Russia pummelled Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight with ballistic missiles and drones; more than 14 people killed; several dozen reported wounded. (Ukraine is desperate for interceptors for its Patriot missile defenses).
Mike Eckel
@mikeeckel.bsky.social
Opponent of Quiet Desperation. Contains Multitudes. In Search Of Meanness Or Sublimity. Former Moscow Correspondent. Vladivostok Fanboy. Chaotic Good. @RFERL
The Trump administration "wants to compartmentalize the two wars"-- Ukraine and Iran, said @nicolegrajewski.bsky.social. Ukraine's strikes on Caspian Sea cargo ships purportedly carrying military cargo between Russia and Iran makes that harder. www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-ir...
Ukraine Hits At Iran. In The Caspian Sea, Things Get Even Messier.
Russia’s Iranian-designed drones have ravaged Ukrainian forces in Moscow’s all-out war. As far as Ukraine is concerned, that means cargo ships plying the Caspian Sea with Iranian military goods are fa...
rferl.org
During a (highly) televised meeting with naval officers, Putin delivered a stemwinder (for close to an hour) of a history lesson about the beginnings of the war on Ukraine, United Nations, NATO (and many other things):
more eyewitness video of one of the St. Petersburg Wildberries warehouses hit by Ukrainian drones overnight.
Mike Eckel@mikeeckel.bsky.social · 2w agoUkrainian drones hit THREE more Wildberries facilities/warehouses overnight: in the St. Petersburg region and in occupied Crimea. Eight facilities in total have been hit over the past week. t.me/rwb_press_se... (St. Petersburg region 👇)
Ukrainian drones hit THREE more Wildberries facilities/warehouses overnight: in the St. Petersburg region and in occupied Crimea. Eight facilities in total have been hit over the past week. t.me/rwb_press_se... (St. Petersburg region 👇)
Ukraine has hit two more Wildberries warehouses with drones: in southern Krasnodar and Stavropol regions. It's the third such attack on the Russian online retailer's logistics centers this week. (Source: t.me/ostorozhno_n...)
Nice @mikeeckel.bsky.social investigation here into Denis Obrezko, the alleged Russian government-sponsored hacker being prosecuted in Boston, with details on how he got caught and context around his extradition.
Mike Eckel@mikeeckel.bsky.social · 3w agoIt's unusual for former FSB employees to be arrested outside of Russia (and extradited) these days. But what's also unusual about Denis Obrezko -- charged with the "Laundry Bear" hack of computers in the U.S. and Europe-- is how careless he appeared to have been online. www.rferl.org/a/russia-hac...
It's unusual for former FSB employees to be arrested outside of Russia (and extradited) these days. But what's also unusual about Denis Obrezko -- charged with the "Laundry Bear" hack of computers in the U.S. and Europe-- is how careless he appeared to have been online. www.rferl.org/a/russia-hac...
An Alleged Russian FSB Hacker Traveled To Thailand. Now He's Facing 10 Years In A US Prison.
What’s unusual about the arrest of Denis Obrezko is how relatively rare it is for Russian hackers to be detained abroad these days. What’s also unusual: Obrezko used to work for Russia’s FSB. And it a...
rferl.org
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham had literally just returned from Ukraine, where he was visiting drone factories and defense tech manufacturers.
Russia pummeled Kyiv yet again overnight; at least 11 people killed, nearly 5 dozen wounded."We just got the windows replaced, and now it's happened again," one woman said. "It's just horrible, my God. There are so many children here. How long does this have to go on?"
At least 11 people killed in Kyiv, 5 dozen wounded in a major Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv overnight. Rescuers searching rubble for survivors; death toll expected to climb. Video by @radiosvoboda.org.web.brid.gy
Putin's approval rating falls to its lowest level in a year, per latest survey (released Friday) by state-affiliated pollster FOM. (might be the lowest level since the launch of the Ukraine war in 2022).
A Russian ammunition depot near Belgorod exploded in spectacular fashion today. No casualties yet reported; unclear if was accidental or the result of Ukrainian actions, drone or otherwise. Depot reportedly housed Iskander missiles. (source: t.me/ukrinformator)
Frederick Flott had a distinguished career in the US government: State Dept diplomat, CIA officer, USArmy officer (also one-time interpreter for Robert F. Kennedy). Was he also a spy for the KGB? A mystery dug up in the Mitrokhin Archive at Cambridge. www.rferl.org/a/russia-kgb...
The KGB's Man At State, Or A Double Agent? A Spy Mystery In A Smuggled Cold War Archive.
Frederick Flott, who died in 2006, was a longtime State Department diplomat around the world, as well as a CIA agent who worked under diplomatic cover. For years, the KGB tried to recruit him. Did it ...
rferl.org
Death toll nationwide from Russia's overnight attack now stands at 18 (11 killed in Dnipro; 5 in Kyiv); more than 100 wounded. Rescuers still searching debris for survivors. Kyiv 👇
Mike Eckel@mikeeckel.bsky.social · 2mo agoAftermath of Russian attack on Kyiv; death toll nationwide stands at 13; more than 100 wounded. Photos by Serhii Nuzhnenko
Aftermath of Russian attack on Kyiv; death toll nationwide stands at 13; more than 100 wounded. Photos by Serhii Nuzhnenko
Mike Eckel@mikeeckel.bsky.social · 2mo agoRussia hammered Ukraine (again) overnight with scores of drones and missile. At least 4 killed in Kyiv and 6 in Dnipro; dozens wounded. Emergency workers searching rubble for survivors. It's the second major attack on Kyiv in less than a month.
Russia hammered Ukraine (again) overnight with scores of drones and missile. At least 4 killed in Kyiv and 6 in Dnipro; dozens wounded. Emergency workers searching rubble for survivors. It's the second major attack on Kyiv in less than a month.
Nearly 500,000 Russian soldiers have been killed the start of the Russian war on Ukraine, the head of Britain's main signals intelligence agency said.
Russia's Defense Ministry also states the Oreshnik was used in retaliation for "Ukraine's terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure." That's likely reference to an attack last week on a dormitory in Russian-occupied Luhansk. Putin alleged Ukraine attacked it deliberately, calling it "terrorism."
Mike Eckel@mikeeckel.bsky.social · 2mo agoUkraine's Zelenskyy confirming that Russia fired its new hypersonic missile -- the Oreshnik -- at the Kyiv region. It's the 3rd time Russia has used the missile on Ukraine -- and first time it's been used against the Ukrainian region. Russia's Defense Ministry also confirms. t.me/tass_agency/...
Ukraine's Zelenskyy confirming that Russia fired its new hypersonic missile -- the Oreshnik -- at the Kyiv region. It's the 3rd time Russia has used the missile on Ukraine -- and first time it's been used against the Ukrainian region. Russia's Defense Ministry also confirms. t.me/tass_agency/...
Russia hammered Kyiv overnight with drones and missiles, biggest aerial assault in some time. At least 2 people confirmed killed; 4 dozen wounded, per city mayor. Death toll expected to rise.
"Right now the general situation for the Ukrainians seems to be better than it has been in several years, though several significant dangers remain." @inkvisiit.bsky.social www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-ru...
On Springtime Battlefield In War's Fifth Year, Ukraine Claws Back Territory
Four-plus years into Russia’s all-out invasion, Ukraine has battled Moscow’s forces to a standstill. In fact, by some accounts, Ukraine has even recaptured territory, offering Kyiv a glimmer of optimi...
rferl.org
Putin now arriving in Beijing on a two-day state visit, for meetings with Xi Jinping (among others). Visit comes less than a week after Trump was in town. (That's Foreign Minister Wang Yi greeting him according to TASS)
Defense Sec Hegseth speaking via video at this event, closing his remarks w/a story about George Washington praying at Valley Forge. Note: Washington was a person of faith, but historians have long dismissed the story of him praying at Valley Forge as a fabrication. religionnews.com/2025/09/29/c...
Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · 3mo agoAt the Rededicate 250 event on the National Mall today today, the product of a public-private partnership with the federal government to “rededicate America to one nation under God.” Lines to get in are huge.
Moscow and suburbs hit by at least 120 Ukrainian drones-- biggest attack in more than a year, per Mayor Sobyanin. At least 3 reported killed; more than a dozen wounded. In total, more than 550 Ukrainian drones tracked by Russian air defenses. t.me/moscow_tass/...
Death toll from Russia's barrage of Kyiv (and other Ukrainian cities) is up to 24, with 4 dozen wounded, per emergency officials. Kyiv worst hit. The two-day drone-and-missile assault (May13-14) was one of the worst in months.
Mike Eckel@mikeeckel.bsky.social · 3mo agoDeath toll now up to 5 in Kyiv, dozens wounded, per officials.
👀Russia's prison service says the Russian inmate population has fallen 39 percent since the start of the all-out war on Ukraine, per @istories.bsky.social. The drop is due overwhelmingly to inmates being coerced to sign up to fight in Ukraine. t.me/istories_med...
Важные истории
ФСИН впервые признала, что число заключенных в России снижается из-за набора контрактников. Ранее это объясняли гуманизацией законодательства Число заключенных в России снизилось на 39,3% за время во...
t.me
Russian authorities have formally filed charges of large-scale fraud against Denis Butsaev, per TASS. The former deputy natural resources minister fled Russia shortly after resigning on Apr. 23. Reportedly, he's now hanging out in the United States. tass.ru/proisshestvi...
tass.ru
Death toll now up to 5 in Kyiv, dozens wounded, per officials.
Mike Eckel@mikeeckel.bsky.social · 3mo agoAftermath of overnight Russian strikes on Kyiv. Death to stands at 3, rescuers are searching rubble for more survivors.