Boycotting Russian Goods and Services

heartychat on 12/03/2022 - 12:41
Last edited 23/03/2022 - 20:57

I know that many governments around the world have already placed economic sanctions on Russia.

Are there any goods or services that are available for purchase to the common Australian citizen that we could be made aware of that supports the Russian or Belarus government, or Russian oligarch businesses? I’m trying to think of goods or services that may either directly or indirectly (back door) support, assist the Russian/Belarus/oligarch establishments, and I can’t think of any that the Australian citizen can directly boycott.

EDIT: 23rd March 2022

Well it's been a week and a half from when I first posted this, and I'd say this has been a wildly successful post. It's successful because after about 440 comments from 130 different contributors, I got the answer to the original question (see below list). It's taken a while for me to get back to this, because I only read this every couple of days or so. Thank you Ozbargain community for answering the question!

  • some caviar brands
  • selected vodka brands. However, many Australian liquor stores have already pulled them from their shelves and catalogues
  • Matryoshka dolls
  • some diamonds originate from Russian owned mines
  • some computer games, computer services and programs
  • watch brands e.g. Vostok and Sturmanskie
  • some decorative swords

Btw, I haven't added 'fuel' as an answer since as far as I can tell, we can't choose the country of origin for consumer fuel.

For those that want to support Russia, one way that you could start is by purchasing items from this list. Best of luck with your purchases.

General Discussion

Comments

              • Gervais fanboy on 15/03/2022 - 14:17

                @caitsith01: You are right there..
                Russia did attack Ukraine. No denying that fact.

                But Russia claims to have done that out of ‘self defence’. As they have for some time objected to the Ukraine’s alliance with the West, possibility of them joining NATO.
                Russia claims that they felt threatened by US’s influence into their neighbouring nation as that could then potentially pose a threat to Russia’s Sovereignty.
                Now I am not saying I believe this to be true because I don’t know what’s the absolute truth is and neither do you.
                So I’d rather not cast an opinion at all, than just picking a side for the sake of it.
                Maybe the trend these days is to do everything to seem as morally virtuous as possible.
                But I personally struggle with that.

                • caitsith01 on 16/03/2022 - 12:27
                  +5

                  @Gervais fanboy: Russia felt "threatened" purely in the sense that it realised that if these countries become part of the liberal democratic world it will never realise its dream of restoring the Soviet bloc as part of Russia's "sphere of influence".

                  On no level could Russia have rationally felt "threatened" in the sense of "Ukraine might attack us".

                  What you are posting is correct, but it is a million miles away from anything that would justify military action.

                  • Gervais fanboy on 16/03/2022 - 18:51
                    -3

                    @caitsith01: You are right, it doesn’t seem justifiable to me either…

                    But then again, USA going over to Iraq to subdue their WMD’s seems so crazy now but at the moment all those years ago, it seemed quite believable and over 95% of people were behind that incursion. Only hindsight teaches us that we were all wrong.
                    I am saying that to make the point that it’s all about how these issues are packaged and delivered to us unassuming public.
                    Unfortunately, Russia doesn’t have that same luxury. So you feel confident enough to outright condemn them.
                    Its all about perception, facts come in much later.

            • sal78 on 19/03/2022 - 09:34
              +1

              @Gervais fanboy: Agree

          • cannedhams on 16/03/2022 - 21:07
            +2

            @caitsith01: Not even close. Putin took the Crimea and Donbass in 2014 and the West barely whimpered. Then the 2016 US election happened and rather than admit its weaknesses the Democrats spent four years blaming their misfortunes on Putin for having engineered Trump's victory and destroying the bipartisan liberal consensus. There's actually more support (marginally) for a no fly zone amongst liberals than amongst conservatives. Unfortunately these people still have an outsized cultural influence, even though I doubt that they really give a rat's arse about Ukraine.

        • GrueHunter on 16/03/2022 - 19:32
          +2

          If you can’t be outraged about all of things all of the time you can’t be outraged about anything at all? Onya champ.

          Except there absolutely was outrage about Afghanistan, Iraq, the other Iraq, Somalia, the Falklands, Vietnam…

          And I’m not your folk. Not even close.

          • Gervais fanboy on 16/03/2022 - 19:42
            -2

            @GrueHunter: Outrage from who though ?

            The countries that were getting pelted or the fringe 1% population from the West that was labeled as ‘unpatriotic’ for opposing the Western incursion.

            Also, ‘you are not my folk’
            Okay, what kind of ‘folk’ do you think I am.
            Genuinely want you to answer that one.

            • GrueHunter on 17/03/2022 - 11:19
              -2

              @Gervais fanboy: I’m not your Google service. If you believe only 1% of the West were against the invasion of Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan, or that any of those people were the slightest bit perturbed by accusations about their patriotism, then you’re stupid, disingenuous or both, and nobody can help you.

              You’re the kind of person who’d vote for Donald Trump if you had the chance.

              You’re the kind of person who is never a conspiracy theorist - they’re just ‘asking a question’ about imaginary covert global networks who must be the only explanation for why they’re suddenly out of touch with everyone outside of YouTube comments.

              You’re the kind of person who believes that free speech should mean “free of consequences”, and who reckons its freedom of association when you denounce somebody, but insidious “cancel culture” when people you don’t like do the same thing.

              You’re the kind of person who’d put somebody on a pedestal because you think they’re an edgy social commentator who tells it like it is when they’re really a fair to middling comedian who made a career out of reading other people’s line and only courts controversy because they’re desperate for attention and relevance - like you.

              • Gervais fanboy on 17/03/2022 - 11:38
                -2

                @GrueHunter: Damn, you clearly had a lot of hate brewing inside of you.
                But I am happy you got to get it all out of your system, hopefully preventing the schools that you were you gonna shoot down otherwise, the deranged little fella that you are.

                Anyways, normally I wouldn’t mind responding to people’s points but that would be a lost cause with you.

                Believe what you wanna believe.

    • Autonomic on 15/03/2022 - 09:35
      +4

      Weak argument. By your logic we should never care about any conflict ever. Judging by your comment later on in the thread

      I just feel bad seeing my fellow honest folk like yourself parroting this same manipulative drivel.

      You seem to think that this is all part of some sort of conspiracy.

      • caitsith01 on 15/03/2022 - 10:55

        It would be funny if it wasn't so depressing. Some people are so obsessed with everything being a conspiracy that they don't see that the real 'conspiracy' is getting them to reject objective reality. You can see it with anti-vaxxers, Trumpers, and now people arguing that Russia is just 'misunderstood' in its rampage through various independent nations.

        • Gervais fanboy on 15/03/2022 - 14:30
          +4

          Okay,
          Firstly ‘conspiracy theorists’ have a theory.
          I have none. I am just trying to be skeptical of all parties involved and you wanna indirectly label me as a nutter ?

          Secondly, how is it wrong for me to not to be so easily trusting anymore. Are you that set in your own ideology that you won’t even acknowledge the past ?
          Iraq happened, Libya happened, Afghanistan happened. History is littered with false flag operations. Go lookup ‘Operation Northwood’.
          Or are all those things ‘conspiracies’ as well?

          I didn’t call you a woke-sheep-commie. But you wrongfully wanna suggest that I and people like me are conspiracy theorists. So much for integrity mate.
          I am sure there are nutters who are like that but why would you say that about me

          • caitsith01 on 16/03/2022 - 12:28

            @Gervais fanboy: I'm not sure what angle you think you have that everyone else doesn't already understand here.

            What information do you think requires "trust" here?

            Unless you basic proposition is "it's ok to wage war on peaceful neighbouring countries if you choose to" then I'm not sure how you think anyone else is getting their reaction to what is happening wrong?

            • Gervais fanboy on 16/03/2022 - 12:45
              +1

              @caitsith01: Hang on, I didn’t say it was okay for Russia to wage a war against Ukraine.
              All I said was that Russia claims to have done that out of their own national interests.
              My point is, how does someone objectively reaches a conclusion where they decide who’s right and who’s wrong. Especially given the history of all the parties involved.

              Have you ever contemplated the bleak possibility of just maybe, Russia was justified in doing what they did ?

              All I know is, I don’t remember the last time a western nation stood on the right and moral side of things. Same goes for Russia too but Atleast Russians don’t go about invading countries every few years. So as I said, I don’t yet feel convinced enough to reach a point where I would want to stop buying Russian goods or wish ill will on its people.

              Also, please highlight the ‘conspiracy ‘ that you detect in my comments.

              • GrueHunter on 16/03/2022 - 19:38
                +1

                @Gervais fanboy: You believe there’s such a thing as “cancel culture” for starters.

                Whereas the rest of us call it “not wanting to hang around with d*^%heads if we have a choice”

                You’re great tho, do “maybe Germany had a point and Poland had it coming” next

                • Gervais fanboy on 16/03/2022 - 19:48

                  @GrueHunter: Well what I objected to was selective outrage.

                  Its quite rich of you to judge a random dhead when your whole group is made up of ‘proven’ and ‘verifiable’ dheads.

              • caitsith01 on 16/03/2022 - 21:19

                @Gervais fanboy: You are all over the place. You say it's not ok for Russia to wage war, but then in the next breath you suggest that maybe it's justified.

                It's not justified. Unprovoked military aggression against a peaceful democratic neighbour is never justified.

                • Gervais fanboy on 17/03/2022 - 08:51
                  +2

                  @caitsith01: Are you that dense or just ultra binary in your cognitive functions…
                  Is it not possible for me to not pick a side or is everything in life always have to be black and white for you ?
                  Also, I am not condoning or condemning anyone here. Just that, there could be arguments made for all sides involved.

              • sal78 on 19/03/2022 - 09:38

                @Gervais fanboy: Exactly.

    • Cave Fire on 15/03/2022 - 16:27
      +1

      I'm guessing that it's like panic buying during the pandemic. People want to do "something" that feels like they are addressing the perceived threat.

      • sal78 on 19/03/2022 - 09:45
        +1

        Exactly. I have a fundraiser going for Ukraine and I have Ukrainian friends. You will be surprise that some of them blame Zelensky more than Putin. It's not like Putin has not given any warning. Has been years.

        Ukrainians hate US more than they hate Russia actually. US should not have got involved, send US army to train Ukrainian soldiers.

    • Moventura on 17/03/2022 - 08:43
      +1

      The thing with Russia is it's obvious this is the first step. He wont stop until he gets back control of the entire Baltic region. Plus a person as crazy as Putin would be the kind of person that would happily launch a nuke or two in retaliation. Same reason much of the world was scared when Trump was in charge of the nuclear launch codes. Good thing we sold Russia much uranium they can use. Another thing to thank John Howard for.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 12/03/2022 - 14:25
    +22

    i got nothing against the boycott i feel for ukraine but the amount of moaning i am seeing about Petrol prices is a direct link to this boycott…. dont complain that petrol is over 2 dollars a liter if you want to boycott Russia stuff.

    keep in mind oil is used in all forms of transport thus everything we import which is almost EVERYTHING will get more expensive.

      • Trying2SaveABuck on 12/03/2022 - 14:41
        +3

        ummm no it doesnt matter if we 'buy' oil from Russia the price of oil is globally accepted ie right now oil is 113 usd a BOE

        just 6 months ago it was around 70 usd that its a 40 percent increase and it is only rising dont believe the BS crap about releasing reserves it is a band aid solution to a bullet hole as the price of oil was almost 130 a boe this week.

        • Gervais fanboy on 12/03/2022 - 14:43
          +1

          Hi
          Do you know whats causing this meteoric rise in fuel barrel prices ?

          Would love to be educated on this
          Thanks

          • Trying2SaveABuck on 12/03/2022 - 14:46
            +3

            @Gervais fanboy: Russia supplies about 10 percent of the worlds oil supply and 8 percent of the worlds gas

            ukraine has about 5 percent of the worlds oil

            so a conflict in the region is largely to blame for the 'rise' in prices.

        • Benoffie on 12/03/2022 - 14:47

          Oh ok, so I'm assuming you're talking about Brent and not WTI (West Texas)? Because we get our fuel from Singapore. This is hardly a 'price spike' - https://www.macrotrends.net/2480/brent-crude-oil-prices-10-y…

          The price drop, related to the world wide economic depression brought about by Covid should be seen as the anomaly. Hence why this is price gouging and again, completed unrelated to Russia, boycotts or anything else. WTI has dropped but Brent has remained high. Not unusual for the two to move differently (they are different markets).

          https://oilprice.com/oil-price-charts/

          • Trying2SaveABuck on 12/03/2022 - 14:49
            +4

            @Benoffie: looks as someone who has been investing in oil for a while now this is a good time to be in the space

            there are other reasons oil prices are high like the supply limitations OPEC put on to ensure price remains profitable. - well before the war but that was meant to keep price around 70 usd a boe

            if you think boycotting Russia isnt going to 'affect' Australia your answer is no wrong but if you dont realise the whole world 'boycotting' Russia isnt going to hurt Australia is are clearly ignorant

            • Benoffie on 12/03/2022 - 14:51

              @Trying2SaveABuck: I would be more concerned about other impacts on Australia that at the petrol pump. Cyberattack, for example.

              To give an even more precise example for the fuel, this week in Adelaide, petrol has varied from $1.72 to $3 per litre (yes, $3!) - that is price gouging.

              • Trying2SaveABuck on 12/03/2022 - 14:53
                +3

                @Benoffie: ill add this the 'push' for green and esg as resulted in an under investment into oil/ngl which has also resulted in this issue.

                im all for 'green' energy but in practice the world isnt quite ready for life without FF

            • sal78 on 19/03/2022 - 09:50
              +1

              @Trying2SaveABuck: The question is will China be the West's next target? Who will be the loser if they apply sanctions on China? china or the world? Many thoughts are that China is too big. There's will be no xmas.

          • RecklessMonkeys on 13/03/2022 - 12:15
            +1

            @Benoffie: That's a logarithmic chart. If you deselect the 'log' it's clearly spiked.

        • freefall101 on 12/03/2022 - 15:50
          +1

          Except futures are lower prices than short term contracts. The expectation is that Russia won't have a long term impact but everyone is beefing up supply in the short term just in case and pretty much buying everything they can to offset risk (because why not? They can always sell it at a higher price too). If there was an actual shortage looming, the price would have gone a lot higher.

          Russia is still actually selling some oil and gas too. Banks froze letters of credit so they're just selling to the Chinese without one. There's a grace period until June for trading in USD too.

          • greatlamp on 17/03/2022 - 21:33

            @freefall101: Why do you assume bankers in New York and London know when the war will end? They are just reflecting the current headlines

      • ozboygsl on 13/03/2022 - 09:52
        +3

        the fact that this has been down voted so much is a real reflection of the "intelligence" of some here.

        • rektrading on 13/03/2022 - 10:25

          It's well deserved for using too many off of.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 12/03/2022 - 14:41
      +4

      Don't know how much Russian oil we're using, perhaps someone can enlighten me.
      As usual, oil companies gouge at the slightest excuse. ….And yes I realise the spot price has risen due to current events, but the fuel you're now paying $2.20+/L was already in Australia, if not the service station tanks when it suddenly leapt from $1.80ish to the current price. Pure price gouging. The fuel that is hitting the new highs per barrel isn't even in Australia yet is my guess. The upside is EVs are looking more affordable due to the hikes in fuel costs for ICE vehicles.

    • parisienne on 12/03/2022 - 19:14
      +1

      Fear not people,none of that will matter in the near future….currency will be rooms in bunkers.

      • miwahni on 13/03/2022 - 02:27

        And this is what worries me about the current conflict, having grown up in the Cold War era where we were taught to "Duck and cover" in school - not that it would have done any good! And having read Neville Shute's "On The Beach"…. I really hope this conflict is resolved soon.

  • steven6 on 12/03/2022 - 15:41
    +16

    Nyet

  • [Deactivated] on 12/03/2022 - 17:06
    +13

    If I was inclined to boycott, the hardest part would be finding something to boycott in the first place.

    • orangetrain on 12/03/2022 - 18:17
      +7

      I'm bordering on violating LNP's anti-speech laws but there's such a thing as secondary boycotts. Ie stop purchasing and dealing with other companies that are also doing business in Russia.

      • w37hsyea on 16/03/2022 - 19:19
        +4

        Are you from Ukraine? Why do you give a shit. Did you say anything when Iraq and Afghanistan were invaded? Did you boycott goods and services from Australia and allies?

        Hypocrite. Why don't you focus on your life and stop pretending to virtue signal for a country you actually don't give a shit about.

        • orangetrain on 17/03/2022 - 08:51

          Not from Ukraine, but I care about making the world a better place for kids. I hope the world cares if China invaded Australia for example.

          Yes. If you read my past recent comments, I wanted John Howard tried for war crimes.

          Boycott goods and services, as much as I could. Practically everything here is Australian/USA/China which is why it's far easier to boycott Russia from Australia.

          You sound angry and lonely. I hope you reconsider your views, especially about the world. After all, if everyone was like you, who would care about you when you get stuck in a war zone?

  • Ocker on 12/03/2022 - 17:42
    +37

    Tread carefully and don't believe everything you are being fed as there is a lot of propanda flying around

    • ozboygsl on 13/03/2022 - 09:53
      +13

      completely true but wasted on this forum

      • mini2 on 13/03/2022 - 12:23
        +5

        It's better to be progressive and jump on any good old bandwagon that appears.

        • Janko on 18/03/2022 - 16:34

          It's like avoiding a hangover by staying drunk.

    • caitsith01 on 15/03/2022 - 00:16
      +1

      Ok, comrade. I assume Russia didn't unilaterally invade a sovereign nation that would never in a million years have attacked it?

  • ihbh on 12/03/2022 - 18:17

    A number of James Bond movies.

  • TEER3X on 12/03/2022 - 19:24
    +13

    Feel sorry for Russian civilians, they were (profanity) before this and now even more (profanity).

    • qvinto on 15/03/2022 - 19:42
      -7

      Well maybe the Russian citizen can for once stand up for themselves on mass instead of perpetually allowing themselves to be ruled by primitive tyrants who torments their own citizens and those of neighbouring countries. This has been the way of things in Russia for hundreds of years, starting with the Tzars and serfdom, to the evil Soviet union, and now the Putin petro-mafia gangster state. As the saying goes people get the government they deserve. If you never fight for democracy and tolerate permanent corruption, cynicism and nihilism, that is what your country will become

  • Raulioli8810 on 13/03/2022 - 08:42
    +11

    So punishing the innocent people of Russia is your answer to a psychopathic dictator starting ww3?
    Pretty sure you need to get your priorities in order buddy

    • Dontdoit on 14/03/2022 - 17:18

      Biden has said if usa go to Ukraine it is Ww3. That's why they haven't.

    • JohnHowardsEyebrows on 15/03/2022 - 14:55
      +3

      The majority of them still support Putin, and support the invasion. While opposing Putin is not without its dangers, the same could be said of citizens in Nazi Germany.

      They can bear the consequences if they want to believe Putin.

      • smartazz104 on 15/03/2022 - 17:36
        +2

        The majority of them still support Putin, and support the invasion

        True support, or afraid to speak out against it? We'll never know…

        • Lord Fart Bucket on 16/03/2022 - 10:56
          +2

          Possibly a third option: Not knowing any better: The media is tightly controlled. It's brainwashing over a sustained period of time.
          Oh, and Russians love a strong leader.

        • Monad on 19/03/2022 - 10:23
          +2

          invasion special military operation

  • saltypete on 13/03/2022 - 08:50
    +3

    For all of the verbal here, none have offered a concrete answer to OPs question. I am interested too.

    I assume OzBs don't know.
    Am aware of BP now trying to divest itself of its Russian oil interests atm.
    Any other links anyone is aware of?

  • affable on 13/03/2022 - 09:20
    +10

    Well I'm on the other side of this war, Russian customers represent 10% of my App business hobby (About $5k Russian sales to date) and the tap was just shut off -

    Hello Google Play Developer,

    Due to payment system disruption, we will be pausing Google Play’s billing system for users in Russia in the coming days. This means users will not be able to purchase apps and games, make subscription payments or conduct any in-app purchases of digital goods using Google Play in Russia.

  • Francis82 on 13/03/2022 - 09:36
    +48

    Did you boycott Australian goods and American goods etc as part off NATOs illegal wars in Iraq Afghanistan Syria etc. ?
    China's hidden war against the Uighurs!
    Don't forget Israels tactics in the middle east also!

    Ukraine just an unfortunate pawn between Nato and Russia ,this was inevitable with NATOs expansion eastwards.
    If Russian had plans for nukes /planes/bases to be based inCanada or mexico or cuba ,you can be rest assured Uncle Sam wouldn't be sitting on his hands either.

    • rektrading on 13/03/2022 - 10:34
      +10

      The Russo should get some nukes in Cuba for old time's sake. Let's see how NATO like that.

    • mini2 on 13/03/2022 - 12:24
      +9

      Let's be honest, is that NATO membership all that important? Look at Finland, they've remained neutral for years, didn't bother to join NATO and they're still doing alright.

      • this is us on 13/03/2022 - 16:33
        +5

        They are considering joining NATO now, or starting the discussion sooner rather than later, and I honestly think they should before it's too late…

        • GordonD on 14/03/2022 - 12:21
          +23

          Russia didn't invade Ukraine DESPITE NATO, it invaded Ukraine BECAUSE of it. Because Ukraine being in NATO would mean hostile American military bases on Russia's border with only a line drawn on the map between them. Finland should think about that.

          A whole series of US Presidents didn't rein in the forces in Washington relentlessly pushing NATO eastward, and refusing to move on from the Cold War, even though they won it. Zelenskyy listened to the friends of Washington around him who were telling him Putin would blink. He didn't. Australia should think about that in regard to Washington and China.

          • Dontdoit on 14/03/2022 - 17:24
            +3

            @GordonD: James Baker said in minutes of discussion with ussr Nato wont move east. They moved east 14 times since then. Russian aggression was inevitable unfortunately, of course the excuse can be the agreement was with ussr and not russia. ukraine not sticking to minsk 2 borkerwd by France and Germany didnt help their cause.

          • this is us on 15/03/2022 - 07:26

            @GordonD: I think that's naive to think that Ukraine would be safe if they didn't consider joining NATO, but people believe whatever they want to believe.

            Anyway, easy to boycott Russia… Harder to boycott some other countries…

          • misu p on 15/03/2022 - 09:03
            -3

            @GordonD: bullshit… Russia invades countries… it has always done so… the NATO part is a deterrent usually, this time it was a "reason", it would have invaded anyway because Putin needs a war to hold power.

          • Autonomic on 15/03/2022 - 09:45
            +1

            @GordonD: If they're goal was to slow or prevent NATO expansion then their invasion of Ukraine is a massive self-own, if nothing else.

          • jaffar on 16/03/2022 - 01:50

            @GordonD: Ukraine and Russia have a long and complex history. Distilling the reason for Russia's war and invasion of Ukraine as being because of NATO expansionism (i.e. the security dilemma) is an incredibly simple and naive point of view of the conflict. Just a fyi… Also here's a thought: do you think Russia would have invaded Finland (whom they also share a border) if they joined NATO? How would that be different to Ukraine?

      • [Deactivated] on 13/03/2022 - 23:37
        +22

        no, all they had to do was remain neutral, but zelensky wanted his 15 minutes in the spotlight, no matter the cost. a true showman, through and through.

        don't worry about all the dead, he gets to parade around as if he is a hero.

        • Dontdoit on 14/03/2022 - 17:25
          +4

          Zelensky. The new Michael Avenatti. You will see him on the view next and Cnn touting him for UN General Secretary

        • sal78 on 19/03/2022 - 09:59
          +2

          Most Ukrainians know this. All my Ukrainian friends are furious with him.

          And western media propaganda label him a hero. So crazy!

          When US puts in a puppet gov, what do you expect? This guy has zero experience in politics and leading anything yet alone a whole country.

          • rektrading on 19/03/2022 - 10:04

            @sal78: He does 👀 good on YouTube and Twitter. All those frontline pics and vids in uniform make him look 👀 tasty. The West is eating it up.

    • cruiseronroad on 14/03/2022 - 16:07
      +5

      This whataboutism is a terrible take.

      "In the trial of Nazi criminal Klaus Barbie, the controversial lawyer Jacques Vergès tried to present what was defined as a Tu Quoque Defence—i.e., that during the Algerian War, French officers such as General Jacques Massu had committed war crimes similar to those with which Barbie was being charged, and therefore the French state had no moral right to try Barbie. This defense was rejected by the court, which convicted Barbie."

    • smartazz104 on 15/03/2022 - 17:37

      Did you boycott Australian goods

      People did that enough to the point we don't make diddly squat anymore; they didn't need war as a justification…

    • qvinto on 15/03/2022 - 19:47
      -4

      This is just crude whattaboutism and parroting of manufactured Kremlin talking points.
      If you knew anything about the Russian invasion of Ukraine you would know the whole NATO premise is complete red herring manufactured by the Russian government apparatus. But by the general body of your comment you seem to know very little about the world or its history

    • sal78 on 19/03/2022 - 09:53

      So sad for the citizens of Ukraine. They know they are just a pawn.

  • this is us on 13/03/2022 - 10:35

    Totally.

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/stolichnaya-…

    Buying Latvian vodka now…

    • heartychat on 13/03/2022 - 11:06
      -7

      Thank you! This is the only reply that has actually answered the post. Appreciate it

  • [Deactivated] on 14/03/2022 - 12:05
    +8

    Why punish a nation's citizens for their leader's mistake?
    All for Putin and Oligarch sanctions but not this
    Russian developers and Ukrainians were the most skilled and cost effective, this is a big shame on Upwork

    • Kangal on 15/03/2022 - 01:40
      +3

      The idea is to add pressure on both the government and the people. So either Russia will realise they're in a poor condition to prolong the war, or vulnerable, and look to finalize it. Or the people will be pressured into taking action against their own government, which will end the war or displace the government that was responsible. Unfortunately, this can go the other way too. It could make an agitated government become furious or desperate, and lash out harder. Or it could make conditions horrible for the citizens, and they could be forced to become radicalised by their nation's propaganda.

      The problem is that Russian social media, radio, TV, newspapers, and Mainstream Media in-general are heavily biased, regulated, and spread misinformation and propaganda. That can become dangerous especially in a country with a "pride culture" and low education levels. The saving grace is that Russian citizens do have access to the internet, so citizens can get hear the other side of they searched for it.

      This last part is worrying when thinking about Chinese citizens, over a Billion of them, and they are restricted to not having access to the international free Internet. So in a war situation it will become hopeless for other countries to communicate effectively.

      …when the rich wage war, it's the poor who die

    • Butt Scratcher on 15/03/2022 - 09:09

      the general idea is that the leader of a country is supposed to be accountable to them. If you make political decisions that lead to unnecessary suffering of the people you lead, it should be on your conscious

      Clearly Putin doesn't really care about that, he misses the Soviet union too much

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