this post was submitted on 26 Jan 2026
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Image is of a Russian missile impacting Ukraine.


As we rapidly approach the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the Ukraine War (an anniversary I absolutely did not expect would occur while the two sides were still in combat), we have seen Russia turn to a new strategy, starting late last year but intensifying in December and now January.

Russia seems intent to disconnect Ukrainian cities from the electrical grid by focussing bombing on thermal, gas, and hydro stations, causing major power blackouts across the country. Russia is also bombing substations relatively close to Ukraine's three nuclear power plants (Zaporzhye, the fourth, remains under Russia control), studiously avoiding hitting the premises of the NPPs themselves for obvious reasons. Even if they're far away from the NPPs, striking the substations does have risks, because if the nuclear reactors aren't shut off before the substations are bombed, there is a possibility that there will be insufficient backup power to prevent a meltdown - hence why Russia hasn't really attempted to do this for four years.

Most of the electricity generated in Ukraine comes from the nuclear power plants, both because of the infrastructure they had initially (Ukraine was 7th in the world in nuclear electricity generation before the war) and because Russia has bombed most non-nuclear power stations and substations already. Over the last couple weeks, we have seen Ukrainian media fly into a frenzy about long-lasting blackouts, especially in the middle of winter. After the Zionist entity destroyed virtually all civilian infrastructure in Gaza while the West cheered on, they now appear to have changed their mind on whether such strikes are an effective and humanitarian option to subject millions of people to.

Regardless of whether you personally believe these Russian strikes are justified (I'm pretty iffy myself), it must be stressed that Ukraine has been bombing Russian tankers and oil refineries and power stations for a long time now, so in a sense, this is a retaliation. It's also remarkable, compared to Western wars, that Ukraine was even still allowed to possess a functioning electrical grid for nearly four years into a war of this magnitude. That all being said, while Ukrainian strikes have been somewhat but not overly impactful on the Russian oil sector, the response is clearly very asymmetrical: Ukraine's power grid is, according to Ukrainian energy corporations, now 70% degraded and is virtually impossible to now repair, and blackouts can last most of the day.

For everybody's sake, I hope a ceasefire and peace deal will be reached soon. But after four years of seeing opportunities for an end to this war squandered over and over, I'm not holding my breath.


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Sources on the fighting in Palestine against the temporary Zionist entity. In general, CW for footage of battles, explosions, dead people, and so on:

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English-language Twitter account in the same group as the previous two. - Telegram here.

Mirrors of Telegram channels that have been erased by Zionist censorship.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict

Sources:

Defense Politics Asia's youtube channel and their map. Their youtube channel has substantially diminished in quality but the map is still useful.
Moon of Alabama, which tends to have interesting analysis. Avoid the comment section.
Understanding War and the Saker: reactionary sources that have occasional insights on the war.
Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don't want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it's just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.
Simplicius, who publishes on Substack. Like others, his political analysis should be soundly ignored, but his knowledge of weaponry and military strategy is generally quite good.
On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists' side.

Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.

Pro-Russian Telegram Channels:

Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.

https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR's former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR's forces. Russian language.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.
https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.
https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster's telegram channel.
https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator.
https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps.
https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a 'propaganda tax', if you don't believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.
https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.

Pro-Ukraine Telegram Channels:

Almost every Western media outlet.
https://discord.gg/projectowl ~ Pro-Ukrainian OSINT Discord.
https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.


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[–] red_giant@hexbear.net 56 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Bill Gates (allegedly) caught an STD from Epstein island, gave it to Melinda, then asked Epstein for antibiotics to give Melinda without her knowledge or consent

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/epstein-files-released-doj-2026/

Article Summary

Two emails Jeffrey Epstein sent to himself on July 18, 2013, contain unverified allegations that Bill Gates had extramarital "sex with Russian girls" that resulted in a sexually transmitted infection requiring antibiotics.

In one email, Epstein claimed Gates also sought to "surreptitiously give" the antibiotics to Melinda Gates.

he said, "I have been asked and wrongly acquiesced into participating in things that have ranged from the morally inappropriate, to the ethically unsound and have been repeatedly asked to do thing (sic) that get near and potentially over the line into the illegal...From helping Bill to get drugs, in order to deal with consequences of sex with russian girls, to facilitating his illicit trusts, with married women, to being asked to provide adderall fro (sic) bridge touramnts (sic), as I am a medial (sic) doctor, but have no presriptions (sic) writing ability."

A spokesperson for Bill Gates told CBS News, "These claims are absolutely absurd and completely false. The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein's frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame."

The email

The email was a draft email, not sent, and apparently written by Epstein in support of an employee who was fired from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00965766.pdf

dear bill I cannot believe that you have chosen to disregard our friendship developed of over the last 6 years . I am aware that Accidents happen , it is how each of us has chosen to deal with this unfortunate event that has me dismayed beyond comprehension. you have decided to discharge me from my job, had Larry, your pr person tell me that I engaged in morally inappropriate behavior asked me to be the major actor in a cover up so that you can maintain the reputation that you have worked so hard to achieve. , asked me to recommit to a confidentiality agreement and have categorically told me that we cannot have any direct ongoing business relationship , in total disregard for its impact on the public perception of MY reputation. I will have ti diligently avoid the truth, tell people that bill will not invest with me , and craft and answer that suits your needs. but you did agree to send you a letter of recommendation should a future employer ask for one. You have told me that Melinda insists , on me not communicating with you unless Larry is copied or present. Though you have consistently maintained that I could not have done a better job, and that i was underpaid compared to my contribution, you then beyond all sense of fairness, and frankly decency , said that as "generous" compensation for keeping the gates reputation intact, you would , let me keep what we agreed I had already owned ( the investment pieces) and give me 2 years severance . similar to Christine Turner. another casualty . IF the shoe was on the other foot I would have said, Boris, this is not your fault. , I ,confessed to Melinda, you didn't,- It was in a moment of weakness , and I will do anything within my power to make it right for you. I have more money than anyone needs and I assure you I will structure something so that you will not be penalized for my error . Lucky for me I have enough money to provide to you , though it will not heal the injury , it will make you secure in your future, In addition I will bend over backwards, to make sure your next career is rewarding and on an upswing. I appreciate the fact that this drastically alters your plans and am very aware of the career path you gave up to join the Foundation. I am very sorry, but as I believe time heals all wounds, this will eventually pass. In that regard I suggest I buy you the house that you so had your heart set on. and in addition to five years of severance will buy you out of the investment contract we had agree, 30 -40 percent of a hundred million dollar partnership. for 30 million dollars in today's dollars. terms and conditions to be agreed. That's what i would have done had i been in your shoes. what i did receive however was an unfriendly strongly worded email , telling me how employable I am and that i should not look to you for any significant financial help in the future, TO add insult to the injury you them implore me to please delete the emails regarding your std, your request that I provide you antibiotics that you can surre titiousl ive to Melinda and the description of your penis. You also made it clear to me that I am not to refer to as that is another topic that must remain between the two of us. In return for all of these requests , which I would have done without a second thought . I am not to attend meetings with Melinda , I should continue to provide you the same level of service and dedication that i have done so diligently until you are ready to discard me and our friendship.

[–] TheModerateTankie@hexbear.net 36 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Clever ruse by Epstein to defame Mr gates by hiding this info in private emails that would only see the light of day after his own death and a series of unlikely events.

[–] aanes_appreciator@hexbear.net 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Multibillionaire CEO of a massive tech empire which effectively controls the business communications of half the fucking world

versus

knowing how to do encrypted email

[–] darkcalling@hexbear.net 14 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

When you're powerful you don't have to care. Privacy is for the powerless against the powerful. He was already in the mutual blackmail network, worrying about this would be silly. None of them had the clairvoyance to see the network getting folded up for whatever reason in this way and becoming a big public thing that gets disclosed and becomes a talking point that won't go away.

[–] replaceable@hexbear.net 26 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Clinton? i think you mean gates

[–] red_giant@hexbear.net 42 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Oops thank you. It’s an automatic reflex to write “Bill Clinton” whenever Epstein comes up.