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Mike Eckel

@mikeeckel.bsky.social

4K followers 1.3K following 890 posts

Opponent of Quiet Desperation. Contains Multitudes. In Search Of Meanness Or Sublimity. Former Moscow Correspondent. Vladivostok Fanboy. Chaotic Good. @RFERL

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · Jan 13

Vladimir Gusinsky was once one of Russia’s most influential oligarchs. In recent years, he’s been tangled in lawsuits, debt disputes, and legal fights. He’s also drawn scrutiny from the FBI for, among other things, his ties to former FBI special agent Charles McGonigal. 🧵👇

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 7h

Zelenskiy's phone call with Trump today. (no readout from the White House yet)

Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 1d

Burevestnik?

Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 1d

Putin bragging about Russia's nuclear arsenal, and reiterating offer (to US) to maintain New START limits after treaty expiration next year. Also hints at a forthcoming announcement of a new weapon system, currently undergoing tests.

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 1d

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.

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Reposted by Mike Eckel

Joni Askola @joniaskola.bsky.social · 1d

Big deal for Finland

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 1d

David Slater, a former civilian U.S. Air Force employee, was sentenced to nearly 6 years in prison after admitting to passing - via a dating app - classified info on the Ukraine war to a woman he thought was Ukrainian. Per the original 2024 FBI affidavit, their chats are amusing.

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 1d

A massive overnight Russian aerial attack knocked out electricity in much of Kyiv, per power provider DTEK. It's the second major attack this week targeting Ukraine's grid infrastructure. Kyiv's mayor says at least 12 people were wounded.
t.me/dtek_ua/2658

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 2d

cool photograph by Serhii Nuzhnenko showing how Ukrainian forces are building tunnels of netting (fishing or agriculture) over roads, to thwart drone attacks. (Russia does similar).

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 2d

Putin gets the red carpet treatment in Dushanbe today, as Tajikistan's decidedly un-well president, Emomali Rahmon, welcomes him. (fun fact: the two are the same age, and almost share the same birthday).

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 3d

Ukrainian flag?

Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 3d

"What many [people] have missed is the extent to which Moscow has learned from its failures and adapted its strategy and approach to war.... Because of these changes, Ukraine is likely to face even greater destruction in the months ahead." @massdara.bsky.social
www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/how-r...

How Russia Recovered

What the Kremlin is learning from the war in Ukraine.

www.foreignaffairs.com

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 3d

an incredible story about a Georgian crime gang that stole scores of rare and valuable editions of Russian classics (Pushkin, Gogol, etc.) from libraries across Europe.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

The Pushkin job: unmasking the thieves behind an international rare books heist

The long read: Between 2022 and 2023, as many as 170 rare and valuable editions of Russian classics were stolen from libraries across Europe. Were the thieves merely low-level opportunists, or were bi...

www.theguardian.com

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 4d

youtu.be/Z1ZU1PXPoNI?...

Putin singing Blueberry Hills

YouTube video by Парламент

youtu.be

Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 4d

this one?
youtu.be/IYRJC0_c8Wk?...

Blueberry Hill

YouTube video by Fats Domino - Topic

youtu.be

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 4d

Here's Russia's lower house of parliament falling all over itself to give a standing ovation to Putin on the occasion of his 73rd birthday. "We are lucky that we have such a strong president as Russia's head....There is Russia. And there is Putin, and we should be proud of this."

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 4d

"Russia’s oil refineries are a bit like a man who is being repeatedly punched. He will not die from one punch, or even half a dozen punches. But it becomes harder and harder for him to recover after each subsequent blow."
carnegieendowment.org/russia-euras...

Have Ukrainian Drones Really Knocked Out 38% of Russia’s Oil Refining Capacity?

Kyiv’s unprecedented strike campaign on Russian oil refineries has inflicted serious—but likely not critical—damage on the country’s ability to produce fuel.

carnegieendowment.org

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Reposted by Mike Eckel

The Barents Observer @thebarentsobserver.com · 8d

Google Earth has updated its images of Novaya Zemlya, the Arctic archipelago where Russia’s nuclear weapon designers are conducting tests of their latest inventions. The Barents Observer zooms in 📡 and highlight the facilities at Pankovo test site for the Burevestnik ⚛️ ☢️ missile.

New satellite images reveal scale of Putin’s 'flying Chornobyl' test complex

Google Earth has updated its images of Novaya Zemlya, the Arctic archipelago where Russia’s nuclear weapon designers are conducting tests of their latest inventions.

www.thebarentsobserver.com

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 8d

“Russia is waging a hybrid war against Denmark because they want to create uncertainty," said the director of Danish Defence Intelligence Service.
www.fe-ddis.dk/globalassets...

www.fe-ddis.dk

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 8d

At least 60 Russian conscripts were KIA during Ukraine's invasion of Russia's Kursk region in summer/fall 2024, per @istories.bsky.social. Similar number MIA. This is problematic for Defense Ministry, b/c conscripts are barred from being deployed to combat.
t.me/istories_med...

Важные истории

Как минимум 60 срочников погибли во время наступления ВСУ в Курской области. Еще столько же, вероятно, пропали без вести Летом и осенью 2024 года погибли как минимум 60 российских срочников, находивш...

t.me

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 8d

so many now timely Soviet anecdotes, so little time

Reposted by Mike Eckel

Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · 8d

An American is talking to a Soviet: “In my country we have freedom of speech. I can go to the White House and shout, ‘You’re a dictator, Ronald Reagan!’”

Soviet man: “We too have freedom of speech. I can go to Red Square and shout ‘You’re a dictator, Ronald Reagan!’”

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 9d

Industry experts say the national gasoline fuel supply is currently about 20 percent below average, per @kommersant. www.kommersant.ru/doc/8080036

Топливный союз предупредил об угрозе закрытия части АЗС из-за нерентабельности

Подробнее на сайте

www.kommersant.ru

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 9d

Russian journalist Svetlana Khustik faces up to 10 years in prison on charges of spreading “fake” information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. CPJ calls on Russian authorities to end the prosecution and release her immediately.
cpj.org?p=526875

Russia detains journalist Svetlana Khustik for ‘fake’ news about Ukraine war - Committee to Protect Journalists

New York, October 1, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Russian authorities to end the prosecution of Russian journalist Svetlana Khustik, who faces up to 10 years on charges of spread...

cpj.org

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Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 9d

Nearly 40 percent of Russia's refining capacity has been knocked off-line--mostly by Ukrainian drone attacks, per RBC.
Yaroslavl officials say this refinery, which caught fire yesterday, was not caused by a Ukrainian drone (though alot of skepticism)
www.moscowtimes.ru/2025/09/30/v...

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