Michael Sheldon
@michaelsheldon.bsky.social
Senior Investigator @ CIR
Formerly: Bellingcat, DFRLab
Formerly: Bellingcat, DFRLab
Reposted by Michael Sheldon
Similarly, "bean bag rounds" are typically filled with lead shot, not plastic. They can fracture your skull and kill you. After I got hit with one in 2020 (thankfully in the leg), an Austin Police Department officer acted surprised there was metal inside.
"Rubber bullets" aren't bullets made of rubber. They're METAL bullets COATED in rubber. This is what LA police are shooting at international journalists.
June 10, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Similarly, "bean bag rounds" are typically filled with lead shot, not plastic. They can fracture your skull and kill you. After I got hit with one in 2020 (thankfully in the leg), an Austin Police Department officer acted surprised there was metal inside.
I just learned that callsign "white" (Белый), the commander of the Akhmat unit who in the summer of 2022 "castrated" and murdered a Ukrainian POW, has been reported dead. Happy Vyshyvanka Day.
May 15, 2025 at 7:29 PM
I just learned that callsign "white" (Белый), the commander of the Akhmat unit who in the summer of 2022 "castrated" and murdered a Ukrainian POW, has been reported dead. Happy Vyshyvanka Day.
Reposted by Michael Sheldon
Over at Bellingcat, they're hiring a researcher/trainer who can focus on conflict research.
Fully remote, with occasional travel to workshops, conferences, etc. Pay is between 60-73k USD.
www.bellingcat.com/bellingcat-i...
Fully remote, with occasional travel to workshops, conferences, etc. Pay is between 60-73k USD.
www.bellingcat.com/bellingcat-i...
Bellingcat is Hiring: Open Source Investigator and Trainer (Conflict) - bellingcat
Bellingcat is hiring an open source investigator and trainer (conflict). Find out more about the role and apply within.
www.bellingcat.com
March 10, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Over at Bellingcat, they're hiring a researcher/trainer who can focus on conflict research.
Fully remote, with occasional travel to workshops, conferences, etc. Pay is between 60-73k USD.
www.bellingcat.com/bellingcat-i...
Fully remote, with occasional travel to workshops, conferences, etc. Pay is between 60-73k USD.
www.bellingcat.com/bellingcat-i...
Reposted by Michael Sheldon
In our latest investigation, we identify the former Wagner fighter and admin of a racist Telegram group behind a Russian fashion brand that sells clothing items glorifying far-right ideology and the Russian mercenary group Wagner. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/03...
Unmasking Maskov: How Bellingcat Found a Man Outfitting Russian Neo-Nazis - bellingcat
H8Core is a Russian fashion brand that sells clothing items glorifying far-right ideology and the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Its products – which include t-shirts, caps and hoodies – have been cr...
www.bellingcat.com
March 6, 2025 at 11:07 AM
In our latest investigation, we identify the former Wagner fighter and admin of a racist Telegram group behind a Russian fashion brand that sells clothing items glorifying far-right ideology and the Russian mercenary group Wagner. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/03...
Reposted by Michael Sheldon
Three years ago, on this day, Russia introduced a new article into its Criminal Code: the dissemination of “fake news” about the Russian army. On that very day, I left my country, and the next day, law enforcement officers came to my home in Moscow to arrest me.
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March 4, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Three years ago, on this day, Russia introduced a new article into its Criminal Code: the dissemination of “fake news” about the Russian army. On that very day, I left my country, and the next day, law enforcement officers came to my home in Moscow to arrest me.
1/2
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Reposted by Michael Sheldon
you can just make out the duct tape on the rear of the drone in the CPAC photograph over the control surfaces. it's hiding the caution warnings in russian (не браться -- do not remove) that would leave no doubt as to where it came from
February 22, 2025 at 5:21 PM
you can just make out the duct tape on the rear of the drone in the CPAC photograph over the control surfaces. it's hiding the caution warnings in russian (не браться -- do not remove) that would leave no doubt as to where it came from
If only there was something else Shaheds were better known for.
February 26, 2025 at 10:55 PM
If only there was something else Shaheds were better known for.
Reposted by Michael Sheldon
Is Russia executing captured Ukrainian soldiers?
The numbers have surged in recent months.
In our new documentary, we show how each of the 80 deaths we've logged could potentially amount to a war crime.
Watch the film here: youtu.be/eik1Lf0dPTg
The numbers have surged in recent months.
In our new documentary, we show how each of the 80 deaths we've logged could potentially amount to a war crime.
Watch the film here: youtu.be/eik1Lf0dPTg
Is Russia executing captured Ukrainian soldiers?
YouTube video by CIR - Centre for Information Resilience
youtu.be
December 19, 2024 at 7:26 AM
Is Russia executing captured Ukrainian soldiers?
The numbers have surged in recent months.
In our new documentary, we show how each of the 80 deaths we've logged could potentially amount to a war crime.
Watch the film here: youtu.be/eik1Lf0dPTg
The numbers have surged in recent months.
In our new documentary, we show how each of the 80 deaths we've logged could potentially amount to a war crime.
Watch the film here: youtu.be/eik1Lf0dPTg
Reposted by Michael Sheldon
"In a barren field, seven unarmed soldiers emerge from a dugout at gunpoint, arms raised above their heads. Some of them appear to trip and fall as they climb out of the ditch and are ordered to lie face down..."
🔽 80 Executions (7 min read)
🔽 80 Executions (7 min read)
Videos show alleged Ukrainian prisoners of war executed by Russian soldiers - Centre for Information Resilience
Multiple videos show the men’s last moments, as they kneel or lie on the ground with their hands on their heads or behind their backs.
www.info-res.org
December 19, 2024 at 11:09 AM
"In a barren field, seven unarmed soldiers emerge from a dugout at gunpoint, arms raised above their heads. Some of them appear to trip and fall as they climb out of the ditch and are ordered to lie face down..."
🔽 80 Executions (7 min read)
🔽 80 Executions (7 min read)
Tyva seems to heavily favor corrupt officials over war criminals.
November 8, 2024 at 9:27 PM
Tyva seems to heavily favor corrupt officials over war criminals.
Reposted by Michael Sheldon
In 2022, we put out a report on Bellingcat about Ochur-Suge Mongush, who joined "Akhmat." He was filmed sexually assaulting and murdering a Ukrainian POW.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2022/08...
A video surfaced of him complaining about not getting free land from the state.
t.me/ne_zhdi_novo...
www.bellingcat.com/news/2022/08...
A video surfaced of him complaining about not getting free land from the state.
t.me/ne_zhdi_novo...
Tracking the Faceless Killers who Mutilated and Executed a Ukrainian POW - bellingcat
In a series of gruesome videos, a man wearing a cowboy hat mutilates a Ukrainian prisoner of war before murdering him. Open source evidence suggests the involvement of a Chechen-led paramilitary group...
www.bellingcat.com
November 8, 2024 at 8:11 PM
In 2022, we put out a report on Bellingcat about Ochur-Suge Mongush, who joined "Akhmat." He was filmed sexually assaulting and murdering a Ukrainian POW.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2022/08...
A video surfaced of him complaining about not getting free land from the state.
t.me/ne_zhdi_novo...
www.bellingcat.com/news/2022/08...
A video surfaced of him complaining about not getting free land from the state.
t.me/ne_zhdi_novo...
In awe at how lame Redut medals are
October 2, 2024 at 7:26 PM
In awe at how lame Redut medals are
Reposted by Michael Sheldon
In a special free edition of our Bellingchat Premium podcast, we talk about covering the invasion of Ukraine using open sources with Bellingcat researcher @michaelsheldon.bsky.social and the @nytimes.com Visual Investigations Reporter @aric.bsky.social.
Listen in on the link below! 👇
Listen in on the link below! 👇
Investigating the Invasion of Ukraine Using Open Sources | Bellingcat
Get more from Bellingcat on Patreon
www.patreon.com
February 26, 2024 at 5:55 PM
In a special free edition of our Bellingchat Premium podcast, we talk about covering the invasion of Ukraine using open sources with Bellingcat researcher @michaelsheldon.bsky.social and the @nytimes.com Visual Investigations Reporter @aric.bsky.social.
Listen in on the link below! 👇
Listen in on the link below! 👇
Reposted by Michael Sheldon
An image analysis by Bellingcat shows an infamous Russian neo-Nazi with ties to the controversial paramilitary Wagner Group may be depicted in a photograph showing a man holding a severed head in Syria... www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/01...
The Man in the Matching Uniform: Investigating a Rusich Atrocity in Syria - bellingcat
A faceless man poses with a severed head in the desert. The very same uniform was worn by an infamous Russian neo-Nazi who was seen in the same area.
www.bellingcat.com
January 23, 2024 at 4:35 PM
An image analysis by Bellingcat shows an infamous Russian neo-Nazi with ties to the controversial paramilitary Wagner Group may be depicted in a photograph showing a man holding a severed head in Syria... www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/01...
Read my latest for @bellingcat.com
The Man in the Matching Uniform: Investigating a Rusich Atrocity in Syria
www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/01...
The Man in the Matching Uniform: Investigating a Rusich Atrocity in Syria
www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/01...
January 23, 2024 at 4:35 PM
Read my latest for @bellingcat.com
The Man in the Matching Uniform: Investigating a Rusich Atrocity in Syria
www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/01...
The Man in the Matching Uniform: Investigating a Rusich Atrocity in Syria
www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/01...
Reposted by Michael Sheldon
Put it into Google Earth to get a sense of where the remaining flights may have headed.
January 15, 2024 at 7:56 PM
Put it into Google Earth to get a sense of where the remaining flights may have headed.
Tracing the video from t.me/CinCAFU/648 gives a slightly better overview of what's what in a pretty chaotic radar image. From my understanding, the green track appears to be the A-50, and blue would likely be the IL-22 heading to emergency land at Anapa.
January 15, 2024 at 7:44 PM
Tracing the video from t.me/CinCAFU/648 gives a slightly better overview of what's what in a pretty chaotic radar image. From my understanding, the green track appears to be the A-50, and blue would likely be the IL-22 heading to emergency land at Anapa.
Western battery hanging out in the same spots.
January 14, 2024 at 7:20 PM
Western battery hanging out in the same spots.
Looks like the Stroitel S-400 unit recently moved from its usual fields to a different location to the south-west. Snow cover makes the individual components visible even in lower-resolution satellites.
January 9, 2024 at 6:02 PM
Looks like the Stroitel S-400 unit recently moved from its usual fields to a different location to the south-west. Snow cover makes the individual components visible even in lower-resolution satellites.
The new Wagner x Stone Island collab is crazy.
November 28, 2023 at 5:24 AM
The new Wagner x Stone Island collab is crazy.
Reposted by Michael Sheldon
Bellingcat contributor Ollie Ballinger developed a tool to estimate damage in Ukraine. He has now repurposed the tool to estimate the number of damaged buildings and the likely affected population in a given area within the Gaza Strip. www.bellingcat.com/resources/20...
A New Tool Allows Researchers to Track Damage in Gaza - bellingcat
Using methodology originally developed and applied to the Ukraine conflict, the tool helps asses damage in the Palestinian Territory.
www.bellingcat.com
November 15, 2023 at 5:29 PM
Bellingcat contributor Ollie Ballinger developed a tool to estimate damage in Ukraine. He has now repurposed the tool to estimate the number of damaged buildings and the likely affected population in a given area within the Gaza Strip. www.bellingcat.com/resources/20...