By John Q. Hosedrinker 
On the night of August 16-17, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces conducted an operation targeting a vehicle carrying Russian Lieutenant General Esedulla Abachev, deputy commander of the Sever group, near Rylsk in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. The attack resulted in serious injuries to Abachev, reportedly necessitating amputation of a limb. The Ukrainian Prosecutor’s Office had previously filed charges against Abachev in 2023 due to his command of a Russian-backed group and orders to bomb settlements in Luhansk Oblast. This operation follows reports from Ukrainian intelligence about a strike on a Russian convoy in the same region.
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Ukraine’s special forces share details of strike on Russian general’s car in Kursk Oblast, and this action sends a clear message, doesn’t it? It’s a message directed at those who are orchestrating and carrying out attacks on civilians: you will be held accountable. The precision and the targeted nature of these operations are significant. They go beyond just a military objective; they’re a declaration. It’s a statement that the perpetrators are not invisible, and they will be brought to justice.
The subtlety of this, of hinting at the methods employed, is also key. If Ukraine can subtly hint at ‘infiltrating’ other technologies in Russia, similar to the tactics employed by Israel, let’s say, then the implications for Russia are potentially massive. Imagine the chaos that could ensue. Every officer’s home, every vehicle, every communication line becomes a potential target for scrutiny. This, of course, would mean a massive outlay of resources on checking everything in and near military officers’ homes for potential “problems.” That’s a drain on resources, a constant state of alert and uncertainty. It’s a way to make those who are in charge and perpetrating, to pay in other ways. It’s more than just the physical act. It’s about the psychological impact, the constant awareness of vulnerability.
It’s worth considering the financial implications of such strategies. If Russia is forced to redirect significant funds toward these defensive measures, it strains their already challenged resources. The economic reality, the dwindling funds, are the backdrop to this ongoing conflict. The aim is to disrupt, to destabilize, to force a shift in priorities. This is the other battleground of this conflict.
Now, let’s briefly step back to the financial and economic side. It’s true that some data sources might present a different picture than the simple narrative of imminent financial collapse. For instance, the World Bank and IMF data, show Russian exports averaging a solid USD$30-40 billion a month, which is within historical trends. Foreign currency reserves are surprisingly high, hovering around USD$690 billion, although a portion is frozen in Europe. The National Wealth Fund is also significant and has increased.
The IMF forecasts a growth rate for Russia in 2025 that, while not spectacular, isn’t catastrophic either. They’re projecting growth faster than most of the G7 countries, with a few exceptions. Russia is, after all, a major exporter of oil and gas. And the US, for instance, has continued to purchase significant amounts of fertilizer from Russia.
Looking at those data points, it’s difficult to simply assume that Russia is on the brink of economic ruin. It paints a more complex and perhaps unsettling picture. It reinforces the notion that the conflict will be a long and costly one. It is also perhaps another sign of the great disconnect that is so pervasive in global economics and how it is affecting geopolitics.
The resilience, ingenuity, and unwavering courage of the Ukrainian resistance, the warriors and the citizens alike, are what ultimately matter in the face of challenges. The humor, the shared understanding of the grim realities, is a way of coping, a way of staying strong when the pressure is at its highest.