Silicon Bites #95 - Catastrophic Explosion on Russian Oil Tanker - the New ‘Careless Smoking’ Trend?

Edition No95 | 10-02-2025 - Careless smokers have apparently caused extensive damage to Russian strategic infrastructure, fuel refineries and military complexes. Those damned smokers. If this was a real issue, then Russia would ban all smoking in public, and maybe even the sale of tobacco. Are we seeing a new manifestation of the careless smoker epidemic? ----------We ran two events in Ukraine in the last two weeks. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasBut it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------An explosion Sunday forced the crew of a Russian oil tanker to evacuate. The incident which occurred at a port in northwest Russia is apparently being investigated, and there is no hint being made by the authorities of sabotage. But would they really admit to this, as it would be hugely embarrassing for Russia’s leadership to acknowledge this. Russia’s Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport wrote on Telegram that "an explosion took place in the engine room" of the Koala ship in Ust-Luga port west of St. Petersburg on Sunday morning. Other reports suggest three separate explosions. The ship was allegedly carrying 130,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, but it is not thought that the explosions and partial sinking of the vessel, had resulted in "a spill of the cargo or a leak of oil products." The ship is also not thought to be in imminent danger of fully sinking either, though may well be out of action for a considerable period. ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------NEWS SOURCES:https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/02/09/russia-probes-explosion-on-oil-tanker-a87921https://yle.fi/a/74-20142552https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/explosions-hit-fuel-tanker-in-russian-port-1739108219.html----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------