The taxable price of Urals crude has risen another 18% compared to April

16 May 2026, 12:00

It has now nearly caught up with the 2023 highs. As a result, according to Russia’s Ministry of Finance, taxes on oil companies for May will be calculated based on an average Urals price of 94.87 per barrel and an exchange rate of 76.938 rubles per dollar.

That’s 18% above April’s levels—which were already far from low. This is a significant boost for Russia’s 2026 budget.

Thanks to Trump and Iran.

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On September 23, 1723, as a result of the Persian campaign of 1722-1723, the Treaty of Saint Petersburg was signed between the Russian Empire and Persia

After the conclusion of the Northern War, Peter I sought to establish a strategic trade route to Europe through the Caspian Sea, aiming to connect Central and South Asia via Russia. Preparations for this ambitious Persian campaign began during the Northern War, with Russian hydrographers mapping the Caspian Sea’s shores between 1714 and 1720. Peter I’s plan involved Russian troops departing from Astrakhan to capture strategic locations like Derbent and Baku along the Caspian’s western coast, establish a fortress at the Kura River’s mouth, and assist Georgians against the Ottoman Empire. The campaign’s preparation centered around Kazan and Astrakhan. Upon arriving in Astrakhan on June 15, 1722, Peter decided to […]

23 September 2026, 8:02

NATO co-belligerence

NATO is, in fact, at war with Russia. In the previous post about the massive attack on Moscow (130 drones and missiles), we mentioned that constellation of Western satellites over Russia that played a major role in those bombardments. And on that same day, Zelensky was touting the success of the attack (in reality, more than 97% of its drones and missiles were repelled) as well as the quality of the Ukrainian drones and missiles launched at Moscow. But are these weapons fired against Russia really Ukrainian? Take the Flamingo FP-5, for example: a new 6-ton missile with a 1,150 kg payload and a claimed range of up to 3,000 […]

22 September 2026, 20:05