2.18 Everything Must Go

The Russian state is no longer an empire; it is a bankrupt cartel running a terminal liquidation sale. In this episode, we wade into the absolute darkest corners of the Z-sphere to document the collapse. We break down the math behind Putin's $65 billion loss in gold reserves, the 3.5 trillion ruble budget hole, and the intentional destruction of the Russian middle class.But the clearance sale doesn't stop at the economy. We examine the military’s "disciplinary meat grinder," the slaughter of independent farmers' cattle, and finally, the pitch-black basement of the regime: The return of Soviet punitive psychiatry. Kremlin loyalist Ilya Remeslo defected, and instead of a trial, the state dragged him to Ward 16 of the Skvortsov-Stepanov hospital for a chemical lobotomy via haloperidol—while his former Z-patriot colleagues cheered.The empire is completely hollow. Happiness is Mandatory.Support the War Effort & The Show: The Eastern Border is an entirely independent, Gonzo journalism operation. If you want to help keep the lights on and keep this broadcast running, please consider supporting us:Patreon: https://patreon.com/theeasternborderMerch Store (Fourth Wall): https://theeasternborder-shop.fourthwall.com/Main Website: https://theeasternborder.lvSupport the Front: The guys in the trenches have it rougher than anyone. Help them stay mobile and stay alive by funding modified vehicles for the front lines:Car4Ukraine: https://car4ukraine.comJoin the Community:Discord: https://discord.gg/kc433UDBluesky: @theeasternborder.lvI'll add the sources later. Maybe. I'm a bit overworked at the moment.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theeasternborder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.