Happy Santa Lucia Day!

Happy Santa Lucia Day! I don’t know much about the holiday, my Danish family never celebrated it, but I got to celebrate it yesterday and the bread was sweet and had a raisin. It felt like finding baby Jesus in the king cake. My friend gave me Santa Lucia saffron buns. I think that is what it is. It is sweet. 

Russia unleashed a massive attack on Ukraine, and did enormous damage, which I really am sure they would have done anyway but are claiming is retaliation against Ukraine attacks against them using ATACMS. Yesterday Putin suggested a Christmas truce so it makes sense that the same night he would unleash hell. Ukraine was able to intercept 81 of the 90 missiles and some of that was done with the F-16 fighter jets they’ve been given this year. 

Also last night, one of Russia’s key strategic facilities caught fire. It was a Russian military storage facility in Novosibirsk. 

Russia has confirmed that their airport in Taganrog was attacked by ATACMS. They have said that there was no damage and of course no one believes them. There are two strategically important airports in Taganrog. The attack shows that their air defenses failed. 

Putin has abruptly replaced is top commander on a critical frontline, Donbas. Russia has made advances in Donbas this year but at extraordinary costs. Maybe this will result in a change of tactics that will result in less loss of life. There is a Telegram channel linked to the Wagner Group that says, “General Ivanayev has been appointed commander of Vostok. They are reporting from the field that he is an incredibly stupid and permanently drunk scumbag, who has not been noted for anything other than failed meaty assaults at the front.” 

Russia, for the second year, is hiking gas prices for Russian citizens and businesses to offset the losses the gas company is suffering from the loss of European market. Just this month Austria cut its contract. Gazprom lost $15 billion last year.  Prices will go up by over 10%. Last year they were hiked 11%. Since the start of the war gas prices will have increased 37%.