Russia - Not Normal 

     In our conclusion to Russia's problems, their economy has suffered. There is widespread damage and closure among Russian businesses. They cannot no longer complete basic functions like digital payments or online advertising. A news outlet estimated losses between $7 million and $12 million per day, just for businesses in Moscow. 

     According to a Reuters news report, foreign diplomats in Moscow wonder if the internet crackdown may be preparation for the eventual return of hundreds of thousands of Russian troops now in Ukraine. In 1989, following the end of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, returning soldiers caused major social upheaval across the Soviet Union, which disintegrated in 1991.* 

     Putin, a young KGB officer at the time, remembered the Soviet Union's collapse as the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the (20th) century." * The Russian president no doubt wants to avoid a new disaster on his watch.

     "Even those who support the regime understand this isn't normal," said a Russian woman. "But they're so intimidated, they're afraid to express themselves, their emotions - even by telephone."   

* In 1991, we moved to South Carolina to work in communications at what locals called the "bomb plant." All five nuclear reactors had been shut down. Russia's reluctance to end the cold war caused our side to reload one of the reactors...in September. It was an exciting time for me, just an office worker - no experience with nukes. Then Russia backed down, and the cold war ended. 

* Guess Putin didn't know about WW1 and WW2   😕