February 24, 2024 Marathon, Beefeater

@MriyaReport news from Ukraine & replays of guests you might have missed or want to listen to again.

Two years of war. Mriya Report featured a 24-hour marathon of special guests to mark the grim occasion of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

We welcome Beefeater Fella (@Beefeater_Fella) for a wide-ranging discussion of the economic ramifications of the war for russia, including the costs of military operations and equipment losses. The discussion touches on the broader economic impacts, including lost productivity and the strain on Russia’s economy due to sanctions and decreased revenue from fossil fuels.

Beefeater shares with us his motivation for being an economic activist, driven by the impact of the war on children, citing specific statistics on casualties, injuries, abductions, and displacement. This personal connection to the issue highlights the human cost of the conflict.

Turning to discussing how the war is funded, Beefeater, focuses on russian revenue sources, including fossil fuels and trade. He elaborates on the challenges posed by sanctions and the indirect trade routes through satellite countries that help russia circumvent these economic barriers. Specific examples include increased exports from EU countries to Central Asian states, which then re-export goods to Russia.

Beefeater concludes with a call to activism, urging the community to advocate for more stringent enforcement of sanctions and to pressure governments and businesses to cut off indirect trade routes that benefit Russia. He acknowledges the companies that have ceased operations with Russia but emphasizes the need to address those exploiting loopholes.