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Charles McPhedran

@charliekreuz.bsky.social

620 followers 580 following 560 posts

Australian journalist, filmmaker, between Berlin and Kyiv. Focused on spies, special forces—and why justice is so rarely served. Check out my BBC Radio 4 documentary, “Putin’s Blood Feud” https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002830j

www.bbc.co.uk

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Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · Mar 20

Reducing legal liability for the leadership has been a Russian foreign policy priority for years. It is often one of the first things that foreign leaders concede in negotiations. Perhaps because a prosecution seems unlikely. But this has arguably entrenched the regime’s belief it has impunity.

Andrew Stroehlein @andrewstroehlein.bsky.social · Mar 20

Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court for mass abduction of children from #Ukraine.

Trump is apparently helping him hide the evidence.

Lou Charbonneau @loucharb.bsky.social · Mar 19

One of many recent gifts to Putin — “Trump Administration Ends Tracking of Kidnapped Ukrainian Children in #Russia”

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Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 5h

Despicable

Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 8h

Russia's disinformation campaign is now using deepfaked audio of Holocaust survivors to attack Armenia, in videos published on the 2nd anniversary of the Hamas October 7th attack on Israel.

Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 6h

The only thing more plentiful? Agents in Budapest…

Dejan Pantic @serbianism.com · 7h

The Russian agents in Austria are the only thing on Earth that will never be in short supply.

Reporting for duty: Kremlin sends in new agents after Austria expels spies masquerading as journalists

In June 2024, Austria revoked the accreditation of two correspondents for the state-controlled Russian news agency TASS — Ivan Popov and Arina Davidyan — on the suspicion that they were not journalist...

theins.ru

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Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 7h

The AfD is goose-stepping towards 50 percent in some eastern German states (graphic compares current polls for the 2026 state election with the last election in 2021).

Reposted by Charles McPhedran

Hans de Vreij @vreij.bsky.social · 1d

'Extradition of Ukrainian in Nord Stream case is not in Poland's interest – Polish PM' www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/202...

Extradition of Ukrainian in Nord Stream case is not in Poland's interest – Polish PM

www.pravda.com.ua

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Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 4d

Why give a platform and a wage to a tedious grifter?

Reposted by Charles McPhedran

The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 4d

⚡️French photojournalist killed, Ukrainian photographer injured in Russian drone strike.

Both men were wearing protective gear marked "Press," Ukraine's 4th Separate Mechanized Brigade said, condemning the strike as a violation of international humanitarian law.

French photojournalist killed, Ukrainian photographer injured in Russian drone strike

Both men were wearing protective gear marked "Press," Ukraine's 4th Separate Mechanized Brigade said, condemning the strike as a violation of international humanitarian law.

kyivindependent.com

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Reposted by Charles McPhedran

MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 4d

🇨🇳⚠️ China is providing Russia with satellite intelligence data for missile strikes on Ukraine, including targets owned by foreign investors, — Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service.

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Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 4d

One of the most frustrating things about working in journalism is watching an endless parade of fake contrarian charlatans—ahem, “controversial opinion columnists”—cash in while hard-working reporters struggle to get by.
(See Bari Weiss, Thomas Chatterton Williams, and Australia’s own Freya Leach.)

Reposted by Charles McPhedran

The Ukrainian Review @theukrainianreview.bsky.social · 5d

🇩🇰 It is our assessment that Russia is currently waging a hybrid war against Denmark and the West, says Chief of the Danish Defence Intelligence Service.

🗣️ "This means that Russia is using military means to, among other things, put pressure on us."

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Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 4d

And, of course, MOL is typical of the sort of energy intermediaries the Kremlin uses to politically discipline countries and benefit government insiders [OCCRP report]:

Link: https://www.occrp.org/en/news/shadowy-oil-trader-with-kremlin-orban-ties-supplied-billions-in-russian-crude-to-europe

Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 5d

👀 So the pressure appears to be working.

Hans de Vreij @vreij.bsky.social · 6d

'Hungary chooses French gas over Russian: record LNG deal signed' www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/202...

Hungary chooses French gas over Russian: record LNG deal signed

www.pravda.com.ua

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Reposted by Charles McPhedran

The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 5d

Nizhny Novgorod police detained the late journalist Irina Slavina's daughter as she tried to lay flowers outside the regional police headquarters on the five-years anniversary of her mother's death.

Daughter of Late Russian Journalist Irina Slavina Detained While Laying Flowers in Her Memory - The Moscow Times

Nizhny Novgorod police detained the late journalist Irina Slavina's daughter as she tried to lay flowers outside the regional police headquarters in memory of her mother, human rights watchdog OVD-Inf...

www.themoscowtimes.com

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Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 5d

I look forward to seeing Suzy Weiss on “CBS Mornings”.

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 5d

Bari Weiss is set to be named the editor in chief of CBS News, the New York Post reports

Paramount Skydance is poised to name Bari Weiss as editor in chief of CBS News in the coming days — giving the hard-charging journalist unusual clout to revamp the struggling network as it also acquires her scrappy news site the Free Press, The Post has learned.

Weiss — a 41-year-old former New York Times opinion writer who has built the Free Press into a buzzworthy site with a contrarian bent — is expected to be named to the top post in a Monday announcement, although the talks are in flux and the timing could change, a source close to the situation said.

Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 6d

Wall Street Journal: US to provide intel. to Ukraine that’ll enable it to better target energy industry targets deep inside Russia.

www.reuters.com/world/europe...

US to provide Ukraine with intelligence for long-range strikes in Russia, WSJ reports

The United States will provide Ukraine with intelligence for long-range missile strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, as it weighs whether to send Kyiv weapons that could put more targets within range.

www.reuters.com

Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 6d

Russia’s Sahel allies to quit ICC—did someone have a word in the ear?

Amnistía Internacional @amnistia.bsky.social · 6d

Burkina Faso/Mali/Niger: Announcements of ICC withdrawal a serious backwards step in fight against impunity in the Sahel region and worldwide

Reacting to the news that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have announced their withdrawal from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, said: “The announcements by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger that they will withdraw from the ICC are an affront to […] The post Burkina Faso/Mali/Niger: Announcements of ICC withdrawal a serious backwards step in fight against impunity in the Sahel region and worldwide appeared first on Amnesty International.

dlvr.it

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Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 6d

So the Chornobyl nuclear power plant was in “blackout mode” for three hours after the Russians hit energy objects in a town nearby. The Ukrainian energy minister says power has now been restored, there’s no danger to residents and radiation levels are normal.

nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/...

Чорнобильська АЕС була у блекауті через російський удар по енергооб'єкту у Славутичі, живлення відновили

Унаслідок російського удару по підстанції у Славутичі Чернігівської області Чорнобильська атомна електростанція опинилась без електропостачання. Про це повідомили в Міненерго в середу, 1 жовтня.

nv.ua

Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 6d

Quelle surprise

The Insider @theins.press · 7d

France investigates Russian “shadow fleet” tanker anchored off coast one week after it was spotted near Denmark amid airport drone sightings

The probe began after the crew of the Boracay failed to comply with orders from the French Navy — or prove the vessel's nationality.

France investigates Russian “shadow fleet” tanker anchored off coast one week after it was spotted near Denmark amid airport drone sightings

French authorities have launched an investigation into the oil tanker Boracay, sailing under the flag of Benin and believed to be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” According to a Reuters repo...

theins.press

Reposted by Charles McPhedran

Protiv @protiv.osintukraine.com · 7d

Zelenskyy called the situation at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant critical. The plant has been disconnected from the power grid for a week already - the longest period since the war started

Зеленский назвал ситуацию на Запорожской АЭС критической. Станция отключена от электросети уже неделю — это самый долгий срок с начала войны — Meduza

Запорожская атомная электростанция (ЗАЭС), захваченная Россией, уже неделю находится без внешнего энергоснабжения. Об этом заявил президент Украины Владимир Зеленский.

meduza.io

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Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 7d

⬇️ They are quoting a recent SVR disinformation campaign, saying the Kremlin often uses the intel agency to this end:

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 7d

NEW: Russia and Belarus may conduct special forces sabotage operations against critical infrastructure in Poland and launch additional drone incursions and blame Ukraine.

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 30, 2025: isw.pub/UkrWar093025

Other Key Takeaways ⬇️ [🧵] (1/5)

Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 7d

A feature, not a bug:

Reposted by Charles McPhedran

The Insider @theins.press · 9d

Prague uncovers network of pro-Russian TikTok accounts aiming to sway Czech election

The activity of pro-Russian forces in the Czech Republic also manifested itself in the real world with a Sept. 27 rally of SPD and Stačilo! supporters at Prague Castle.

Prague uncovers network of pro-Russian TikTok accounts aiming to sway Czech election

Czech authorities have identified and launched an investigation into a network of nearly 300 TikTok bot accounts spreading pro-Russian narratives on a massive scale in advance of the country’s Oct

theins.press

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Reposted by Charles McPhedran

Frederik Obermaier @frederikobermaier.com · 8d

In the meantime, the Kremlin failed to explain why the body of the Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna was returned without brain, eyes and larynx - and bearing torture marks! #ViktoriiaProject www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

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Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 8d

Because people are too polite to recall Alaska anymore?

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Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 8d

As the head of the Libyan Refugees NGO notes, the terrible situation for people there (and in Tunisia) gets precious little attention.

David Yambio @davidyambio.bsky.social · 10d

🚨 EMERGENCY right now in Tripoli, Libya🇱🇾
The refugee hunt is open.

Police make illegal arrests.
The population is threatening the refugees nationwide following deadly propaganda being spread on TikTok.
Their belongings are looted.

The world is closing its eyes.
Europe says: job well done.

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Charles McPhedran @charliekreuz.bsky.social · 8d

I’m sure the local population are as “intrigued” by this spectacle as The Times’ headline writer.