A former Florida congressional candidate was charged for an election-related threat to kill his primary opponent, U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna.
An indictment was recently unsealed charging the Florida Republican with threatening to kill his primary opponent in the 2021 election for the 13th Congressional District of Florida and a private citizen and acquaintance of his opponent.
According to the indictment, 41-year-old William Robert Braddock III, of St. Petersburg, and Victim 1 were candidates in the Republican primary election to represent the 13th Congressional District of Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives. Victim 2 was a private citizen and acquaintance of Victim 1.
According to 2021 court documents, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna reported that Braddock was stalking her and wanted her dead.
On June 8, 2021, Braddock made several threats to injure and kill Victim 1 and Victim 2 during a telephone call with Victim 2. Specifically, Braddock threatened, in part, to “call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” and make Victim 1 disappear. After making the threats, Braddock left the United States and was later found to be residing in the Philippines. Braddock was recently deported from the Philippines to the United States and made his first court appearance in Los Angeles.
The former Republican Florida congressional candidate is charged with one count of interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person. If convicted, Braddock faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.
The FBI Tampa Field Office is investigating the case with support from the St. Petersburg Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, FBI’s Office of the Legal Attaché in Manila, and U.S. Marshals Service provided substantial assistance. The investigation also benefited from foreign law enforcement cooperation provided by the Philippine Department of Justice and Philippine Bureau of Immigration.
Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlton Gammons for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed, or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Three years after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the task force has begun.
Under the leadership of Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the task force is led by PIN and includes several other entities within the Justice Department, including the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Civil Rights Division, National Security Division, and FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint.
Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.
Experts are speaking out to warn that surging gas prices could lead to even more inflation as the 2024 election year continues.
Surging Gas Prices In Biden’s America
“Increases in the two most-consumed fuels are outpacing those for crude oil in some of the world’s most important markets,” Yahoo News reported. “U.S. gasoline futures have jumped sharply in recent weeks and are now up by more than a fifth so far this year, while diesel in Europe has risen 10%. Refiner profits are also above seasonal norms in many regions, a sign of tightness as the peak summer travel period approaches.”
“Interruptions to fuel production — a combination of scheduled work, unplanned outages and drone attacks on Russian facilities — have been lifting prices,” the publication continued. “They’ve come on top of higher shipping costs caused by Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and drought at the Panama Canal, as well as the supply-chain ructions spurred by Western sanctions on the Kremlin.”
Mukesh Sahdev, head of oil trading and downstream research at Rystad Energy AS, spoke out to warn that premium gasoline prices might reach a multi-year high this year.
“There’s not a lot President Biden can do in time for the election, if this happens” he explained. “Strategic petroleum reserves are low, and there are few levers for the US government to pull to lower gasoline prices.”
During Joe Biden’s 2022 State of the Union address, he promised to cut energy costs by an average of $500.
Here are the results of Biden’s energy policies:
• Gas prices have increased by 40% • Electricity costs have risen by 28.6% • Energy costs have increased by $3,626 pic.twitter.com/dJwr8MaPVZ
In the U.S., the average gasoline pump price is now 60% higher than it was at the start of November of 2020, a fact that could have a major influence over the way that Americans vote. The nation’s stockpiles of both gasoline and diesel-type fuels are also well below seasonal norms, causing less of a supply-cushion than normal.
Nerd Wallet reported that the average regular gas price in the U.S. as of March 7 is $3.397 per gallon, which is about 8 cents higher than last week’s average, and the highest average national price since November. The current gas price is a 25-cent jump from last month’s average of $3.148 per gallon, and the national average has increased 31 cents since the start of 2024.
Last month, Moody’s Analytics found that surging gas prices could be what costs President Joe Biden the election later this year.
“Biden gets a small tailwind from the year-over-year decline in gasoline prices, but the expected late-2024 increase erodes much of the benefit,” Moody’s wrote, according to The Hill. “Having said this, forecasting oil prices is especially difficult, and if prices move up much more than anticipated, the damage to Biden’s re-election bid will quickly mount.”
Moody’s added that the former President Donald Trump will win the election if prices surge to $4 per gallon.
“If you talk to the average American, they think we’re in a recession right now”
“The real inflation that Americans are feeling is much higher”
This all just goes to show what an economic nightmare it is to live in Biden’s America. As the year goes on, it will certainly be interesting to see what impact this has on the presidential election.
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An Ivy leaguer, proud conservative millennial, history lover, writer, and lifelong New Englander, James specializes in the intersection of… More about James Conrad
The royal family’s website is primarily a repository of information about the working members of the family, but it is also a place where news is released, as well as an important piece of infrastructure that keeps the palace running, which makes it an attractive target for mischief. Hours after a denial-of-service (DoS) attack on the website Sunday, a group of pro-Russia hackers called KillNet claimed responsibility, but their participation hasn’t been confirmed.
At about 10 a.m. local time, royal.uk was inaccessible for approximately 90 minutes. During the outage, a royal source told The Mirror that no sensitive information had been compromised. “The website is down due to a denial-of-service attack,” the source explained. “Denial-of-service attacks see sites bombarded with traffic, as opposed to hacking, which sees people actually gain access to a site. There has been no access to the royal household systems or content. It is impossible to say at this stage who is responsible.”
The Daily Mail reports that KillNet attempted to attack the royal website in November 2022, which also resulted in an outage. KillNet first came to prominence after threatening and claiming responsibility for a series of attacks on health care organizations in the United Kingdom and the United States as retaliation against nations who have backed Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
The royal family has been open about their support for Ukraine since the early days of the conflict in February 2022. During an address to France’s Senate last week, King Charles III praised the country for joining the UK in allying with Ukraine and Ukrainian people. “Our alliance and our resolve are as important as ever,” he said. “Together, we stand in resolute solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Together, we are steadfast in our determination Ukraine will triumph, and that our cherished freedoms will prevail.”
More than a decade ago, royal.uk was the victim of another suspected DoS attack attempt. In April 2011, a hacker allegedly encouraged others to attack the site while it was streaming the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Six months later, a spokesperson for Scotland Yard said a 16-year-old had been detained and questioned in connection with the attack.
Last week, the Russian military decided to abandon the city of Kherson and retreat to the east bank of the Dnipro River. As part of the operation, they destroyed or damaged every major river crossing including the Antonivsky Bridge, the Darivka Bridge, and the Nova Kakhovka dam. The Russian forces have also established a multi-tier defense on the east banks of the Dnipro River. Although the Russians gave up a strategic city, they have effectively stalled the Ukrainian counter-offensive. For the counter-offensive to continue, the Ukrainian military must now conduct a wet-gap crossing, a difficult military maneuver that involves bridging a river. Indeed, the Russian military lost a full Battalion Tactical Group in a failed wet-gap crossing across the Siverskyi Donets River earlier this year.
This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows the northern span of the damaged … [+] Antonovskiy bridge, in Kherson, Ukraine, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. (Maxar Technologies via AP)
Associated Press
The process for a wet-gap crossing starts by establishing security. In an ideal case, the crossing unit would have control of the far-side of the river. Even with control, the bridging site will quickly become a target for artillery and drone strikes, so it is necessary to limit these capabilities. This is done through locating and destroying enemy artillery assets, shooting down the drones, and maintaining covertness with the bridging operation.
Once the threat from enemy artillery and drones have been reduced, the bridging operation can commence. An assault element is staged such that they can rapidly approach the bridging site while still maintaining cover and concealment. The engineer teams then emplace the bridges, which would likely be pontoon bridges given the Ukrainian assets and the length of the river. The Ukrainians have PMP Floating Bridge systems, which are folded up and mounted on the back of a KrAZ-255 truck. The trucks release the pontoons into water, at which point they unfold automatically. Bridging boats then connect to each pontoon, placing it in the proper position. Engineers lock each of the pontoons together to form a secure bridge that can support armored vehicles. For longer bridges, the boats remain attached to the bridge to counteract the river current. A well-trained team could have a bridge constructed in under an hour.
Army building a pontoon bridge on the Vistula river in Warsaw, Poland on August 31, 2019 (Photo by … [+] Mateusz Wlodarczyk/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
After the bridge is assembled, the assault element must rush across the bridge to secure the bridgehead. The enemy will have placed obstacles, including mines, trenches, and barriers, to limit the effectiveness of the assault element. A follow-up force will then move over the bridge to continue the assault. These operations must be fast because once the enemy identifies the bridging site, the bridge is a target for an artillery or drone strike and will likely be destroyed. When the bridge is destroyed, the units on the far banks will be cut-off from support; as such, it is imperative that a large number of soldiers and vehicles move across the bridge rapidly.
Pontoon bridge on the vistula river in Warsaw, Poland on November 24, 2019 (Photo by Mateusz … [+] Wlodarczyk/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
The first challenge faced by the Ukrainians is the amount of coordination required for such an operation. Wet-gap crossings require a substantial amount of training to ensure that the security, bridging, and assault units are in sync with each other. While the Ukrainians have engineer units with bridging capabilities, it is not clear as to how well trained they are. They previously established a short pontoon bridge across an unknown river that was destroyed by a Russian drone on May 7, 2022. Even with trained bridging units, the assault force also requires a large degree of training. Inadequate training results in traffic back-ups and units that cannot rapidly move across the river, resulting in a ripe target for the enemy.
A second challenge is that the Ukrainians are unlikely to establish control of the eastern bank of the Dnipro River prior to a bridging operation. While some of the infantry fighting vehicles, including the BMPs and BTRs, can technically float, the process is not reliable. Indeed, a viral video shows a Russian BMP sinking as it tries to float across a river (note: the video was posted six years ago and is not from the current conflict). Additionally, the Dnipro River would likely not be calm enough for a vehicle to float over. If the Ukrainians attempted to ferry soldiers across the river, they would likely be inadequate for taking the Russian defensive positions which include armored vehicles. As such, the bridging units will likely be under-fire from the opposite shore as they establish the bridge.
In this handout photo provided by the Ukraine Armed Forces on Thursday, May 12, 2022, a ruined … [+] pontoon crossing with dozens of destroyed or damaged Russian armored vehicles on both banks of Siverskyi Donets River after their pontoon bridges were blown up in eastern Ukraine. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)
Ukraine Armed Forces
Perhaps the largest challenge is the large amount of artillery that the Russians have positioned on the east bank of the river. The river will be under continual surveillance from Russian scouts and from drones. There is low likelihood that the staging for a wet-gap crossing would go unnoticed. As soon as the bridging units enter the water, they will likely come under fire from Russian artillery and loitering munitions. Should the bridge be established, a single Shahed-136, which can carry up to 30 kg of explosives, could destroy a large section of the bridge.
While difficult, the Ukrainians do have several technologies that can help. In particular, they have been very successful at locating and destroying Russian artillery. Their HIMARS missiles have significant range and can precisely destroy Russian targets. Ukrainian counter-drone and air-defense systems have been very successful at striking down Russian loitering munitions. Furthermore, the Ukrainians have their suite of electronic warfare equipment that can disrupt the Russian defensive operations.
Regardless of these technologies, crossing the Dnipro would be challenging for the Ukrainian forces and will take time to plan and orchestrate, slowing down the counter-offensive. In modern times, few armies have successfully completed a wet-gap crossing. The Russians made a smart tactical move in abandoning Kherson, which would have been an urban bloodbath. The question now comes as to whether the Ukrainians will attempt a risky maneuver and cross the Dnipro.
Cars pass in Independence Square at twilight in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Rolling … [+] blackouts are increasing across Ukraine as the government rushes to stabilise the energy grid and repair the system ahead of winter. (AP Photo/Andrew Kravchenko)
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Dispatches from Ukraine.
As Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues and the war rages on, reliable sources of information are critical. Forbes gathers information and provides updates on the situation.
By Polina Rasskazova
Tuesday, November 1. Day 251. According to the President of Ukraine, 40% of all Ukrainian energy infrastructure has been seriously damaged as a result of Russian attacks. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a meeting with the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, during which he disclosed the consequences of Russia’s energy terrorism, as well as the measures Ukraine is taking to stabilize its energy grid. “Unfortunately, due to the strikes of missiles and kamikaze drones by the Russian Federation on our energy system, we have suspended the export of electricity to Europe. But I am sure that we will restore everything, and in a calmer time, when the situation in our energy system will be stabilized,” said Zelenskyy.
Iran plans to send more than 200 drones to the Russian Federation starting in November. According to the main intelligence department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Shahed-136, Mohajer-6 and Arash-2 drones will be delivered via the Caspian Sea to the port of Astrakhan, in Russia. Drones will arrive in a disassembled state, then, on the territory of the Russian Federation, they will be assembled, repainted and applied with Russian markings, in particular “Geran-2”.
Starting November 1, in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the Russian regime intends to start its fall draft to fill the ranks of the Russian armed forces, reported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Under the guise of conscription, mobilization is also underway in Crimea, the nature and methods of which testify to the desire of the Russian military-political leadership to reduce the number of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars on the peninsula as they are the most resistant to Russian occupation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemns Russia’s intention to start conscription. “Under international humanitarian law, an occupying power is prohibited from forcing protected persons to serve in its armed forces, as well as from pressuring and promoting voluntary military service,” written in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mykolayiv. Around midnight, the Russian army attacked the city with S-300 type missiles, as a result of which a number of civilian objects were damaged. The mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Senkevich, reported that a two-story residential building was completely destroyed and a woman was killed. A fire broke out in another house due to the impact of ammunition and shrapnel.
Monday, October 31. Day 250. Russian forces unleash massive missile attack on the entire territory of Ukraine. In the morning, air raid alarms sounded throughout Ukraine. Out of more than 50 cruise missiles, air defense forces managed to shoot down 44. According to the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, 10 regions were affected by missiles and drones, where 18 objects were damaged, and most of them energy-related. Hundreds of settlements in seven regions of Ukraine were cut off from power. “Local emergency shutdowns continue in the Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions. Today, as in previous weeks, it is important that all Ukrainians consciously consume energy and reduce the load on the network,” said Shmyhal.
Kyiv Region. Due to massive Russian shelling, part of the Kyiv region was left without electricity. According to the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, 80% of the consumers of the capital of Ukraine remained without water supply, 350,000 apartments in Kyiv remain without electricity. As a result of the attack, two people were injured in the Kyivregion. One of them is in serious condition. There was also damage to private buildings.
Kharkiv. According to Oleh Synyehubov, the head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, about 50,000 consumers were cut off from power in Kharkiv due to the morning missile strikes launched by the Russian army, which damaged critical infrastructure. In the Kharkiv region, about 90,000 local residents were disconnected from electricity. As a result of problems with electricity, “water was supplied with reduced pressure to some districts of Kharkiv and to some large settlements of the region, because there was not enough power in the power grids for the pumps to create the proper pressure,” said Synyehubov.
Cherkasy Region. Two-thirds of the region was cut off from power supply as a result of a Russian attack on a critical infrastructure facility. The head of the Cherkasy Regional Military Administration, Ihor Taburets, reported other four victims of shelling are currently in the hospital. Work to restore electricity supply in the region continues.
Dnipropetrovsk Region. According to the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration, Valentyn Reznichenko, the Marhanets community came under Russian fire. 40 shells from BM-21 Grad missile launchers were fired into the community. As a result of the attack, a 31-year-old woman died. Another woman is injured. “Almost 30 high-rise and private buildings were damaged in the city. The local lyceum, administrative building, cars and power lines were mutilated,” reported Reznichenko. In the morning, the Russians caused serious damage to energy infrastructure facilities in Dnipro and Pavlohrad. As a result, the system could not cope with the electrical load causing blackouts.
Sunday, October 30. Day 249.The Russian Federation suspends its participation in a formal agreement to allow the movement of grain out of Ukrainian ports, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported. The grain deal was signed by Ukraine and Russia with Turkey and the UN at the end of August in Istanbul, and provides for the unblocking of Ukrainian ports for the export of food and farmed goods. The Russian Federation refused the agreement “in view of the terrorist act carried out by the Kyiv regime on October 29 of this year with the participation of UK specialists against ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civil courts involved in the security of the grain corridor.”
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, emphasized Russia began deliberately aggravating the food crisis back in September, when it blocked the movement of ships with Ukrainian food. From September to today, 176 vessels have already accumulated in the grain corridor as they’ve been blocked from navigating their routes. “Some grain carriers have been waiting for more than three weeks. Algeria, Egypt, Yemen, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and other countries can all be equally destabilized by this Russian decision to block exports,” Zelenskyy added.
NATO called on Moscow to urgently renew the U.N.-brokered deal that enabled Ukraine to resume grain exports via the Black Sea amid a global food crisis, Reuters reported. “President Putin must stop weaponising food and end his illegal war on Ukraine,” NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said. “We call on Russia to reconsider its decision and renew the deal urgently, enabling food to reach those who need it most.” According to the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov, the ship Ikaria Angel, carrying 40,000 tons of grain, was supposed to leave the Ukrainian port today. “These foodstuffs were intended for Ethiopians that are on the verge of famine. But due to the blockage of the “grain corridor” by Russia, export is impossible,” Lungescu said.
Russian launch nuclear provocations in the city of Enerhodar, in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Region. Most of the occupied city of Enerhodar (where Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is located) was left without electricity due to Russian shelling. According to the mayor of Enerhodar, Dmytro Orlov, the Russian troops hit one of the substations. “We are waiting for updates on the extent of damage and restoration of power supply,” he added.
Donetsk region. During the day, the Russian military forces launched 24 attacks on the civilian population in Donetsk, Ukraine. The police of the Donetsk region recorded more than 30 destroyed buildings as a result of Russian shelling. In all, the attack caused fires in 16 settlements, 31 civilian objects were destroyed and damaged, including residential buildings, the city council building, utility buildings, garages and cars. According to Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, as a result of Russian shelling on October 29, 5 civilians of the Donetsk region were killed and another 8 people were injured: in Antonivka, Pervomaiskyi, Druzhba, Klishchiivka, and Yelyzavetivka. In addition, law enforcement officers discovered the bodies of 5 civilians who died during the occupation.
Kharkiv Region. According to the head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, Oleh Synyehubov, during the past day, the Russian army shelled the city of Kupyansk, as well as settlements and villages in various districts of the region. “In Kupyansk, as a result of shelling, a civilian industrial facility was damaged, and a large-scale fire broke out. Rescuers are working on the spot, the fire has been contained. Previously, no one was injured,” he reported. According to the regional Center of Emergency Medical Assistance, a 58-year-old resident of the Kupyansk district was hospitalized with an injury during the day. Also, Synyehubov emphasized that hostilities continue on the contact line with the Russian border.
PENSACOLA, Fla., October 25, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– In his second book, Mr. MiG and the Real Story of the First MiGs in America, author and pilot Paul T. Entrekin gives the reader firsthand knowledge of the mysterious Russian MiG – among the world’s first jet fighters.
After serving from 1977-1986 in the United States Marine Corps as a both a rotary and fixed-wing pilot and flight instructor, Entrekin resigned his active-duty position and opted to retain a reserve commission. His post-military goal was to make a career in the airshow business.
A Canadian friend let him know that a man was about to import a few Russian MiGs into Ottawa. As Entrekin explains in his book, “[I] was searching for that X factor or niche that allows entry-level performers to get their foot in the door with show sponsors.” Thus started his 20-year illustrious career with the notorious Russian jet, flying professionally at airshows all around North America while entertaining millions of spectators and setting multiple U.S. and world airspeed records.
The author gives the reader a bird’s eye view of the challenges that it took to get a MiG pilot certification, assess and certify the safety of the aircraft, and overcome the general fear and prejudice of having a Russian jet in American airspace, even if it was being piloted by one of our own men.
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in aviation history, current aviation, fighter jets, MiGs, or the military.
Paul T. Entrekin, also known by the moniker “Mr. MiG,” became a commissioned officer in 1977 in the U.S. Marine Corps and earned his wings of gold in 1980. After accepting a reserve commission in 1986, he worked as a clandestine operative for the Defense Intelligence Agency until his retirement from the service in 1991.
Also in 1986, he started Entrekin Aviation and flew his MiG in his first airshow a year later. In 1989, he accepted a position as a pilot with Delta Airlines.
Paul earned a bachelor of science from Auburn University and a master of education from University of West Florida. He is a member of the Society for Experimental Test Pilots, has received numerous civilian and military awards, and is recognized on the National Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Honor.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told foreign defense officials on Sunday—without citing any evidence—Ukraine could be planning to make use of a “dirty bomb,” a claim U.S. and U.K. officials warned could be a pretext to ramp up Russia’s invasion, weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin floated the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu attends a press conference on February 18, 2020 in Rome, … [+] Italy.
Getty Images
Key Facts
Shoigu discussed the use of a “dirty bomb”—or an explosive that contains radioactive nuclear waste material–-in separate phone calls with British, French and Turkish defense officials on Sunday, according to Russian readouts of the conversations seen by Politico.
Shoigu told his French counterpart, Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, he was concerned about “possible provocations” from Ukraine using a dirty bomb, the Russian readout said, noting the situation in Ukraine is “rapidly detoriorating.”
The Russian defense chief also purportedly discussed dirty bombs with U.K. Defense Minister Ben Wallace and Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.
Shoigu did not provide evidence that Ukraine is planning to use weapons with nuclear waste material in any of the three conversations, according to Russia’s readouts.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba fervently denied Russia’s allegations in a tweet and said Ukraine doesn’t possess any dirty bombs, adding that “Russians often accuse others of what they plan themselves.”
The British Ministry of Defence said in a statement that Shoigu accused Ukraine of planning military actions to ramp up the war, which Wallace refuted, warning that Russia should not use the allegations “as a pretext for greater escalation.”
Chief Critic
White House National Security Council spokeperson Adrienne Watson rejected Shoigu’s allegations, calling the accusations of Ukraine preparing to use dirty bombs “transparently false.” Watson added that the world would “see through any attempt” by Russia to use the allegation to escalate the invasion of Ukraine. Shoigu also spoke with his American counterpart—Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin—on Sunday, the two leaders’ second call in three days, and a Pentagon readout said Austin “rejected any pretext for Russian escalation.”
Tangent
Russia has made similar unfounded accusations about Ukraine planning to use dirty bombs and nuclear weapons since the early days of the invasion. In March, Russian claimed it uncovered evidence of a bioweapons program operated by the Ukrainian government and funded by the U.S., which Kyiv and Washington both denied.
Key Background
Monday marks nine months since Russia invaded Ukraine. According to a Gallup poll released last week, 70% of Ukranians support fighting until Ukraine wins the war, compared to 26% who said they would prefer negotiations to end the conflict quickly. Rhetoric on both sides has ramped up in recent weeks, particularly earlier this month when the the only bridge linking Russia and Crimea was damaged in an explosion, which Putin called “an act of terrorism” by Ukraine, which has not claimed responsibility for the attack. Putin has also implied he may be willing to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, ramping up his threats.
In 2016, a Russian firm began building a bridge from mainland Russia to the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula, which Russian forces had seized from Ukraine two years earlier.
Starting in 2018, the bridge became the main overland supply line connecting Russia to Russian-held territory in southern Ukraine. Until someone—Ukrainian operatives, apparently—blew up the bridge on Saturday morning.
The partial destruction of the bridge over the Kerch Strait, east of Crimea, further isolates Russian forces in southern Ukraine at precisely the moment those forces need strong ties to Russia proper. Ukrainian forces in late August launched a counteroffensive in southern Ukraine that in recent weeks has gained momentum, and now threatens to surround significant portions of the Russian garrison in the south.
This garrison no longer has a bridge to Russia. It now solely relies on ferries and aircraft for resupply.
The double-span Kerch Bridge—a rail bridge running alongside a road bridge—suddenly exploded early Saturday morning. Videos, shot by motorists, captured both the initial blast and the subsequent blaze. “Sick burn,” the Ukrainian government quipped in a statement.
It’s not obvious just how the apparent Ukrainian operatives blew up the bridge. It’s possible they sneaked explosives onto a train or truck. It’s also possible they sailed a robotic vessel laden with explosives underneath the bridge.
The method is beside the point. The Ukrainians months ago proved they were capable of striking deep inside Russian-held territory using helicopters, rockets, artillery, drones and saboteurs. As Ukrainian deep-strike capability expanded, an attack on the Kerch Bridge became inevitable.
What matters is the effect. Without the Kerch Bridge, the Russian force in southern Ukraine—tens of thousands strong—could begin to starve. Its most reliable lines of communication to Russia now are the railways running into occupied Melitopol. But Melitopol is on the left side of the wide Dnipro River, and Ukrainian forces have blown up almost every bridge across the river.
All that is to say, there no longer is an easy way for the Russians quickly to move significant supplies or fresh troops into southern Ukraine. Cutting off Russian logistics could have profound consequences for Ukraine’s effort, eight months into Russia’s wider war on Ukraine, to liberate Russian-held territory and push back Russian forces all the way to pre-2014 borders.
Most immediately, the destruction of the Kerch Bridge could weaken the Russian garrison in and around occupied Kherson. Ukrainian brigades already were marching toward Kherson. Now they should be able to march faster, against increasingly fragile Russian formations.
Longer term, dropping the Kerch Bridge creates favorable conditions for a possible Ukrainian counteroffensive toward the port of Mariupol, which the Russians first destroyed then captured this summer. If Ukrainian forces can liberate Mariupol, they would sever overland links between Russian forces in eastern Ukraine and Russian forces in southern Ukraine.
Severing the two contingents deprives both of the flexibility they need to reinforce each other. They’re stuck in place as Ukrainian brigade maneuver around them.
In apparently blowing up the Kerch Bridge, the Ukrainians significantly have boosted their odds of liberating broad swathes of Russian-occupied Ukraine.
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Kraken, a large crypto platform, said it won’t close Russian accounts unless the company is legally … [+] forced to do so, CEO Jesse Powell said via Twitter. Powell tweeted, “Our mission at Kraken is to bridge individual humans out of the legacy financial system and bring them into the world of crypto, where arbitrary lines on maps no longer matter, where they don’t have to worry about being caught in broad, indiscriminate wealth confiscation.” Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
There are reports that Russian oligarchs and others are trying to move their money around to avoid the crippling economic sanctions that have been levied on the country, in response to the invasion of the Ukraine.
One of the ways to “hide” financial assets and evade the sanctions is to put their rubles, which have been crushed, into cryptocurrencies at various cryptocurrency exchanges. These trading platforms enable the buying, selling, holding and trading of digital assets, such as bitcoin and Ethereum. This would also be a way for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle to get their vast fortunes out of the traditional banking system.
Since the United Kingdom, European Union, United States, Canada and other countries kicked Russian banks from SWIFT, the primary international global payments messaging system used by banks, the country needs access to capital to supply the war and keep its economy alive.
After Russia waged war against Ukraine on February 24, transactions on bitcoin exchanges, in both the Russian ruble and the Ukrainian hryvnia, surged. On Wednesday, bitcoin increased to $44,188 after falling to $36,370 last week. Other leading digital assets, including Ethereum, Ripple and Solana, stayed about even or had modest gains. The ruble dramatically plummeted to record lows, against the dollar, to under one U.S. cent.
U.S. regulators and law enforcement officials are looking into this matter and enhancing their efforts to combat the possible use of cryptocurrencies to evade sanctions, according to the Associated Press. However, not all crypto exchanges are on board, and said they won’t shut out Russian accounts. To be fair, why should the average citizen, who is already subjugated under a tyrant, be adversely impacted? Also, the exchanges claim that one of the major reasons why people purchase crypto is to get out of the banking system and the clutches of big governments.
It will be up to compliance and regulatory personnel to ensure that the sanctions are enforced. These professionals review data and accounts of the people and companies that are on the sanctions list. They do this by conducting a Know-Your-Customer review when they onboard new clients and review existing customers.
Mykhailo Fedorov, vice prime minister of Ukraine and minister of digital transformation of Ukraine, praised the crypto community for their financial support, tweeting, “Massive support from crypto projects @solana @SolanaFndn and @everstake_pool, which set up a joint initiative @_AidForUkraine in collaboration with our @mintsyfra to raise funds for @Ukraine.”
He also called for the blocking of oligarchs to hide their money through purchasing digital assets.
Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, said in a statement, “We are not going to unilaterally freeze millions of innocent users’ accounts. Crypto is meant to provide greater financial freedom for people across the globe. To unilaterally decide to ban people’s access to their crypto would fly in the face of the reason why crypto exists.” The exchange did say that it will freeze the crypto accounts of Russian officials who are on sanctions lists, Reutersreported.
Kraken, a large crypto platform, said it won’t close Russian accounts unless the company is legally forced to do so, CEO Jesse Powell said via Twitter. Powell tweeted, “Our mission at Kraken is to bridge individual humans out of the legacy financial system and bring them into the world of crypto, where arbitrary lines on maps no longer matter, where they don’t have to worry about being caught in broad, indiscriminate wealth confiscation.”
More than $4 million worth of cryptocurrency donations poured in for Ukraine on Saturday hours after Ukrainian officials took to Twitter to plead for help in the fight against a Russian invasion, adding to more than $5 million worth of crypto that non-governmental organizations and volunteer groups in the country have raised since the invasion started on Thursday.
The biggest donation appears to have originated from an NFT sale originally intended to raise funds … [+] for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
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Key Facts
By about 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, cryptocurrency wallet addresses linked to the Ukrainian government had received nearly $4.3 million in cryptocurrency donations, according to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic.
The influx of support came hours after Ukrainian government officials said on their Twitter accounts that the government would begin accepting cryptocurrency donations, urging users to “stand with the people of Ukraine” and linking to two separate cryptocurrency addresses tied to bitcoin, ether and stablecoin tether.
The quick jump in donations was buoyed largely by a single donation worth nearly $1.9 million, Elliptic Chief Scientist Tom Robinson wrote in a Saturday email, adding that wallet addresses indicate the donation was associated with an auction of non-fungible tokens that helped raise funds for Australian WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Earlier this month, the online auction, a collaboration between Assange and digital artist Pak, raised more than $52 million in a winning bid from collective AssangeDAO for an NFT dubbed “Clock” to help fund Assange’s legal defense as he faces extradition to the United States over 18 criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit computer intrusion and obtaining national defense information.
“Clock” debuted as part of an NFT collection named Censored, which raised funds from the auction and separate sales of “Open Edition” NFTs, with proceeds from the “Open Edition” NFTs reserved to help defend human rights.
“We felt it was a right moment to support human rights,” Pak told Forbes on Saturday, confirming the donation came from sales through “Open Edition” and adding that all proceeds from the separate “Clock” auction had already been sent to the Wau Holland Foundation, which helped fund WikiLeaks, for Assange’s legal defense.
Big Number
$10 million. That’s nearly how much has been raised in cryptocurrency donations for the Ukrainian government and non-governmental organizations providing support to its military since last week, including more than $4 million to Kyiv-based Come Back Alive, according to Elliptic.
Key Background
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine early Thursday. At least 198 Ukranians and wounded more than 1,000 others, Ukraine Health Minister Viktor Liashko said on Saturday. On Friday, President Joe Biden authorized the U.S. State Department to provide up to $350 million worth of additional weapons to Ukraine, joining nations like the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, which have pledged military equipment including air defense rockets, machine guns and fuel.
Crucial Quote
Coming a week after the Ukrainian parliament passed a bill to legalize cryptocurrencies, the donations to Ukraine “add to a trend of nation-states turning to crypto assets as a means of raising funds,” Elliptic noted in a report this month. “Iran is using bitcoin mining as a way to monetize its energy reserves, while North Korea is believed to be stealing cryptocurrency to support its missile development program.”
SUNNY ISLES BEACH, Fla., August 31, 2017 (Newswire.com)
– The City of Sunny Isles Beach has planned a variety of special events in September for residents and visitors alike. From concerts and children’s activities to culture showcases and foods from around the world, there is something for all ages and interests.
Come out to the upcoming city events and immerse yourself in the traditions, music, and foods of your neighbors from other nations. Celebrate what it means to be part of the vast melting pot of cultures that make up America.
The second weekend of the month, Sept. 9 & 10, experience a Russian-American Heritage Concert and a Russian-American Arts & Culture Showcase. The concert will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 7-9 p.m. at Heritage Park, 19200 Collins Avenue. On Sunday, Sept. 10 from 2-5 p.m. the Arts and Culture Showcase will be presented at Gateway Park, 151 Sunny Isles Boulevard.
Toward the end of the month, on Sept. 23 & 24, a Hispanic-American Heritage Concert and a Hispanic-American Arts & Culture Showcase will take place. The concert will be held on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 7-9 p.m. at Gateway Park, 151 Sunny Isles Boulevard. On Sunday, Sept.24 from 2-5 p.m. the Arts and Culture Showcase will unfold at Heritage Park, 19200 Collins Avenue.
For more information about programs and events in the City, tune to SIBTV on Atlantic Broadband digital channel 92 or 107-5 and on AT&T U-verse Channel 99. Details may also be found on sibfl.net or by following on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @CityofSIB. To stay up-to-date on City events or alerts, sign up for the City’s email notification system at https://www.sibfl.net/media/esibi-e-mail-notifications. Users may choose which categories to receive alerts from and change those categories or unsubscribe at any time. For questions, please contact Cultural and Community Services at 305.792.1706.
