2026-01-20 | UPDATES #109 | The Kremlin’s Coming Economic Squeeze and potential mobilisation prompts whispers of discontent from Russian Oligarchs. In Putin’s Russia, oligarchs don’t speak their minds, and certainty cannot critique power, or the decision that are made by the Tsar. They make noises that approximate dissent, coded signals with critical subtext. But if you read between the lines, the message is always the same: this war is eating the system alive – consuming the country’s economic potential and resources — but nobody is allowed to say that out loud. Today’s signal flare comes from a familiar messenger: Oleg Deripaska.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES: Reuters (Aug 9, 2024): Deripaska called war “mad,” urged ceasefire without preconditions Guardian (Feb 27, 2022): Deripaska Telegram post “Peace is very important…” Fortune (Mar 28, 2022): Deripaska Telegram post “hellish ideological mobilization,” war may last years TASS (Jan 2026): Deripaska “settlement cheaper than war” framing Meduza (Jan 9, 2025): elite disappointment war didn’t end; economic tensions Kyiv Independent summary (Jan 10, 2025) NEST Centre analysis (Dec 2025): elite winners/losers, limited leverage ----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------