https://archive.today/rwvFT

Dec 29 (Reuters) - Activity in Russia's manufacturing sector expanded at its fastest pace in almost seven years in December, a business survey showed on Friday, though new export orders contracted for the second month running.

The S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for manufacturing rose to 54.6 in December from 53.8 in November, moving further above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction. It was the highest reading since January 2017.

Output rose at its fastest pace in seven months and new orders also increased sharply again.

"Greater client demand was largely focused on the domestic market, however, as new export orders fell for the second month running," S&P Global said in a statement.

"Fewer customer requests from clients in key export markets led to the fastest fall in new business from abroad since July."

Moscow is spending heavily on manufacturing, pouring cash into the defence sector to ramp up military production following its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The sector's growth in the almost two years since then has been largely predicated on domestic demand.

Manufacturers are still grappling with logistical upheavals due to Western sanctions and the high cost of imported goods, hampered by the weak rouble and high inflation. The survey showed the rate of inflation was softening, S&P Global said.

Despite labour shortages in Russia, with unemployment at a record low 2.9%, firms increased staffing numbers to try to reduce backlogs of work, S&P Global said, though companies remained optimistic about the future.

"Confidence stemmed from planned investment in new products and machinery," S&P Global said. "The level of positive sentiment was historically elevated despite dropping to a three-month low."

With Ukraine’s military facing mounting deaths and a stalemate on the battlefield, army recruiters have become increasingly aggressive in their efforts to replenish the ranks, in some cases pulling men off the streets and whisking them to recruiting centers using intimidation and even physical force.

Recruiters have confiscated passports, taken people from their jobs and, in at least one case, tried to send a mentally disabled person to military training, according to lawyers, activists and Ukrainian men who have been subject to coercive tactics. Videos of soldiers shoving people into cars and holding men against their will in recruiting centers are surfacing with increasing frequency on social media and in local news reports.

The harsh tactics are being aimed not just at draft dodgers but at men who would ordinarily be exempt from service — a sign of the steep challenges Ukraine’s military faces maintaining troop levels in a war with high casualties, and against a much larger enemy.

Lawyers and activists say the aggressive methods go well beyond the scope of recruiters’ authority and in some cases are illegal. They point out that recruiters, unlike law enforcement officers, are not empowered to detain civilians, let alone force them into conscription. Men who receive draft notices are supposed to report to recruitment offices.

The unconventional tactics have led to a number of court cases this fall as men challenge what they claim are wrongful draft notices, unprofessional medical commissions and forced mobilization; in November alone, there were 226 court decisions related to mobilization, according to publicly available records.

Complicating the issue is the fact that Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia invaded in February 2022; some lawyers contend that this has laid the ground for a subjective interpretation — and abuse — of conscription laws.

250 155mm artillery shells;

One LUNA NG reconnaissance system;

10 VECTOR reconnaissance drones with spare parts;

6 border protection vehicles;

8 Zetros trucks;

100,000 first aid kits;

70 70mm grenade launchers.

[A] - https://farside.link/nitter/EuromaidanPress/status/1706356462304276701

But remember kids, no nazis in Ukraine, that's a Russian talking point!

I noticed that many Americans no longer care about Ukraine, so I wanted to take initiative and re-energize our patriotism. A friend asked me to pick up his son from the synagogue because he was busy at work, so I figured it would be a great opportunity to show my support and dedication and figured I would get approval from people who might understand oppression like Ukrainians do.

But when I arrived in my pro-Ukraine attire, everyone seemed upset. They started cursing at me and yelling. One elderly woman started hitting me with her purse and called me a disgrace. One man flashed a gun underneath his garment and threatened to shoot me if I didn’t leave. I was afraid for my life of course, but I wanted to stand my ground - otherwise how can I call myself an ally? I started to shout threats back at the crowd and the man with the gun pulled it out.

At this point I knew it was a losing battle, so I initiated a strategic retreat. I tried to grab my friend’s son but he started crying. Suddenly two men restrained me while the crowd shielded the boy and refused to let him go with me. Eventually they tossed me out of the synagogue (literally!) and I walked towards my car, but my tires were slashed and windows were smashed. My black sun decal was vandalized and someone keyed “NAZI” on the side.

My friend refuses to talk to me anymore. I didn’t know there was such a large pro-Putin Jewish community here. You’d think they’d understand what Ukrainians are going through given their history with genocide. But I guess propaganda and money wins. Anyway, I reported the synagogue to the FBI. I also found many of the members on Facebook and reported each of them to the FBI as well. I know it’s not much, but even small things add up, and right now Ukraine needs all the support they can get.

copypasta source

Poland is no longer sending weapons to Ukraine, the Polish prime minister said on Wednesday.

The announcement came as Polish-Ukrainian relations come under strain owing to the extension of a ban by Warsaw on Ukrainian grain over concerns large quantities of it will hurt Polish farmers.

The spat, which has even resulted in the Ukrainian ambassador to Warsaw receiving an official summons to the Polish Foreign Ministry for a formal ticking off, has added grist to the generally warm relations between the two countries.

Speaking on private TV channel Polsat News, Mateusz Morawiecki said Poland was helping in the victory over the "Russian barbarian" but could not agree to any destablisation of the Polish market by Ukrainian grain imports.

"Of course we will maintain the transit of Ukrainian goods," he said. "Poland does not bear any costs due to that. On the contrary, it could be said that we earn from it."

Morawiecki also said Poland would certainly not risk Ukraine's security.

"Our (military supply - PAP) hub in Rzeszow, in agreement with the Americans and Nato, is fulfilling the same role the whole time as it has fulfilled and will fulfil," he said.

He said he regretted that Ukrainian oligarchs had "pushed their grain onto the Polish market" with no regard to the effects that had on Polish farmers, which he said had depressed prices and led the government to introduce price guarantees and ultimately ban Ukrainian grain imports.

Instead of sending weapons to Ukraine, Morawiecki said Poland was now "defending ourselves, with the most modern weapons."

"If you want to defend yourself, you have to have something to defend with," Morawiecki said. "We adhere to that principle, that is why we have placed increased orders."

Confirmed by the Prime Minister's account on Twitter too:

[A] - https://farside.link/nitter/PremierRP/status/1704550888256196823