Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Botakoz Kassymbekova

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 5d

Russian shadowfleet tanker suspected of launching drones over Denmark which was stopped by the French Navy has been allowed to continue its voyage

www.spiegel.de/ausland/scha...

Schattenflotte: Von Frankreich festgesetzter russischer Öltanker setzt Fahrt fort

Französische Soldaten hatten den Öltanker »Boracay« gestoppt. Der Verdacht: Das Schiff soll zu Russlands Schattenflotte gehören. Nun durfte die Crew aber wieder aufbrechen.

www.spiegel.de

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Kate from Kharkiv @kateinkharkiv.bsky.social · 5d

Russia murdered French photojournalist Antoni Lallican with an FPV drone.

During the attack, Ukrainian photojournalist Heorhii Ivanchenko was with him and sustained serious injuries.

Both journalists were clearly marked with “PRESS,” but that did not stop Russians.

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Franziska Davies @efdavies.bsky.social · Jul 8

In the newest addition to my newsletter, I wrote about @associationruta.bsky.social, a new academic association challenging the traditional Russocentrism in our field. A huge shoutout and thank you to @terezahendl.bsky.social for curating this year's amazing conference programme!

Beyond Russo-centrism in academia

A new academic organisation is enriching the debate on the legacies of colonialism

efdavies.substack.com

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Tereza Hendl @terezahendl.bsky.social · Jun 27

This was such an insightful discussion about the need to more closely get to know our socio-historical contexts and struggles, strengthen our solidarities and antiracist movements, and translate our work on russian imperialism into more languages, including Spanish and for Latin American audiences

The RUTA Association @associationruta.bsky.social · Jun 24

Our second featured panel at the RUTA conference Imagination: New Visions and Connections will discuss protest in the RUTA regions and in global dialogues with @maiabarkaia.bsky.social, @ferezmanuel14.bsky.social, Zhanar Sekerbayeva & @terrelljstarr.bsky.social
ruta-association.org/event/featur...

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Kamila Fiałkowska @kamilafialkowska.bsky.social · Jun 28

What an amazing panel we just had at @associationruta.bsky.social annual conference abt unequal citizenship within and outside of Ukraine! We talked abt Ukr Roma experiences as IDP & forced migrants in Poland, with our colleaques, co-workers and co-thinkers, very grateful for all contributions! 💙❤️💚

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Christophe Kopp @chkopp.bsky.social · May 25

"Ninety per cent of our way of life, everything from you being able to do your orders online for your food, to your ability to function at work would be taken out by a massive strike on all of the power grid.” www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/...

Fiona Hill: Trump is terrified of Putin, I’ve seen it first hand

US president’s former Russia tsar believes World War Three is upon us as White House struggles to secure peace with the Kremlin

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Dr Anna Hájková @ankahajkova.bsky.social · May 21

I want to ask you all for your contribution to this important goal: a rehabilitation centre for Ukrainian women who got out Russian imprisonment. They survived abuse, torture, starvation, and sexual violence. Now they need a place to become human again.
donio.cz/pribeh/26346...

Rehabilitační centrum pro ženy propuštěné z ruského zajetí

Představte si, že vám seberou všechno – důstojnost, svobodu i naději. Tohle není představa. Tohle je realita žen, které přežily ruské zajetí.

donio.cz

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Mattia Nelles @mattian.bsky.social · May 19

Bloomberg citing its sources writes that Putin is confident his troops will breach 🇺🇦 defenses by year-end to control four claimed regions, suggesting he won't rush a deal or offer Trump significant concessions during their conversation.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Putin Heads Into Trump Call Confident That Russia Has Upper Hand

Vladimir Putin believes he has a strong hand ahead of a phone call Monday with Donald Trump and European leaders are trying to prevent the US president from rushing through a deal.

www.bloomberg.com

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Botakoz Kassymbekova @kassymbekova.bsky.social · May 16

Happenung in 2 hours

The RUTA Association @associationruta.bsky.social · May 8

Our next webinar will focus on Indigenous liberation struggles in North Caucasus, Central and North Asia, with leading Indigenous scholars and decolonial activists Seseg Jigjitova, Madina Tlostanova and Lidia Zhigunova. Register for this crucial discussion: ruta-association.org/event/indige...

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Tereza Hendl @terezahendl.bsky.social · May 15

Join us tomorrow for this key debate

The RUTA Association @associationruta.bsky.social · May 8

Our next webinar will focus on Indigenous liberation struggles in North Caucasus, Central and North Asia, with leading Indigenous scholars and decolonial activists Seseg Jigjitova, Madina Tlostanova and Lidia Zhigunova. Register for this crucial discussion: ruta-association.org/event/indige...

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Botakoz Kassymbekova @kassymbekova.bsky.social · May 15

www.slav.uzh.ch/de/forschung...

www.slav.uzh.ch

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Botakoz Kassymbekova @kassymbekova.bsky.social · May 15

and are looking for fresh perspectives on understanding and overcoming invisibilities in and from Eastern Europe, broadly defined. Please share widely and apply with an abstract of up to 600 words and two-page CV to [email protected] by July 31, 2025.

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Botakoz Kassymbekova @kassymbekova.bsky.social · May 15

We are founding a new interdisciplinary Institute for Slavic and Eastern European Studies (ISOS) at the University of Zurich. Please apply to our Inaugural Conference "Eastern Europe's Invisibilities: Politics, Epistmics, Arts" at the University of Zurich, May 6-8, 2026.

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Botakoz Kassymbekova @kassymbekova.bsky.social · May 4

Russia‘s war is ideological and academic production on Eastern Europe suffered from buying into Russian colonial narratives on the region. How to teach Eastern Europe today? Read these important insights curated by brilliant @oksanadudko.bsky.social and @ankahajkova.bsky.social

Oksana Dudko @oksanadudko.bsky.social · May 2

So happy that our piece with @ankahajkova.bsky.social—"Teaching Eastern Europe in the Age of Russia’s Imperial Invasions: A Conversation on Being Postcolonial When No One Takes Any Notice"—is finally out in @historyworkshop.org.uk

academic.oup.com/hwj/advance-...

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Franziska Davies @efdavies.bsky.social · May 2

„The book claims that the Lithuanian nation and language do not exist.“
This is the Russian playbook. This is the exact same narrative with which Russia prepared its attack on Ukraine.

Russia publishes book on Lithuanian history, preface written by Lavrov

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has criticised a book on the country’s history published in Russia, which fe...

www.lrt.lt

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Kate from Kharkiv @kateinkharkiv.bsky.social · Apr 24

Kharkiv right now!

Russia yet again attacked our city with drones. Several households and businesses are on fire

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Botakoz Kassymbekova @kassymbekova.bsky.social · Apr 24

Join tomorrow!

The RUTA Association @associationruta.bsky.social · Apr 17

Our next webinar will be taking a close look at the destabilizing impact of Russian disinformation campaigns, largely focusing on the Balkans but also integrating latest insights from Romania and Moldova. Register and join us for this important timely discussion: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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Roland Meyer @bildoperationen.bsky.social · Apr 19

Unlike classic fascism, #MemeFascism doesn't even try to produce a coherent narrative. Like Bukele with his torture camps, it can simultaneously celebrate and deny the crimes it commits. Its followers do not want to be seduced, they want to be entertained. And they are entertained by our outrage
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Roland Meyer @bildoperationen.bsky.social · Apr 18

«… according to a person familiar with the situation, a Bukele aide placed the two glasses with cherries and salted rims on the table in front of Mr. Van Hollen and Mr. Abrego Garcia in the middle of their meeting in an attempt to stage the photo.» #MemeFascism www.nytimes.com/live/2025/04...

Trump Administration Highlights: Senator Meets With Wrongly Deported Maryland Man in El Salvador

www.nytimes.com

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Olexander Scherba @olexscherba.bsky.social · Apr 13

Her name was Olena. A Russian missile killed her today in 🇺🇦 Sumy.

One of 34 dead (so far).

#StandWithUkraine

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · Apr 17

NEW: Russian officials continue to advertise programs that deport and Russify Ukrainian children and teenagers.

Read more in the April 17 Russian Occupation Update from @karolinahird.bsky.social: isw.pub/OccupationUp...

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Botakoz Kassymbekova @kassymbekova.bsky.social · Apr 17

“Kara-Murza's statement also denies self-determination to Ukrainians themselves, whom he, in the best traditions of Russian colonial thought, calls “practically one people” with Russians” www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/15/a...

An Open Letter to Vladimir Kara-Murza: Don't Spread Racist Myths About Indigenous Peoples - The Moscow Times

Opinion | Editor's note: Vladimir Kara-Murza has since released a statement on social media saying his comments that were interpreted as claiming Russians and Ukrainians are the same people were taken...

www.themoscowtimes.com

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Deutsch-Ukrainische Gesellschaft @de-ua-gesellschaft.bsky.social · Apr 16

„Ein gemeinsames Erinnern mit Russland ist derzeit nicht möglich.“
– DUG-Präsidentin @efdavies.bsky.social über das Gedenken des Endes des Zweiten Weltkriegs.

Zum Interview:
www1.wdr.de/mediathek/au...

80 Jahre Seelower Höhen: Schwieriges Gedenken

Zur Gedenkfeier der Schlacht der Seelower Höhen sollen russische Vertreter diesmal nicht zugelassen werden. "Es wird den Opfern mehr gerecht, wenn man sich nicht instrumentalisieren lässt von einem fa...

www1.wdr.de

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Christophe Kopp @chkopp.bsky.social · Apr 15

"I asked whether it would include the voices of minorities living in Russia – Buryats, Yakuts or Chuvash, for example. Genuinely puzzled at my question, he responded that such minorities do not produce poetry." voxeurop.eu/en/olha-mukh...

Olha Mukha: ‘We must not let the war dominate our perception of history’

The Ukrainian philosopher discusses the war in Ukraine, the issue of Russian imperialism (or colonialism) in Western perceptions, and Ukrainian national memory.

voxeurop.eu

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Dr. Jessica M. DeWitt @jessicamdewitt.bsky.social · Apr 13

I just attended a conference in the US. We had one speaker detained and two others turned away at the border.

Chris Ashwood @cashwood.proteaglyco.com · Apr 13

There are great conferences and science in the US, but with the way things are right now, it’s too risky to attend.

Australian academics refuse to attend US conferences for fear of being detained

‘When academics fear travelling or partnering with US institutions, the impacts ripple through the entire global knowledge ecosystem,’ one says

www.theguardian.com

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Olena Halushka @halushka.bsky.social · Apr 14

No, russia's attack on Sumy wasn't 'a mistake.' No one accidentally uses a cluster munition warhead against a crowded city center on a major holiday. Neither was the bombing of the Kryvyi Rih playground a mistake, nor were the filmed murders of POWs.
russia systematically uses terrorism as a weapon.

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