The Blazing Theater of the Puppet Masters: How They are Trying to Save Putin's Face

Cartoon by Olexandr Sydorenko.

When Ukrainian drones methodically turn Russian oil refineries into spectacular torches, at first glance it seems that the Russian oil kings don’t give a damn. They sit on bags of dollars, tightening their belts over the remnants of their European yachts, and keep quiet. But this is an illusion. The shadow of panic has already blanketed not just gas stations, but the holy of holies of Russia's military-technical future.