Re: Bad move
It was justified in Putin's mind by the discovery of oil in very large quantities off the coast of the Crimea, and by the fall of the pro-Russian government.
Putin does not want a pro-EU petrochemical state competing with his only source of income. And nor do the gulf states either given lacklustre reactions of OPEC.
Ergo, make up a load of shit to sell at home, and stomp on those oilfields. Exxon and Shell lost a bunch of equipment when Crimea were overrun.
The short term economic damage versus the worlds hopeless hydrocarbon addiction is a calculated risk in the part of Putin. He's gambling on the long run paying off. The resolve and potential Collapse of governments to keep up sanctions is going to be challenged in the very near future.
£3000/yr energy bills on average to small properties plus uneconomic transport are enough to bring down governments.
And in the meantime 44m people are stuck under law of the gun.
As much as a fat V8 is appealling, there's something to this electrification argument. Even if it is bloody difficult to do.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
