2.31 The Empire bleeds, part 2
The Eastern Border
Kristaps Andrejsons
4.7 • 877 Ratings
🗓️ 27 May 2026
⏱️ 57 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The illusion of the Russian war machine is shattering. In Part 2 of our deep dive into the May 2026 reality, we strip away the Ministry of Defense's daily copium to expose an empire that is actively cannibalizing itself.
From Roskomnadzor accidentally unplugging their own Z-patriot audience to the "Afghan Highway" where Ukrainian Hornet drones are systematically liquidating Russian logistics, the frontlines are paralyzed. The grand strategic victories of the "Second Army of the World"? They are burning entire brigades to capture a literal, empty pig farm in Donetsk.
But the real collapse is happening inside the bunker. We break down the catastrophic 11-trillion-ruble budget deficit, the 1992 hyperinflation flashbacks hitting the State Duma, and the absolute absurdity of the Oreshnik missile hitting a garage cooperative (while propagandists generate fake AI craters to hide the embarrassment).
We also do the brutal math on "Debt Meat." Why is the Kremlin paying 15 million rubles to send bankrupt alcoholics and escaped serial killers to the trenches, while veteran firefighters putting out burning oil refineries earn just $460 a month? Because Russia isn't a nation-state; it’s a Neo-Feudal cartel fighting over the pirate treasure on a sinking ship.
Stay cynical. Keep your eyes on the ledger.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Love this podcast? |
| 0:01.7 | Support this show through the ACAST supporter feature. |
| 0:05.2 | It's up to you how much you give, and there's no regular commitment. |
| 0:09.0 | Just click the link in the show description to support now. |
| 0:13.5 | Greetings, comrades, and welcome to the Eastern Border. |
| 0:16.5 | First, I want to give you a message from David. |
| 0:18.3 | He sent me this via Facebook, as with Heather Guestco arrives, |
| 0:21.4 | I give them the chance to offer their own input for the show. |
| 0:24.2 | And here's what David said. |
| 0:25.7 | You know, actually quite serious, and I appreciated that. |
| 0:29.6 | And he wrote the following, quote, |
| 0:31.6 | When I came to the Baltic, I thought I was familiar with the people, |
| 0:34.4 | their culture and history. |
| 0:35.5 | Couldn't be further from the truth. |
| 0:37.0 | I was blissfully ignorant in all those things. After some reflection, it's incredible how hard the people have worked to keep their way of life alive. You can see it in their faces, hear it in their stories, and see it in their art. What they have built up in the last 35 years is truly incredible. Amazing which you can build when you can run your own affairs and act as you want. It's been one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life and I will never forget it. These countries are special. They're a part of a wider Western community, just as Germany, France, or the UK. Attacks and threats against them are against all of us, and I will never step spreading that word. They've been the victims of colonialism just as much as everyone else. Families ripped apart, violence, deportation, cultural genocide. Those of us vienna have an obligation to speak up for our allies east of it. |
| 1:15.4 | For their suffering was not long ago and they should a shit, don't forget it. Neither should we. |
| 1:21.3 | Well, thank you, David. I mean, this was quite more serious than I had expected to be honest |
| 1:26.7 | because over here we |
| 1:28.0 | speak about dark subjects with a bit of joy but I guess this piece of |
| 1:31.6 | levity and clarity also kind of shows how I look to you know how how our region |
| 1:37.7 | looks to outside people yeah to those who are watching on YouTube sorry about my |
| 1:43.0 | whole mess here with the couch, |
... |
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