The International Olympic Committee is lifting the suspension of Russian boxers while Russia is bombing the old boxing center in Kherson. The IOC is on the wrong side of history.
Lucy Ash
@lucyaash.bsky.social
Foreign affairs broadcaster and author BBC presenter Russia / Ukraine / Orthodox Church expert The Baton and The Cross is now in paperback https://www.iconbooks.com/ib-title/the-baton-and-the-cross-3/ lucyashjournalism.com
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... A few weeks back I visited a psychological retreat for traumatised soldiers from Ukraine's frontline. Third item in this show.
BBC Radio 4 - From Our Own Correspondent, Iran: The Funeral of Ayatollah Khamanei
Lyse Doucet has been in Tehran as throngs gathered to mourn the late supreme leader.
bbc.co.uk
Our new issue features contributions from @pawelzerka.bsky.social @lucyaash.bsky.social @nvondarza.bsky.social @agathedemarais.com @henninghoff.bsky.social @josephdeweck.bsky.social @rebeccawire.bsky.social @fraghi.bsky.social @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social & more! ip-quarterly.com/en/ipq-summe...
IPQ Summer 2026 Issue: In Search of New Partners
The 24th issue of INTERNATIONALE POLITIK QUARTERLY focuses on the European Union adjusting its alliances.
ip-quarterly.com
The head of the TV channel pushing Kremlin narratives, once said it was "out of the question" that Russia would attack the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, home of Orthodoxy's most sacred shrines. But this month it was in flames. Why? I'll discuss this at St James Church Norlands W11 tomorrow. Deets in comment
An account of what its really like in the Russian army by two soldiers who escaped to Finland: www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/all-rig...
'All right. I’m a soldier. I’m ready'
“They pulled down my trousers, and the officer picked up a bottle and said, ‘I’m going to ram this into you.’ After two days of beatings, I realised perfectly well that he was capable of it. So I said...
thebarentsobserver.com
Why has the head of Russia's Orthodox Church sprinkled holy water on weapons and sanctified Putin's invasion of Ukraine? I’m talking about that at St James Norlands Church London W11 on June 30th as part of a series Making Sense of a Dangerous World. Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/summer-spe...
Summer Speakers 2026 - Making Sense Of A Dangerous World - 3 dates in June
War in Europe. Political upheaval in the West. How bad can it get? Come to W11 to hear three great speakers make sense of it all
eventbrite.co.uk
My piece on how Putin is failing and flailing around in the global south. inews.co.uk/opinion/puti...
Putin’s desperate fight for global influence is turning into a quiet disaster
A series of reverses has exposed the Russian President
inews.co.uk
Princeton history and music scholar Simon Morrison says Moscow is a hard city to love - I spent a lot of time there back in the 1990s and would have to agree - here’s my review of his extraordinary history of Москва www.thenewworld.co.uk/lucy-ash-how...
How Moscow became the loneliest big city in the world
A capital built and rebuilt by dreamers, schemers and evildoers has gone from squalor to a hollowed-out paradise
thenewworld.co.uk
I spoke with @rolandebrown.bsky.social about why Putin insists Ukraine belongs to Russia’s so-called “spiritual space,” and why his pliant Patriarch,Kirill, blames the war on European gay pride parades preaching that Russians killed fighting for “Holy Rus” are going to heaven. youtu.be/DYNaLOM-Wfs
Lucy Ash - The Baton and the Cross: Russia's Church From Pagans to Putin
YouTube video by The Orwellians Podcast
youtu.be
I'll be in Cambridge tomorrow talking about religion, politics and power in Russia with Mary Hockaday - do come along! www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com/events/lucy-...
Lucy Ash | Russia’s Church from Pagans to Putin - Cambridge Literary Festival
Lucy Ash | Russia’s Church from Pagans to Putin comes to Cambridge Literary Festival - make sure to get your tickets!
cambridgeliteraryfestival.com
open.substack.com/pub/zygaro/p... In a true sign of the times - the latent anger at being treated with contempt is beginning to surface. Bonya talks candidly about the climate of fear in Russia - even if it is from the safety of Monaco. And it has obviously struck a chord.
Monaco, the Kremlin, and a Viral Revolt
How an unlikely influencer became a voice of discontent in Russia
open.substack.com
German sculptor Jacques Tilly has been sentenced in absentia by a Russian court to 8.5 years in prison for his sculptures that mock Putin. He clearly hit a nerve. Absolute badge of honor.
Thanks to the Oxford Literary Festival for inviting me to speak about The Baton and The Cross and life in Russia today with fellow authors Jana Bakunina, Joe Luc Barnes and Alex Diggins. And thanks to Blenheim Palace park for a beautiful walk at sunset!
Poland isn’t just debating its future - it’s fighting over its past. In today’s deeply polarised climate, history has become a battleground and museums are on the frontline. ip-quarterly.com/en/polands-h...
Poland’s History War
Politically, Polish society is split down the middle and is embroiled in culture wars. Museums are caught in the crosshairs.
ip-quarterly.com
Our new issue, A New German Foreign Policy?, features @lucyaash.bsky.social, @andreasrinke.bsky.social, @bressansar.bsky.social, @wolfgangschmidt.bsky.social, @josephdeweck.bsky.social, @rebeccawire.bsky.social, @fraghi.bsky.social, @johnkampfner.bsky.social & more. ip-quarterly.com/en/spring-20...
Spring 2026 Issue: A New German Foreign Policy?
The 23rd issue of INTERNATIONALE POLITIK QUARTERLY focuses on German foreign policy one year after the Merz government came into office.
ip-quarterly.com
Job cuts at the British Foreign Office is another wilful act of self-harm, just at a time of maximum turbulence. My piece @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
In a dangerous world, Britain needs its diplomats more than ever – this is no time to axe them | John Kampfner
Cut off from Europe by Brexit and cast adrift by Donald Trump, maintaining diplomatic expertise and connections is crucial, says author John Kampfner
theguardian.com
Patriarch Kirill has degraded his church by turning it into an army recruitment office. My piece today for @chathamhouse.org www.chathamhouse.org/publications...
How the Russian Orthodox Church is recruiting for the Ukraine war – and alienating believers
The Patriarchate’s support for the military has intensified, and its outreach has expanded to America’s religious right. But for the faithful at home, trust in the church is wavering, writes Lucy Ash
chathamhouse.org
Outrageous that Austria's former foreign minister has earned over 1 million roubles for regurgitating Kremlin propaganda on Russian TV ...but this is a woman who danced with Putin on her wedding day. novayagazeta.eu/articles/202...
«Это хорошая жизнь». Европейские политики, которые публично поддерживают Путина, зарабатывают деньги в ток-шоу «Первого канала». Среди них — бывший министр иностранных дел Австрии Карин Кнайсль — Нова...
«Для меня понятно, что разжигатели войны — это политики в Брюсселе, а не кто-то еще. Там что-то поломалось, что-то испортилось — и это происходит во всём ЕС», — так бывший министр иностранных дел Авст...
novayagazeta.eu
Some very interesting reflections on fasting in wartime and forgiveness by Father Andrey Kordochkin in @themoscowtimes.com
Пост во время войны, или Можно ли простить врага? - Русская служба The Moscow Times
Мнение | о. Андрей Кордочкин - Идет Великий пост. Есть ли в нем смысл? Какая разница, что мы едим, когда сняты ограничения на уничтожение человека? Нужно ли имитировать собственную праведность в то вр...
ru.themoscowtimes.com
Pushkin House, which describes it self as "the only independent cultural organisation in the West whose mission is to deepen understanding of Russia" asked for my thoughts on the 4th anniversary of Putin's assault on Ukraine. www.pushkinhouse.org/pages/24-Feb...
24-February-2026
24-February-2026
pushkinhouse.org
On March 24, I will be in conversation @gowerst-books.bsky.social with @lucyaash.bsky.social about my new book, 'The Return of Russia: From Yeltsin to Putin, the Story of a Vengeful Kremlin.' (@yalebooks.bsky.social). If you are in London that evening, please come to join the discussion.
Huge thanks to Helen Shair for the invite to @authorsinoundle.bsky.social and to Russian military expert @keirgiles.bsky.social for expertly steering our chat on The Baton and the Cross. Also discovered he reads Old Church Slavonic - did not see that one coming!
Russian police in occupied Ukraine should be hit with Magnitsky sanctions says this excellent piece in Providence magazine. Anti-terrorism officers are being mobilised with Moscow’s Federal Security Service (FSB) to conduct raids and disappear Ukrainian Christians. providencemag.com/2026/02/puti...
Putin Demands Believers in Ukraine Pray His Way - Providence
The image of Russia as a bastion of conservative Christianity against a decadent West exists purely to legitimize Putin’s repression of any Christian communities beyond his control
providencemag.com
On Thursday (19 Feb) I'll be interviewing @lucyaash.bsky.social about her book 'The Baton And The Cross' on the Russian Orthodox Church - amzn.to/3Obg1oL We brainstormed some images for the welcome slideshow to remind the audience this is not a "church" in the sense they might be familiar with.
