Seems like another ho-hum russian aburdity story about how to dodge accountability for these warehouse strikes. But it also says a lot about who Ukraine is dealing with. Pretending that Putin is a logical state actor who can be managed with rules and agreements badly misses the point.

Think about this - first, he told private industry that air defence is THEIR business, not the state's. That THEY are liable for not just defence, but damages. And now this - that if they fail to provide 'adequate protection', then the state will take over. But take over what? What person with more than single-digit IQ would think that the sycophant gangster state administrators can even RUN private business effectively, much less provide improved air defence.

This is petromafia of black hearted gangster ghouls. The bigger story that we've failed to grasp is that complete seizure of the entire society was always an option. It's not a country - it's a slave state. Recent bank runs and moronic moves like this will destroy industry. Even if Russia starts taking over WB & OZON for.... failing to protect themselves from Ukrainian drones.... what would change?

Why would any business even TRY to operate in Russia at this point? Not only will you not be protected, not only is inflation spiraling and the economy clearly rocketing towards a dead end. The state will simply seize your assets when they want. There is no law here.

It's truly madness, and probably the event horizon for private business in Russia. But moreover - it shows the idiotic desperation and vile greed that really drives the RF. This war will not end until Putin is dead, full stop.

Russia can't save Wildberries & OZON, and they're not going to. It's the end of e-commerce within Russia, and Ukraine would do very well to keep up the strikes.

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[–] tal@lemmy.today 9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

That sounds kind of bizarre, but okay. Man, I thought that the Wildberries strikes alone would expose Russia's private industry to tremendous influence from Ukraine---Ukraine hit Wildberries stating that said company had been providing stuff for military use in Ukraine. I thought that the Russian government might pay for the losses just to avoid that influence. Guess not. Guess what Russian companies are probably going to be falling all over themselves to avoid doing in the future?

And this latest from Putin just...makes all that worse, because it makes it even worse to be hit. Like, it's not just like "the government isn't protecting you or eating losses on your behalf, but now it's actively going to prey on you if Ukraine chooses to attack you and does so successfully."

I've got an economic plan for you, Zelenskyy.

"We have allocated 1,000 drones per month to a pool of non-critical-to-our-war-effort companies. We are now accepting payment of amount per month to not be targeted. If you are hit, your insurance policy will probably have a war exclusion from coverage, your facility may be destroyed by us, and your other assets may be seized by the Kremlin."

EDIT: Eh, probably not Zelenskyy. Bad for Ukraine's image to have the government doing that. Now, an enterprising private company with an interest in the growing field of extorting-Russian-industry, that might go far.

[–] TwinkleToes@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You're getting the point - this illustrates how Russia is nothing but a crime syndicate from top to bottom. Thievery is not only not frowned upon - it's expected. There's a russian saying that "The man who doesn't steal, steals from his family".

It's incredible that business exists at all. At least for now.

[–] ivan@piefed.social 2 points 2 days ago

Putin himself was tightly linked to organised crime, part of “new Russians” back in 90’s, those that wore pink jackets.

And by mafia ways that country still lives - Wildberries was basically one big business eating smaller ones and making their owners their debt slaves. One has to sell shit with like 4x markup to turn any profit through that platform, and they all just went in like bunch of fucking sheep.