Julian Evans
@julianevans.bsky.social
Author. Believer in Ukraine, Europe, democracy, freedom. UNDEFEATABLE: ODESA IN LOVE AND WAR is published 2nd December 2024.
“Macabre, surreal, haunting, beautifully observed and darkly moving” – Rory Stewart
“Macabre, surreal, haunting, beautifully observed and darkly moving” – Rory Stewart
News on our latest car: delivered Mon Odesa, Thurs in Kharkiv, Sat resprayed & already working for R–––’s special forces unit at Pokrovsk. With 2 cars hit in the last 3 weeks, we aim for this one to last longer.
Ukraine’s holding. 1000 thanks to all of you who loyally donated
Ukraine’s holding. 1000 thanks to all of you who loyally donated
September 22, 2025 at 6:42 PM
News on our latest car: delivered Mon Odesa, Thurs in Kharkiv, Sat resprayed & already working for R–––’s special forces unit at Pokrovsk. With 2 cars hit in the last 3 weeks, we aim for this one to last longer.
Ukraine’s holding. 1000 thanks to all of you who loyally donated
Ukraine’s holding. 1000 thanks to all of you who loyally donated
In a pause from talking about Ukraine, I’ve no doubt Angela Rayner is innocent of wrongdoing. Rules about UK trusts are so invincibly opaque that trust experts and lawyers barely understand them either
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Angela Rayner admits underpaying stamp duty on £800,000 seaside flat
Exclusive: Deputy PM refers herself to ethics adviser as confirmation puts her position under threat
www.theguardian.com
September 4, 2025 at 2:30 PM
In a pause from talking about Ukraine, I’ve no doubt Angela Rayner is innocent of wrongdoing. Rules about UK trusts are so invincibly opaque that trust experts and lawyers barely understand them either
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Julian Evans
On Angela Rayner and tax law
- a brief post by me
Substack - emptycity.substack.com/p/on-angela-...
Own blog: davidallengreen.com/2025/09/on-a...
- a brief post by me
Substack - emptycity.substack.com/p/on-angela-...
Own blog: davidallengreen.com/2025/09/on-a...
September 4, 2025 at 2:24 PM
On Angela Rayner and tax law
- a brief post by me
Substack - emptycity.substack.com/p/on-angela-...
Own blog: davidallengreen.com/2025/09/on-a...
- a brief post by me
Substack - emptycity.substack.com/p/on-angela-...
Own blog: davidallengreen.com/2025/09/on-a...
Today Ukrainians honour their fallen soldiers. Look at this young guy who gave everything as a defender of his family, his land, his freedom. Your freedom. So that truth and freedom will one day be a thing that not just bombs will discuss
(📷 Kyiv, Independence Square, March 2025)
(📷 Kyiv, Independence Square, March 2025)
August 29, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Today Ukrainians honour their fallen soldiers. Look at this young guy who gave everything as a defender of his family, his land, his freedom. Your freedom. So that truth and freedom will one day be a thing that not just bombs will discuss
(📷 Kyiv, Independence Square, March 2025)
(📷 Kyiv, Independence Square, March 2025)
If you’re near Queen’s Park on Saturday, I’m going to have a very enjoyable hour talking to the brilliant @lukeharding1968 about Odesa, Ukraine, and the vital importance of never giving in to Russia. 30th August, 2.30pm. It’ll be lively
queensparkbookfestival.co.uk/collections/...
queensparkbookfestival.co.uk/collections/...
Julian Evans: Undefeatable - Odesa in Love and War
Odesa in Love and War In 1994 Julian Evans discovered Odesa at the end of a boat journey from Kyiv. He fell in love with the crumbling, romantic town. Returning five years later, he also fell in lov...
queensparkbookfestival.co.uk
August 27, 2025 at 5:19 PM
If you’re near Queen’s Park on Saturday, I’m going to have a very enjoyable hour talking to the brilliant @lukeharding1968 about Odesa, Ukraine, and the vital importance of never giving in to Russia. 30th August, 2.30pm. It’ll be lively
queensparkbookfestival.co.uk/collections/...
queensparkbookfestival.co.uk/collections/...
Reposted by Julian Evans
Absolute shysters:
"...the idea that some company can just, with zero consequences, feed it [creative effort] into a machine is so insane to me that I can’t fully wrap my head around it.”
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/m...
"...the idea that some company can just, with zero consequences, feed it [creative effort] into a machine is so insane to me that I can’t fully wrap my head around it.”
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/m...
This Is How Meta AI Staffers Deemed More Than 7 Million Books to Have No “Economic Value”
As more than a dozen lawsuits churn ahead, newly unsealed case files reveal the company’s stance: The pirated books Meta used to train its AI, including ones by Beverly Cleary, Jacqueline Woodson, and...
www.vanityfair.com
April 17, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Absolute shysters:
"...the idea that some company can just, with zero consequences, feed it [creative effort] into a machine is so insane to me that I can’t fully wrap my head around it.”
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/m...
"...the idea that some company can just, with zero consequences, feed it [creative effort] into a machine is so insane to me that I can’t fully wrap my head around it.”
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/m...
Reposted by Julian Evans
US secretary of state Marco Rubio says the Trump administration will soon abandon its attempt to broker a peace deal in Ukraine. Predictable, lazy and absurd: the US has taken no concrete steps to pressure Moscow, while blaming Kyiv for the war www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
US ready to abandon Ukraine peace deal if there is no progress, says Marco Rubio
Secretary of state threatens to pull plug ‘within days’, as Kyiv says it has signed mineral deal memorandum
www.theguardian.com
April 18, 2025 at 10:23 AM
US secretary of state Marco Rubio says the Trump administration will soon abandon its attempt to broker a peace deal in Ukraine. Predictable, lazy and absurd: the US has taken no concrete steps to pressure Moscow, while blaming Kyiv for the war www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Reposted by Julian Evans
Enjoyed "Undefeatable" by @julianevans.bsky.social. It's a love letter to the Ukrainian city of Odesa and a brilliant portrait of a country under Russian attack
www.theguardian.com/books/2024/d...
www.theguardian.com/books/2024/d...
Undefeatable: Odesa in Love & War by Julian Evans review – a ‘sleeping beauty’ now besieged
A stylish love letter to the Ukrainian port charts its transformation from exotic mafia capital to beacon of freedom and, now, battered Russian target
www.theguardian.com
April 17, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Enjoyed "Undefeatable" by @julianevans.bsky.social. It's a love letter to the Ukrainian city of Odesa and a brilliant portrait of a country under Russian attack
www.theguardian.com/books/2024/d...
www.theguardian.com/books/2024/d...
After Russia's massacre in Sumy this morning, killing 32, injuring >85, it's unconscionable that we are not providing the strength to defeat it. We owe it to Ukraine, to Europe’s front line, and we owe it with every gram of our belief in humanity and life’s value
April 13, 2025 at 1:40 PM
After Russia's massacre in Sumy this morning, killing 32, injuring >85, it's unconscionable that we are not providing the strength to defeat it. We owe it to Ukraine, to Europe’s front line, and we owe it with every gram of our belief in humanity and life’s value
Today was a good day in Trump’s never never land. This pm we delivered our latest car to Khartiia Brigade north of Kharkiv. “We don’t listen to them,” the guys say. “We fight till Russia goes.” And we will go on delivering cars, meds, whatever they need
March 19, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Today was a good day in Trump’s never never land. This pm we delivered our latest car to Khartiia Brigade north of Kharkiv. “We don’t listen to them,” the guys say. “We fight till Russia goes.” And we will go on delivering cars, meds, whatever they need
The one thing missing from all the “messages to Putin” is our leaders in Europe saying that until he accepts clearly that Ukraine is a sovereign state, there won’t be peace, sanctions/military aid will continue, and Russia will be shackled to a war it will never win
March 16, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The one thing missing from all the “messages to Putin” is our leaders in Europe saying that until he accepts clearly that Ukraine is a sovereign state, there won’t be peace, sanctions/military aid will continue, and Russia will be shackled to a war it will never win
Trump’s despicable greasing up to Putin means instant escalation, with missiles killing 14 in Dobropillya last night. “Such strikes show Russia’s goals are unchanged,” as Zelenskyy wrote. If anyone thinks otherwise, they’re deluded. Europe must freeze Trump and step up faster NOW
March 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Trump’s despicable greasing up to Putin means instant escalation, with missiles killing 14 in Dobropillya last night. “Such strikes show Russia’s goals are unchanged,” as Zelenskyy wrote. If anyone thinks otherwise, they’re deluded. Europe must freeze Trump and step up faster NOW
Even the CIA had the interests of Europe at heart in the past. Contrast its books programme for Poland with the US’s alignment with Russia today. My piece about Charlie English’s fascinating The CIA Book Club – the nut that cracked the nutcracker
www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...
www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...
www.telegraph.co.uk
March 7, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Even the CIA had the interests of Europe at heart in the past. Contrast its books programme for Poland with the US’s alignment with Russia today. My piece about Charlie English’s fascinating The CIA Book Club – the nut that cracked the nutcracker
www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...
www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...
Reposted by Julian Evans
Very early draft of the front page for the next print edition, but you can see where we're heading with this
MOB RULE: How the World's Policeman Became a Global Gangster
MOB RULE: How the World's Policeman Became a Global Gangster
March 6, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Very early draft of the front page for the next print edition, but you can see where we're heading with this
MOB RULE: How the World's Policeman Became a Global Gangster
MOB RULE: How the World's Policeman Became a Global Gangster
Reposted by Julian Evans
I do not think people realize how comprehensive the Trump Administration is being in its attempts to help Putin kill Ukrainians. I have it on an excellent source that Ukrainian UAV operations are 15% less effective because of the US intel cut off.
March 7, 2025 at 12:13 PM
I do not think people realize how comprehensive the Trump Administration is being in its attempts to help Putin kill Ukrainians. I have it on an excellent source that Ukrainian UAV operations are 15% less effective because of the US intel cut off.
Reposted by Julian Evans
French Senator Claude Malhuret:
"Washington has become Nero’s court, with an incendiary emperor, submissive courtiers and a jester high on ketamine... We were at war with a dictator, we are now at war with a dictator backed by a traitor."
"Washington has become Nero’s court, with an incendiary emperor, submissive courtiers and a jester high on ketamine... We were at war with a dictator, we are now at war with a dictator backed by a traitor."
March 5, 2025 at 3:47 PM
French Senator Claude Malhuret:
"Washington has become Nero’s court, with an incendiary emperor, submissive courtiers and a jester high on ketamine... We were at war with a dictator, we are now at war with a dictator backed by a traitor."
"Washington has become Nero’s court, with an incendiary emperor, submissive courtiers and a jester high on ketamine... We were at war with a dictator, we are now at war with a dictator backed by a traitor."
This is the most vicious ambush of a visiting head of state I have ever seen. Zelensky has tried to speak the truth and Trump and Vance have treated him like a beggar. Europe must now stand up for him and Ukraine
February 28, 2025 at 7:24 PM
This is the most vicious ambush of a visiting head of state I have ever seen. Zelensky has tried to speak the truth and Trump and Vance have treated him like a beggar. Europe must now stand up for him and Ukraine
An interview I enjoyed. Michael @michaelandersen.bsky.social asked all the right questions open.substack.com/pub/twogrump...
BLITZ INTERVIEW: Julian Evans - author, journalist, globetrotter - in love with Ukraine
Writing about Ukraine and volunteering - "until the war is over, it’s impossible to concentrate on anything else" - Julian has a new book out, about Odesa, called "Undefeatable.'
open.substack.com
February 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM
An interview I enjoyed. Michael @michaelandersen.bsky.social asked all the right questions open.substack.com/pub/twogrump...
“Perish the United States, rather than a principle!”
– Gustave Flaubert, 1852
My evening after discovering this quote is entirely perfect
– Gustave Flaubert, 1852
My evening after discovering this quote is entirely perfect
February 26, 2025 at 7:21 PM
“Perish the United States, rather than a principle!”
– Gustave Flaubert, 1852
My evening after discovering this quote is entirely perfect
– Gustave Flaubert, 1852
My evening after discovering this quote is entirely perfect
Here is a man just now, twisting on a line and profoundly uncomfortable between having been told what to do by his Russian handler and been told the truth by the French president standing next to him
February 24, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Here is a man just now, twisting on a line and profoundly uncomfortable between having been told what to do by his Russian handler and been told the truth by the French president standing next to him
Reposted by Julian Evans
My write up of Zelenskyy's press conference today. Ukraine's won't cave into US bullying and sign Trump's outrageous $500bn minerals "deal". And: “Why should I be offended? A dictator would be offended by being called a dictator,” Ze said, after Trump's attack www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
Zelenskyy refuses Trump demand to give $500bn of Ukraine minerals to US
The Ukrainian president said US military aid was a ‘grant’ rather than a debt, but added that he wanted Trump to be ‘on our side’
www.theguardian.com
February 23, 2025 at 8:45 PM
My write up of Zelenskyy's press conference today. Ukraine's won't cave into US bullying and sign Trump's outrageous $500bn minerals "deal". And: “Why should I be offended? A dictator would be offended by being called a dictator,” Ze said, after Trump's attack www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
On the 3rd anniversary of Russia’s invasion we decided to buy another big 4WD for the troops. Whatever you read, no Ukrainian I know is giving up so Trump can get his Nobel and lithium, and Putin can squeak his little victory. Leaving for Kharkiv in 2 wks’ time full of tourniquets and heat blankets
February 23, 2025 at 8:08 PM
On the 3rd anniversary of Russia’s invasion we decided to buy another big 4WD for the troops. Whatever you read, no Ukrainian I know is giving up so Trump can get his Nobel and lithium, and Putin can squeak his little victory. Leaving for Kharkiv in 2 wks’ time full of tourniquets and heat blankets
After Trump’s utterances yesterday it’s clear that the country that’s been lost is not Ukraine, but the USA.
If Europe can recognise that new map of the battlefield, there is a slim chance that sanity will prevail. But Europe must act to arm Ukraine and rearm itself to defend the freedoms of both
If Europe can recognise that new map of the battlefield, there is a slim chance that sanity will prevail. But Europe must act to arm Ukraine and rearm itself to defend the freedoms of both
February 13, 2025 at 7:13 AM
After Trump’s utterances yesterday it’s clear that the country that’s been lost is not Ukraine, but the USA.
If Europe can recognise that new map of the battlefield, there is a slim chance that sanity will prevail. But Europe must act to arm Ukraine and rearm itself to defend the freedoms of both
If Europe can recognise that new map of the battlefield, there is a slim chance that sanity will prevail. But Europe must act to arm Ukraine and rearm itself to defend the freedoms of both
“Russians enjoy impunity. Europe enjoys their ballet and gas.” Tragically Victoria Amelina’s not alive to see her impossible-to-forget book Looking at Women Looking at War published. But we are, and it’s hugely worth reading. My review here
www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...
www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...
Russia killed this novelist – her book couldn’t be more urgent
Looking at Women, Looking at War, a mix of diary and reportage by Victoria Amelina, makes for a harrowing portrait of Ukraine’s invasion
www.telegraph.co.uk
February 8, 2025 at 10:04 AM
“Russians enjoy impunity. Europe enjoys their ballet and gas.” Tragically Victoria Amelina’s not alive to see her impossible-to-forget book Looking at Women Looking at War published. But we are, and it’s hugely worth reading. My review here
www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...
www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...
Delighted to be reviewed in @thetls.bsky.social by an Odesan and to emerge not just unscathed but smiling. Thank you for your generosity, Boris Dralyuk
January 22, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Delighted to be reviewed in @thetls.bsky.social by an Odesan and to emerge not just unscathed but smiling. Thank you for your generosity, Boris Dralyuk