SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR [1]. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, some updates on the war in Ukraine.
Russia is Making Daily Gains in Eastern Ukraine
Draft-Dodging Plagues Ukraine
Over at the left-wing Politico: Draft-dodging plagues Ukraine as Kyiv faces acute soldier shortage [3]. An excerpt:
“Ukraine is perilously short not only of ammunition — especially artillery shells and air defense missiles — but also of soldiers to see off a Russian attack. The average age of Ukraine’s frontline soldiers is 43 — and evidence of draft-dodging is mounting.
The BBC recently reported that 650,000 Ukrainian men of fighting age [4] have fled the country in the past two years, most slipping across its borders with Poland and Slovakia, some with false exemption papers allowing them to exit Ukraine despite a ban on fighting-age men leaving the country [5].”
Life on Ukraine’s Front Line
From Reuters: Life on Ukraine’s front line: ‘Worse than hell’ as Russia advances [6].
Preppers: Whatever Disaster is Next, They’re Ready
Preppers: Whatever disaster is next, they’re ready [7].
Ford Reports Loss on Electric Vehicles
Reader Robert H. sent us this: Ford just reported a massive loss on every electric vehicle it sold [8].
A Northern European ‘Drone Wall’ Against Russia
Baltic states join with Norway, Finland and Poland to build ‘drone wall’ against Russia [9]. A quote:
“The Baltic states announced plans alongside Norway, Finland, and Poland to construct a “drone wall” along their shared borders with Russia [10] on Sunday.
Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said the technology is capable of both detecting and repelling drones, adding that his country plans to install the barrier along its entire eastern border [11] as well as around its major cities.”
Why ‘Preppers’ are on the Rise
In England: Gas masks and loo rolls: why ‘preppers’ are on the rise [12].
Eva Vlaardingerbroek’s Speech at CPAC Hungary
The $883 Billion Defense Budget Proposal
Linked over at the Whatfinger.com [14]news aggregation site: At a Glance: Here’s What’s In the House’s $883 Billion Defense Budget Proposal For 2025 [15].
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