Author | Lightnews

Carl Schreck @carlschreck.bsky.social · Apr 9

In February, we at RFE/RL obtained leaked Russian military hospital records showing the huge toll the Kremlin's war has inflicted on its forces.

We contacted a Chinese national listed as wounded in the database. He confirmed he'd fought for Russia in Ukraine: www.rferl.org/a/russia-war...

1 6 13

Carl Schreck @carlschreck.bsky.social · Mar 18

Much appreciated, Kolya!

1

Reposted by Carl Schreck

Ruth Deyermond @ruthdeyermond.bsky.social · Mar 16

One last thing, for now: RFE/RL have a great track record of important investigative journalism on the Kremlin. Here, for example, is a 2019 exclusive by @mikeeckel.bsky.social and
@carlschreck.bsky.social on Mikhail Lesin's death in a Washington hotel room www.rferl.org/a/lesin-auto...

Exclusive: Washington Autopsy Files Reveal Lesin Sustained Broken Bone In Neck

Since Mikhail Lesin’s body was found in a Washington, D.C., hotel room more than three years ago, the exact circumstances surrounding his death, and the final days leading up to it, have been under qu...

www.rferl.org

2 7 34

Carl Schreck @carlschreck.bsky.social · Mar 11

A Russian diplomat suspected of espionage was pressured to leave Belgium while 19 of his colleagues were expelled in a spy purge. Now Moscow has nominated him for top OSCE posts in Serbia, Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan: www.rferl.org/a/russian-sp...

Exclusive: Suspected Russian Spy Seeks Top Security Post In Serbia, Central Asia

A Russian diplomat, quietly pressured to leave Brussels amid espionage allegations, has been nominated for a leadership role in the OSCE.

www.rferl.org

2 4

Reposted by Carl Schreck

Mediazona English @en.zona.media · Feb 26

Ekaterina Barabash, a journalist and film critic, has been detained in Moscow and charged with spreading “fake news” about the Russian military. Her son Yuriy, who broke the news about her detention, lives in Kyiv.

Photo: Yuriy Barabash / Facebook

1 3 7

Reposted by Carl Schreck

Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · Feb 24

90,000 Russian privates. 4,000 lieutenants. 3,000 captains. 2,700 warrant officers. 24 lieutenant captains. 34 major generals: Inside the Russian military hospitalization database, obtained exclusively by @RFE/RL.
www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukr...

1 6 12

Carl Schreck @carlschreck.bsky.social · Feb 24

Russian authorities made more than 20,000 detentions for anti-war activities in the three years since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to data from the Russian rights monitor OVD-Info: data.ovd.info/antiwar_3_ye...

Сводка антивоенных репрессий. Три года полномасштабного вторжения России в Украину. Февраль 2025

Независимый правозащитный медиапроект ОВД-Инфо

data.ovd.info

2 4

Carl Schreck @carlschreck.bsky.social · Feb 24

Remember Igor Kirillov, head of Russia's nuclear defenses, assassinated in Dec. by an exploding scooter that Ukrainian intelligence took credit for?

Well, leaked Ru military hospital records show he'd actually been shot 9 months earlier & spent a month recovering. www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukr...

3 4

Reposted by Carl Schreck

maria georgieva @mariageorgieva.bsky.social · Feb 20

In a new investigation FT reveals evidence that Russian executions of Ukrainian POWs are likely part of a systematic policy. They uncover the identity of a Russian soldier likely involved in filming and carrying out the mass execution of 6 POWs. @christopherjm.ft.com www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Muw...

'Film me!’: Russia's executions of Ukrainian POWs points to a policy | FT Film

YouTube video by Financial Times

www.youtube.com

6 24 50

Reposted by Carl Schreck

Steve Herman @newsguy.bsky.social · Feb 18

RFE/RL examines the bustling online market offering Russians help in securing Kyrgyz citizenship. www.rferl.org/a/russia-war...

Russia's War On Ukraine Fuels Kyrgyz Passport Boom

A burgeoning market for Kyrgyz passports has sprouted in Russia, offering greater travel and other freedoms amid international sanctions and domestic repressions since President Vladimir Putin launche...

www.rferl.org

9 18

Carl Schreck @carlschreck.bsky.social · Feb 18

For more background on new(ish) Kyrgyz citizen Ilya Gambashidze and his disinfo ops, see the internal Social Design Agency docs my brilliant @cxemu colleagues & their European partners got their hands on:
Eng: www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukr...
Ukr: www.radiosvoboda.org/a/skhemy-kre...

Reposted by Carl Schreck

Christopher Miller @christopherjm.ft.com · Feb 18

Donald Trump’s “minerals-for-aid” offer to Ukraine last week has put the spotlight on the country’s vast and rare mineral resources, to which Washington wants rights as payback for past military support.

Our explainer, and a free link: on.ft.com/3X88ybv

The Ukrainian mineral riches in Trump’s sights

[FREE TO READ] Vast estimated deposits of lithium, titanium and rare earths such as gallium have yet to be significantly developed

on.ft.com

7 20 97

Carl Schreck @carlschreck.bsky.social · Feb 18

Among the newly minted Kyrgyz citizens my colleagues found is Ilya Gambashidze, a Russian sanctioned by the US for heading a massive Kremlin-linked influence op of fake stories and news sites, and forged docs, targeting Ukraine and European elections.

www.rferl.org/a/russia-war...

Russia's War On Ukraine Fuels Kyrgyz Passport Boom

A burgeoning market for Kyrgyz passports has sprouted in Russia, offering greater travel and other freedoms amid international sanctions and domestic repressions since President Vladimir Putin launche...

www.rferl.org

2 9 24

Carl Schreck @carlschreck.bsky.social · Feb 14

I marvel at the talents of my RFE/RL colleagues. This time they analyzed Spanish police video & found that Russia-bound sanctioned chemicals seized in Barcelona included a solvent Russia sources for its military (and other things, ofc): www.rferl.org/a/33313478.h...

Spanish Authorities Uncover 13 Tons Of Chemicals Destined For Russia’s War Machine, RFE/RL Learns

A shipment of 13,000 tons of chemicals bound for Russia that Spain seized last year included a restricted solvent that plays a key role in weapons production for the Kremlin’s war machine, an RFE/RL i...

www.rferl.org

3 7

Carl Schreck @carlschreck.bsky.social · Feb 9

A Russian musician leapt/fell/was pushed (we may never know for sure) to his death from his 10th floor window during a police raid on suspicion of donating to Ukraine's army.

(And no, not every fatal fall from a window in Russia means foul play.)

www.rferl.org/a/russia-mus...

Russian Musician's Fatal Plunge During Police Raid Triggers Doubt About Suicide

A Russian musician who opposed the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine plunged to his death from his 10th-story apartment during a police raid reportedly linked to his support for Kyiv. Those who knew him doubt ...

www.rferl.org

1 3

Carl Schreck @carlschreck.bsky.social · Feb 4

Really hope I'll finally be able to dunk.

1

Carl Schreck @carlschreck.bsky.social · Jan 29

The purge workshopped by Kadyrov in Chechnya going federal.

Six years ago, we used cell records to reveal the kidnapping & likely killing of Andrei Kobyshev, a gay Russian man, by Kadyrov's goons in Grozny: www.rferl.org/a/chechnya-m...

I just checked, and Russian feds still list him as "missing."

2 8

Reposted by Carl Schreck

Artem Chapaev @artemchapaev27.bsky.social · Jan 27

Russian security forces have begun collecting data on LGBTQ Russians after the Russian Supreme Court declared the non-existent “LGBT movement” extremist and banned it. Such a database would create unlimited opportunities for blackmail and persecution of queer people.

meduza.io/feature/2025...

Мы теперь всех вас знаем Российские силовики собирают данные об ЛГБТК-людях по всей стране. И это вряд ли хорошие новости. Расследование «Медузы» — Meduza

После того как в ноябре 2023 года Верховный суд России объявил несуществующее «международное общественное движение ЛГБТ» «экстремистской организацией», МВД устроило настоящую охоту на квир-людей. По в...

meduza.io

5 8

Reposted by Carl Schreck

Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · Jan 27

The director of the Bulgarian shipping company that owns the ship-- the "Vezhen"-- says it is possible the ship responsible for the damage, but says he doesn't think it was sabotage. The ship may be flying Maltese flag. (h/t Ivan Bedrov; @carlschreck.bsky.social)
www.bta.bg/bg/news/bulg...

Възможно е корабът „Вежен“ да е скъсал кабел в Балтийско море, но изключвам саботаж, каза директорът на БМФ кап. Александър Калчев

Възможно е корабът „Вежен“ да е причинил скъсването на кабела между Готланд и Латвия, но в никакъв случай, аз лично, не допускам, че става дума за саботаж или каквото и да е друго действие от страна н...

www.bta.bg

4 6

Reposted by Carl Schreck

Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · Jan 20

Putin offers (deliberately timed) comments and congratulations to Donald Trump. "We are open for dialogue with the new U.S. administration on the Ukrainian conflict. The most important thing here is to eliminate the root causes of the crisis...."

3 4 6

Reposted by Carl Schreck

Ryan Teague Beckwith @ryanbeckwith.bsky.social · Jan 16

RIP Bob Uecker. Never forget the time he and Bob Gibson got in trouble for holding hands during the team photo.

Pro baseball players Bob Uecker and Bob Gibson holding hands in a team photo

250 1.8K 12K

Carl Schreck @carlschreck.bsky.social · Jan 16

Belvedere was an underrated sitcom - Wesley an underrated TV rapscallion.

1

Carl Schreck @carlschreck.bsky.social · Jan 16

His collabing with the brilliant Stephen Duffy from @thelilactime.bsky.social tilted it to full-on positive for me. Plus, that "Let Me Entertain You" song is a banger.

Carl Schreck @carlschreck.bsky.social · Jan 16

Still can't believe I managed to see Wild At Heart in the theater at age 14. Then had the movie poster hanging on my bedroom wall.

Reposted by Carl Schreck

Meduza in English @meduza.io · Jan 15

The Museum of Moscow removed a planned section on Soviet repressions from its city history exhibition in response to a "demand" from outside the museum, according to journalist Ksenia Basilashvili.

Museum of Moscow reportedly removed section on Soviet repressions from city history exhibition at last minute — Meduza

The Museum of Moscow removed a planned section on Soviet repressions from its “History of Moscow” exhibition due to external pressure, journalist Ksenia Basilashvili reported on Tuesday.

buff.ly

1 13 34