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Kevin Rothrock

@kevinrothrock.me

23K followers 530 following 13K posts

Russia watcher supreme. @meduza.io English-language managing editor. Ugly American based in Portland, Oregon. Signal: @KevinRothrock.01 / Find all my junk here: https://linktr.ee/kevinrothrock

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Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 1d

I finally finished this (abridged) translation of a field report from Russia’s Astrakhan region, where the climate crisis, destabilized grazing practices, and massive hydroelectric meddling have jeopardized one of Russia’s most beloved ecosystems. meduza.io/en/feature/2...

‘Another pointless interview’ A report from Russia’s Astrakhan region, where the climate crisis and government indifference are accelerating a once-lush ecosystem’s desertification — Meduza

Astrakhan is famous throughout Russia for its watermelons and produce, but it could soon be known instead as a lifeless desert. That prognosis might sound alarmist, but the once-flourishing region is ...

meduza.io

3 15

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 4h

Maxim Kruglov, the deputy chairman of Russia's nominally liberal political party Yabloko, was arrested last week on charges of spreading "fake news" about Russian atrocities in Ukraine. Today, the feds asked a court to seize all his assets. All this because of two Telegram posts.

Следствие попросило арестовать имущество зампреда партии «Яблоко»

Следователи попросили Замоскворецкий суд Москвы наложить арест на имущество экс-депутата Мосгордумы от партии Яблоко Максима Круглова, которому вменяют распространение фейков об армии в постах от ...

www.rbc.ru

3 9 25

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 4h

Your dad and I are for the jobs the comet will provide

3 16

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 4h

New U.S. sanctions against NIS, Serbia’s main oil refiner, could plunge the country into a fuel crisis. Gazprom Neft and a subsidiary own 56.2% and offered to sell 11% to an American investor and allow NIS to buy more non-Russian oil, but Washington apparently ain't interested in that deal.

Fuel crisis fears in Serbia as US sanctions main oil refiner

Belgrade fails to secure further waiver from Trump administration for restrictions against Gazprom-controlled NIS

www.ft.com

2 15

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 5h

Russian air strikes in the past week have disabled nearly 60 percent of Ukraine’s gas production. They're becoming more massive, more precise, and "definitely they are using AI," says Maxim Timchenko, chief executive of DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company. www.ft.com/content/2ade...

Russian air strikes disable 60% of Ukraine’s gas production ahead of winter

Moscow’s intensified drone and missile campaign seeks ‘to break our spirit’, says head of state energy group

www.ft.com

2 9 18

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 5h

Zelensky says he will nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize if he secures a ceasefire with Russia. Well, Donald? There's your ticket! www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

Zelenskyy says he will nominate Trump for Nobel peace prize if he secures Ukraine ceasefire – as it happened

US president has claimed he deserves the award for what he has described as his work in securing ‘numerous’ peace deals

www.theguardian.com

2 6 28

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 9h

another day in very normal times

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Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 9h

meduza.io/en/feature/2...

Russian human rights activists are raising awareness about torture with this brutal stop-motion video — Meduza

This week, the Committee Against Torture released “The Interview,” an animated video designed to raise awareness about prisoner abuse in Russia. The stop-motion video, voiced by the well-known Russian...

meduza.io

1 1

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 9h

I wrote up the transcript here. There don't seem to be YouTube subs: meduza.io/en/feature/2...

Russian human rights activists are raising awareness about torture with this brutal stop-motion video — Meduza

meduza.io

3 10

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 9h

Russia's Committee Against Torture just released a really incredible PSA that starts off like something for kids and ends very much not that way. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt9_...

Эксклюзивное интервью Мозга и Сердца | Шмыкова и Кукушкин

YouTube video by Фонд «Комитет против пыток»

www.youtube.com

2 2 10

Reposted by Kevin Rothrock

Eilish Hart @eilishhart.bsky.social · 11h

Big thanks to @msnegovaya.bsky.social for joining me on The Naked Pravda to talk about the next chapter of Russia’s war against Ukraine. We cover the mounting costs pressuring the Kremlin, four scenarios for the war’s future trajectory, and so much more. meduza.io/en/episodes/... @meduza.io

Four scenarios for the next chapter in Russia’s war against Ukraine — Meduza

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has now passed the three-and-a-half-year mark, and there is still no end in sight. The Trump administration’s recent push to negotiate a ceasefire ground to a h...

meduza.io

3 1

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 11h

And they say nothing is made in America anymore!

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 12h

RFK Jr on Tylenol and autism: "It is not proof. We're doing the studies to make the proof."

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Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 12h

Reuters: Some of Russia's biggest industrial companies are putting employees on furlough or cutting staff as the war economy slows, domestic demand stalls, and exports dry up. Overdue salary arrears are up, and there's even talk of a moratorium on bankruptcies in the metals industry.

www.reuters.com

3 8 51

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 12h

Wow, end of an era here: the RuNet monitoring project Roskomsvoboda has shut down. Its director, Artem Kozlyuk, says he's stepping down and withdrawing from public and media activity. Launched in 2012, Roskomsvoboda was once the top source of info on Russian Internet censorship. t.me/roskomsvobod...

Roskomsvoboda

НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН, РАСПРОСТРАНЕН И (ИЛИ) НАПРАВЛЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ «РОСКОМСВОБОДА» ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА «РОСКОМСВОБОДА». 18+ Доброго всем дня! ...

t.me

5 17

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 12h

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Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 14h

Noem called Portland's elected leaders "pansies," days after her ICE thugs did this to a local elderly couple. I hope I live long enough to witness America's post-MAGA lustration.

www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

3 14 52

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 1d

i knew i sensed a disturbance in the Force yesterday

Alex Zielinski @alexzee.bsky.social · 2d

Apropos of nothing, Sec. Kristi Noem is currently praying over Burgerville with Portland ICE officials.

A screenshot of a video of Noem praying at a conference table with other people wearing suits. Fast food bags and water bottles sit on the table.

3 2 26

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 1d

I'm gonna need some time to sit with that one.

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 1d

mastodon libs put bluesky libs to shame

3 3 28

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 1d

Very interesting report from Reuters: Russia's Central Bank has ruled that the state violated the rights of minority shareholders in some asset seizures made in relation to the Ukraine war. The one explicit case: MOEX complained about the govt's failed buyout offer to gold miner UGC shareholders.

www.reuters.com

6 21

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 1d

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Opinion | Russia’s feral adventurism against the West is too bellicose to ignore

From sabotage to election meddling, Moscow’s “grey zone” attacks increasingly test NATO’s resolve.

www.washingtonpost.com

2 11

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 1d

WaPo editorial board urges the U.S. to hit Russia with cyber offense and maybe some influence or kinetic attacks, lest the text's bully-on-the-playground metaphor grows to Godzilla-size and attacks the townspeople. Was this text checked for personal liberties and free markets promotion?

4 7 17

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 1d

The world’s biggest consumer data provider (Nielsen IQ) has been conducting business in occupied Ukraine, "raising questions about the effectiveness of international sanctions," reports FT. NIQ says it "financially deconsolidated and localized its Russian business," which "operates independently."

US-listed data group under scrutiny for work in occupied Ukraine

Activity by company’s Russia division in annexed regions raises questions about international sanctions regime

www.ft.com

4 13

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 1d

Germany's government has drafted legislation that will allow the local police to shoot down smaller drones flying at about tree level. The military would be expected to deal with larger and more powerful machines. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Germany draws up law to allow police to shoot down drones

Cabinet agrees draft legislation after spate of sightings, including over Munich airport

www.theguardian.com

1 6 28

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 1d

Bit of an interesting public spat here: Presidential Human Rights Council head Valery Fadeev accuses Russia’s Spiritual Administration of Muslims of violating the Constitution by issuing a fatwa banning Muslim couriers from knowingly delivering alcohol and pork products. t.me/president_so...

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Глава СПЧ: Фетва о запрете курьерам доставлять нехаляльные продукты противоречит Конституции РФ Совет улемов Духовного управления мусульман РФ утвердил богословское заключение (фетву), запрещающее ку...

t.me

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Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 1d

That last sentence didn't need to be there.