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Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

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Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#1
Every Russian citizen and every Russian company that is currently relying on businesses in the West such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft and so on for hosting, communications, connectivity and other services should expect those services to be cut off at some point in the near future, and plan accordingly. This also goes for stuff deeply integrated into services in your home country that you have come to rely on, which may stop to function.

Regardless, you won't be able to pay for any of these services at the next billing period so they will be terminated one way or another.

Back up your stuff, move your service while you can or you risk losing everything, this is not a drill.

Understand that the level at which this is currently playing out means that it could very well happen that governments will sanction businesses in the West that continue to work with and do business with Russian entities, businesses or individuals.

Some may decide to do this unilaterally for reasons all their own, some may give you warnings, some won't. Contrary to how these things normally play out the speed with which sanctions are being enacted and their severity should not be underestimated. Effectively threatening the world with nuclear annihilation has put the pressure on in a way that I have never seen before, leading to a degree of unity that is unique and which will speed up the process of ordering and implementing these sanctions to unprecedented levels.

Use the time while you have it.

If you are a private individual from a Western country get out while you can, even if that means a detour via Dubai or China. This could very well get ugly and you don't want to get caught in a country where lots of people are being made to believe that you and/or your country of origin are the cause for their hardship. Waiting it out is a risk you probably can not afford. Some Western governments have already ordered their citizens out of Russia.

I hope sincerely that all of this will be behind us soon and in a way that minimizes bloodshed on both sides, but I especially wish that for the defenders, who had no agency at all.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#2
You're absolutely right.

Worth mentioning that even though Binance was founded by a Chinese guy and is banned in the US, they're saying they'll cooperate with sanctions. So if your savings are in Binance, maybe move them to a wallet where you hold the keys, not some server overseas.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#3
What do you mean by unable to pay? Would it not just be more expensive? Assuming the banks will convert your transactions when you pay.

The Russian banks seem to have stockpiled currency, so I assume they will be able to keep the loop going.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#4

What do you mean by unable to pay? Would it not just be more expensive? Assuming the banks will convert your transactions when you pay. The Russian banks seem to have stockpiled currency, so I assume they will be able to keep the loop going.

https://www.reuters.com/business/uk-says-targeting-russian-c...

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#5

What do you mean by unable to pay? Would it not just be more expensive? Assuming the banks will convert your transactions when you pay. The Russian banks seem to have stockpiled currency, so I assume they will be able to keep the loop going.

As in they will not legally be allowed to accept payments from Russia. There will probably be usage of VPNs and USD/BTC, but that will also probably not be legal too. And even if it were legal, a lot of people and companies will just not do it. The world plans to make things very difficult for Russia should the war continue.

Also I just noticed elsewhere on HN that Namecheap has officially sanctioned Russia themselves.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#6
post #5

What do you mean by unable to pay? Would it not just be more expensive? Assuming the banks will convert your transactions when you pay. The Russian banks seem to have stockpiled currency, so I assume they will be able to keep the loop going.

As in they will not legally be allowed to accept payments from Russia. There will probably be usage of VPNs and USD/BTC, but that will also probably not be legal too. And even if it were legal, a lot of people and companies will just not do it. The world plans to make things very difficult for Russia should the war continue. Also I just noticed elsewhere on HN that Namecheap has officially sanctioned Russia themselve…

That's interesting. I'm not sure where the technicality resides. If that situation is the case, I assume that it would be quite catastrophic for anyone using non-Russian services for IT.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#7
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As in they will not legally be allowed to accept payments from Russia. There will probably be usage of VPNs and USD/BTC, but that will also probably not be legal too. And even if it were legal, a lot of people and companies will just not do it. The world plans to make things very difficult for Russia should the war continue. Also I just noticed elsewhere on HN that Namecheap has officially sanctioned Russia themselve…

That's interesting. I'm not sure where the technicality resides. If that situation is the case, I assume that it would be quite catastrophic for anyone using non-Russian services for IT.

That is correct. Hence this Tell HN, unfortunately it got flagged.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#8
Folks really underestimate how many economic chokepoints there are if the right people feel threatened. I think and hope most Russians know who to blame, but it only takes one person misdirecting their rage to end your life if you're there and look like a target.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#9
post #2

You're absolutely right. Worth mentioning that even though Binance was founded by a Chinese guy and is banned in the US, they're saying they'll cooperate with sanctions. So if your savings are in Binance, maybe move them to a wallet where you hold the keys, not some server overseas.

They have a US entity.
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