian combat readiness in the sector.

  • Source: Telegram - atesh_ua/11007

7. ATESH Intelligence Documents Military Fuel Tanker Surge in Leningrad Region (12 Aug 2026)

ATESH agents in the Leningrad region reported a systematic increase in military fuel tanker movements, including small convoys. Agents noted Russian forces have disguised tankers with civilian markings since July 2026 to evade drone strikes. The region is assessed as a rear logistics hub supplying northern troop groupings amid a broader Russian fuel crisis affecting Crimea and frontline units since August 2025.

  • Source: Telegram - chernayaiskra2/565

8. KPD Warns Russian Resistance Networks of Fake VPN Infiltration Campaign (12 Aug 2026)

The Kuban Partisan Detachment (KPD) issued a security warning identifying over 700 fraudulent VPN browser extensions targeting Russian-speaking users. The fake extensions — mimicking trusted tools including AmneziaVPN and AntiZapret, commonly used by Russians to bypass state censorship — logged users' IP addresses and browsing data. The campaign was attributed to the Russian business project "Mukha VPN," raising concerns about surveillance of resistance-linked individuals.

  • Source: Telegram - chernayaiskra2/565

9. ATESH Agents Destroy Communications Tower in Kharkiv Direction (13 Aug 2026)

ATESH agents disabled a critical communications tower near the village of Pylnaya, Kharkiv region, severing coordination channels between Russian command posts. The disruption specifically degraded the 345th and 380th Motorized Rifle Regiments, impairing joint operations and rapid response in the border zone. ATESH assessed that eliminating communications nodes directly reduces the occupiers' territorial control and operational tempo.

  • Source: kyivpost.com/post/82256

10. ATESH Exposes "Death List" Practices Within Russian 64th Motorized Rifle Brigade (14 Aug 2026)

ATESH agents embedded at the headquarters of the 64th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade (military unit 51460, operating near Gulyaypole, Zaporizhzhia region) reported that senior officers are compiling secret lists of dissenting personnel. Officers and sergeants who question orders or refuse suicidal assault missions are covertly redirected to Ukrainian-controlled positions under false pretences, effectively executing them. Brigade commander Dmitry Shabaev was named.

  • Source: kyivpost.com/videos/82366

11. Russian GRU-Recruited Sabotage Agent Sentenced for Kyiv Arson Operations (14 Aug 2026)

A Russian-recruited agent who conducted two arson operations in Kyiv was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, illustrating the continued use of disposable Telegram-recruited saboteurs in Russia's hybrid warfare campaign against Ukrainian urban infrastructure. The case highlights Russian intelligence's low-cost, high-deniability approach to sabotage recruitment, with agents typically abandoned after use with no operational support.

  • Source: kyivpost.com/videos/82366

12. Black Spark Coordinates Multi-Region Railway Sabotage Across Five Russian Regions (15 Aug 2026)

Black Spark claimed a coordinated sabotage campaign targeting railway relay cabinets and transformer substations across Tver, Tambov, Tula, Yekaterinburg, and the Republic of Khakassia, disrupting the Moscow, Oktyabrskaya, South-Eastern, Sverdlovsk, and Krasnoyarsk railway networks simultaneously. Automation systems triggered emergency red signals across multiple branches, halting or severely delaying trains carrying oil, petroleum products, LNG, and military cargo on a federal scale.

  • Source: Telegram - chernayaiskra2/575

13. RDK UAV Operators Conduct Sustained Reconnaissance-Strike Campaign in Zaporizhzhia (15 Aug 2026)

Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) attack UAV operators from the "Timur Special Unit" of Ukraine's GUR released archival footage documenting months of systematic operations in the Zaporizhzhia direction from winter through summer 2026. Operators destroyed enemy shelters, logistics routes, communications hubs, and command points, while suppressing Russian reconnaissance drones and infantry, significantly degrading occupation forces' positional capabilities in the sector.

  • Source: Telegram - chernayaiskra2/575
reddit.com
u/krmarshall87 — 4 days ago
▲ 1.5k r/FreedomofRussia+6 crossposts

Independence groups like the Ingush Liberation Army, Karelian Batallion (Nord) and Russian Volunteer Corps are fighting to break up the Russian imperial structure and create the conditions for a future 🇪🇺 integration of large parts of Russia! They deserve full material support

u/No_Reaction7092 — 10 days ago
▲ 489 r/FreedomofRussia+2 crossposts

"In Ussuriysk, Primorsky Krai, Russia, we set fire to the local military registration and enlistment office. Conscripts and those potentially subject to mobilization can breathe a sigh of relief for now. Don't thank us - just join us." - Black Spark Partisan Movement. Published 14.05.2026

u/GermanDronePilot — 10 days ago