Moscow Launched the Largest Missile Attack of the War the Other Night

Costing $1.3 billion, how much of that are Western consumers funding?

Courtesy of Newsweek

Austria is a beautiful country — I love it. As a property owner in the small, landlocked alpine country, I am partial to the culture. In my opinion, the apple strudel of Salzburg is the best, and the Wiener schnitzel you will find in small, out-of-the-way taverns and family-run hotels are delicately-breaded and lightly-fried slices of heaven. 

Austria has an addiction, though, and it is one I am having problems accepting. Hooked on Russian energy, few or even no steps are being taken to break the habit. As a matter of sad fact, Austria has increased its purchases of Russian gas from 80 percent before the war to 98 percent.

Civilized-world (I question whether a country is civilized if it does not oppose Russia’s war of genocide against Ukraine) opinion has several times sought to intervene with the leaders of Austria but so far to no avail. Early this week, Russia fired over 200 missiles and drones in the largest air attack in the 30-month war. It is estimated that this one assault cost the Kremlin $1.3 billion — Ukraine also lost a cherished F-16 fight jet when the pilot crashed.

The country’s energy minister, Leonore Gewessler, is urging rapid action to reverse this.

“The diversification of our gas imports is progressing far too slowly. This culminates in a new record share of Russian natural gas in December of 98%,” the Green minister told the press in Vienna on Monday (12 February).

The 98% figure is a massive increase compared to the 17% achieved in October 2022, when Russia itself restricted gas flows to Europe. But the trend was soon reversed and the share of Russian gas was already back at 43% in August last year (Austria’s Dependence on Russian Gas).

While it does not seem likely that Russia can sustain such massive aerial attacks due to an overtaxed defense industry focused on just trying to provide the basics like rifles, tanks, and artillery shells — Russia has bought millions of shells from North Korea, but many have proven to be duds — all Kremlin needs to do is bomb less for a month, build up a reserve and let it all fly on nights like last Monday. Overwhelming Kyiv’s air defense system will produce tragic results. It is estimated that of the 240 or so missiles and drones, 30 or more hit targets all around the country. 

Austria’s energy minister, Leonore Gewessler, is stating the obvious fact that many Austrians don’t want to admit:

When EU envoy to Austria, Martin Selmayr, said in late 2023 that Austria’s continued high levels of gas imports were tantamount to sending “blood money” to Russia, he was firmly reprimanded.

“With our energy bills, we are indirectly financing a heinous war in Ukraine,” she told the press.

In 2022, Austria imported gas to the tune of some €7 billion. In 2023, given that prices fell, that number is expected to come in at around €3 billion (Austria’s Dependence on Russian Gas).

Why are we letting Austria, a member of NATO, get away with this? The only other country so openly addicted to Russian gas is pro-Kremlin Hungary. In June, Putin’s puppet, Viktor Orban, said he had no intention of ending his relationship with Russia’s Gazprom. 

While the powers-that-be in Austria are still in many byzantine and dark ways linked to the Nazi Party from the 1930–40s, most Austrians don’t support Putin or the war in Ukraine. Vienna, in the same way it did post-WWII when it claimed that “Austria was Hitler’s first victim” to mitigate its guilt for the Holocaust, is playing games with morality. Austria’s role in the attack last Monday is real, and Austria must come to terms — finally — with its guilt. 

The next time you find yourself in Austria, remember this: The Wiener schnitzel you are tucking into was fried with the blood of innocent Ukrainians. Maybe a bit dramatic and grotesque, but so is the reality of Austria’s refusal to stop using Russian gas.