Laura Starink
@laurastarink.bsky.social
Slavicist, journalist, writer. Former Moscow correspondent of Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad. Published 5 books: 'Mail from Russia', 'The Russian Hangover', 'German Roots', 'The Shadow of Big Brother' and 'A Land from Hearsay
Reposted by Laura Starink
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it would reduce Poland’s diplomatic presence in Russia in response to the closure of its Gdansk consulate.
Poland to Close Russia’s Last Consulate in Response to Sabotage Accusations - The Moscow Times
Poland will revoke permission for Russia’s last operating consulate in the country, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Wednesday, after Warsaw accused Moscow of orchestrating acts of sabot...
www.themoscowtimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it would reduce Poland’s diplomatic presence in Russia in response to the closure of its Gdansk consulate.
Reposted by Laura Starink
#BBCNews - Russian attack hits flats in one of deadliest strikes on western Ukraine
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#UkraineWar
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#UkraineWar
Russian attack on Ternopil hits flats in one of deadliest strikes on western Ukraine
At least 16 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in the attack on the western region of Ternopil.
www.bbc.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:13 AM
#BBCNews - Russian attack hits flats in one of deadliest strikes on western Ukraine
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#UkraineWar
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#UkraineWar
Reposted by Laura Starink
Reposted by Laura Starink
At least 16 people died and 64 others were wounded when Russian drones and missiles struck two residential high-rises in Ternopil on Wednesday morning, the National Police of Ukraine reported.
Death toll in Russian attack on Ternopil rises to 16, number of injured stands at 64
At least 16 people died and 64 others were wounded when Russian drones and missiles struck two residential high-rises in Ternopil early on Wednesday, the National Police of Ukraine reported .
hromadske.ua
November 19, 2025 at 11:10 AM
At least 16 people died and 64 others were wounded when Russian drones and missiles struck two residential high-rises in Ternopil on Wednesday morning, the National Police of Ukraine reported.
Reposted by Laura Starink
🇺🇦❗️ Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned Ukraine is running short on soldiers as many men flee abroad, - POLITICO
He said Russian forces attack in relentless "waves" and urged lowering the draft age from 25 to around 22.
He said Russian forces attack in relentless "waves" and urged lowering the draft age from 25 to around 22.
November 12, 2025 at 9:07 AM
🇺🇦❗️ Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned Ukraine is running short on soldiers as many men flee abroad, - POLITICO
He said Russian forces attack in relentless "waves" and urged lowering the draft age from 25 to around 22.
He said Russian forces attack in relentless "waves" and urged lowering the draft age from 25 to around 22.
Reposted by Laura Starink
Ukraine suspends justice minister amid energy corruption scandal – Europe live
Ukraine suspends justice minister amid energy corruption scandal – Europe live
Prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said that the decision to suspend German Galushchenko had been taken at an emergency government session
Ukrainian justice minister German Galushchenko has been suspended amid an alleged corruption scandal in the country’s energy sector, uncovered by the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, or SAPO.
AFP reported that the authorities alleged that Galushchenko was involved in a $100m corruption scheme orchestrated by Timur Mindich, an ally of president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and personally benefited from the plot. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Ukraine suspends justice minister amid energy corruption scandal – Europe live
Reposted by Laura Starink
In today’s Russian papers:
▪️ Russia’s budget deficit gets bigger
▪️ plans for a new “tax on gadgets”
▪️ a “cooling off period” for SIM cards
▪️t he dangers of rehabilitating Joseph Stalin
#ReadingRussia
▪️ Russia’s budget deficit gets bigger
▪️ plans for a new “tax on gadgets”
▪️ a “cooling off period” for SIM cards
▪️t he dangers of rehabilitating Joseph Stalin
#ReadingRussia
Russia: budget deficit grows and new "tax on gadgets"
YouTube video by Steve Rosenberg
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 9:11 AM
In today’s Russian papers:
▪️ Russia’s budget deficit gets bigger
▪️ plans for a new “tax on gadgets”
▪️ a “cooling off period” for SIM cards
▪️t he dangers of rehabilitating Joseph Stalin
#ReadingRussia
▪️ Russia’s budget deficit gets bigger
▪️ plans for a new “tax on gadgets”
▪️ a “cooling off period” for SIM cards
▪️t he dangers of rehabilitating Joseph Stalin
#ReadingRussia
Reposted by Laura Starink
In Kyiv, a court is deciding pre-trial measures for Dmytro Basov, a key figure in the "Mindych tapes" case. Basov, ex-security director of Energoatom and a former prosecutor, is accused by NABU of co-leading the scheme under the alias "Tenor." SAP seeks his arrest with bail set at 45.4 million UAH.
November 12, 2025 at 9:16 AM
In Kyiv, a court is deciding pre-trial measures for Dmytro Basov, a key figure in the "Mindych tapes" case. Basov, ex-security director of Energoatom and a former prosecutor, is accused by NABU of co-leading the scheme under the alias "Tenor." SAP seeks his arrest with bail set at 45.4 million UAH.
Reposted by Laura Starink
Ukraine’s Justice Minister German Galushchenko has been suspended amid a sweeping corruption probe into the country’s energy sector, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko announced.
Ukraine’s justice minister suspended amid $100M corruption probe
Growing scandal rattles Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government in Kyiv.
www.politico.eu
November 12, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Ukraine’s Justice Minister German Galushchenko has been suspended amid a sweeping corruption probe into the country’s energy sector, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko announced.
Reposted by Laura Starink
Russia claimed it is ready for new direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, while NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov arrived in Turkey to restart stalled prisoner exchange negotiations.
www.kyivpost.com/post/64083
www.kyivpost.com/post/64083
Moscow Again Signals ‘Readiness’ for Negotiations With Ukraine – But on Whose Terms?
Russia claimed it is ready for new direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, while NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov arrived in Turkey to restart stalled prisoner exchange negotiations.
www.kyivpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Russia claimed it is ready for new direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, while NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov arrived in Turkey to restart stalled prisoner exchange negotiations.
www.kyivpost.com/post/64083
www.kyivpost.com/post/64083
Reposted by Laura Starink
Fighting in Ukraine will grind on in 2026. Vladimir Putin will continue to throw away Russian lives pointlessly, but sooner or later a reckoning is coming
Vladimir Putin has no plan for winning in Ukraine
Fighting in Ukraine will grind on in 2026. Vladimir Putin will continue to throw away Russian lives pointlessly, but sooner or later a reckoning is coming
econ.st
November 12, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Fighting in Ukraine will grind on in 2026. Vladimir Putin will continue to throw away Russian lives pointlessly, but sooner or later a reckoning is coming
Reposted by Laura Starink
Russian regions bordering Ukraine, including Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk, regularly report civilian casualties and damage from drone and missile attacks.
Ukrainian Drone Attacks Have Killed Nearly 400 People Across Russia in 2025, MFA Official Says - The Moscow Times
Almost 400 people have been killed in Ukrainian drone strikes across Russia since January, the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia reported on Wednesday, citing a senior Foreign Ministry official.
www.themoscowtimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Russian regions bordering Ukraine, including Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk, regularly report civilian casualties and damage from drone and missile attacks.
Reposted by Laura Starink
Radicaalrechts lied over azc’s van YouTube en Spotify verdwenen
Radicaalrechts lied over azc’s van YouTube en Spotify verdwenen
Het radicaalrechtse anti-azc-lied Wij zeggen nee, nee, nee tegen een azc staat woensdag niet meer op YouTube en Spotify.
www.trouw.nl
November 12, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Radicaalrechts lied over azc’s van YouTube en Spotify verdwenen
Reposted by Laura Starink
The phrase “We tried to tell you” springs to mind for some reason
NEW Economist/YouGov
Net favorability of Donald Trump [at the start of his second term | now] among...
White Americans +13 | -3
Hispanic Americans -12 | -34
Black Americans -31 | -70
today.yougov.com/politics/art...
Net favorability of Donald Trump [at the start of his second term | now] among...
White Americans +13 | -3
Hispanic Americans -12 | -34
Black Americans -31 | -70
today.yougov.com/politics/art...
![A multiple line chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Views of Donald Trump among U.S. adult citizens, and among white, Black, and Hispanic Americans."
The chart has the sub-headline: "Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of the following people? [Donald Trump] (% with a very or somewhat favorable opinion minus the % with a very or somewhat unfavorable opinion)."
The chart has the note: "Note: Responses of "don't know" are not shown."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ke6f766al4swdugyvmvyipuo/bafkreigqma7j6x4uqqpurm36v6v32d7spdyjyajgo3xzlqu7ii7nhha6vy@jpeg)
October 30, 2025 at 2:27 AM
The phrase “We tried to tell you” springs to mind for some reason
Reposted by Laura Starink
Rob Jetten grote winnaar, maar VVD heeft sleutel van formatie in handen
Rob Jetten grote winnaar, maar VVD heeft sleutel van formatie in handen
www.volkskrant.nl
October 30, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Rob Jetten grote winnaar, maar VVD heeft sleutel van formatie in handen
Reposted by Laura Starink
The president wants to resume nuclear testing. This is a really bad idea - and he can't even get his facts right about why he wants to do it:
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Trump Is Very Confused About Nuclear Weapons
The president says he wants to resume nuclear testing but doesn’t seem to know why.
www.theatlantic.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:39 AM
The president wants to resume nuclear testing. This is a really bad idea - and he can't even get his facts right about why he wants to do it:
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by Laura Starink
Het was zijn energie waarmee D66-leider Rob Jetten succes boekte deze campagne. Onwankelbaar, optimistisch en niet vies van een beetje theater. Een beetje zoals... Rutte. @kimvankeken.bsky.social
Met een partijleider die transformeerde van klimaatdrammer naar positivo boekte D66 een grote verkiezingswinst
Het was zijn energie waarmee D66-leider Rob Jetten succes boekte deze campagne. Onwankelbaar, optimistisch en niet vies van een beetje theater. Een beetje zoals… Rutte.
buff.ly
October 30, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Het was zijn energie waarmee D66-leider Rob Jetten succes boekte deze campagne. Onwankelbaar, optimistisch en niet vies van een beetje theater. Een beetje zoals... Rutte. @kimvankeken.bsky.social
Reposted by Laura Starink
Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy, railway, and residential infrastructure last night.
▪️ In Zaporizhzhia, private houses and apartment buildings were damaged. One person was killed. More than a dozen people were injured, including six children. Russia struck a dormitory, destroying several floors.
▪️ In Zaporizhzhia, private houses and apartment buildings were damaged. One person was killed. More than a dozen people were injured, including six children. Russia struck a dormitory, destroying several floors.
October 30, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy, railway, and residential infrastructure last night.
▪️ In Zaporizhzhia, private houses and apartment buildings were damaged. One person was killed. More than a dozen people were injured, including six children. Russia struck a dormitory, destroying several floors.
▪️ In Zaporizhzhia, private houses and apartment buildings were damaged. One person was killed. More than a dozen people were injured, including six children. Russia struck a dormitory, destroying several floors.
Reposted by Laura Starink
Pretty scary that a dottering man who wrongly thinks Russia and China are testing nukes, who doesn’t know which part of his government is in charge of US nukes, and assumes they can be tested “immediately” has sole authority to order their launch.
October 30, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Pretty scary that a dottering man who wrongly thinks Russia and China are testing nukes, who doesn’t know which part of his government is in charge of US nukes, and assumes they can be tested “immediately” has sole authority to order their launch.
Reposted by Laura Starink
Intellectueel zijn is een doodszonde in zompig Nederland.
‘Er zijn ook mensen die zeggen dat hij misschien te intellectueel was…’
Over Timmermans. Journalist in gesprek met Klaver. 🙃
Over Timmermans. Journalist in gesprek met Klaver. 🙃
October 30, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Intellectueel zijn is een doodszonde in zompig Nederland.
That Putin will not accept.
Zelensky may also be heading to Budapest. CBS News, based on sources, reports that Trump will discuss with the Ukrainian president the possibility of a direct meeting with Putin in Hungary.
October 17, 2025 at 3:02 PM
That Putin will not accept.
Reposted by Laura Starink
NO KINGS!
Join the nationwide protest this Saturday, October 18th - America has no monarchs and no one is above the law. #NoKings
nokings.org
Join the nationwide protest this Saturday, October 18th - America has no monarchs and no one is above the law. #NoKings
nokings.org
No Kings
As the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the NO KINGS non-violent movement continues to rise stronger. We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power ...
nokings.org
October 17, 2025 at 2:40 PM
NO KINGS!
Join the nationwide protest this Saturday, October 18th - America has no monarchs and no one is above the law. #NoKings
nokings.org
Join the nationwide protest this Saturday, October 18th - America has no monarchs and no one is above the law. #NoKings
nokings.org
Reposted by Laura Starink
De benoeming van Oleksandr Alfjorov tot directeur van het Oekraïense Instituut voor Nationale Herinnering heeft tot ophef geleid. Het laat zien hoe geschiedenis een wapen in een oorlog op leven en dood is geworden, schrijft @laurastarink.bsky.social.
platformraam.nl/artikelen/28...
platformraam.nl/artikelen/28...
Benoeming omstreden Oekraïense historicus rakelt oorlog om het verleden op
De benoeming van Oleksandr Alfjorov tot directeur van het Oekraïense Instituut voor Nationale Herinnering in Kyiv heeft de afgelopen weken tot ophef...
platformraam.nl
July 24, 2025 at 4:26 PM
De benoeming van Oleksandr Alfjorov tot directeur van het Oekraïense Instituut voor Nationale Herinnering heeft tot ophef geleid. Het laat zien hoe geschiedenis een wapen in een oorlog op leven en dood is geworden, schrijft @laurastarink.bsky.social.
platformraam.nl/artikelen/28...
platformraam.nl/artikelen/28...
Reposted by Laura Starink
Die Versuche Karl Schlögel als Kriegstreiber darzustellen offenbaren den Amoklauf gegen die Wirklichkeit, wenn es um Russlands Krieg in der Ukraine geht, schonungslos. Historiker, die seit Jahren vor russischer Aggression warnen, die klar die wahren Wurzeln des Konflikts 1/
July 31, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Die Versuche Karl Schlögel als Kriegstreiber darzustellen offenbaren den Amoklauf gegen die Wirklichkeit, wenn es um Russlands Krieg in der Ukraine geht, schonungslos. Historiker, die seit Jahren vor russischer Aggression warnen, die klar die wahren Wurzeln des Konflikts 1/
Reposted by Laura Starink
⚡️Update: 15 killed, 135 injured in mass Russian strike on Kyiv.
"Unfortunately, the worst predictions regarding the number of people who may be trapped under the rubble have been confirmed," Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city's military administration, said.
"Unfortunately, the worst predictions regarding the number of people who may be trapped under the rubble have been confirmed," Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city's military administration, said.
15 killed, record number of children injured in Russia’s massive attack on Kyiv
Three police officers and 12 children were among the injured. Thirty people, including five children, remain hospitalized as of 2:40 p.m. local time, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
kyivindependent.com
July 31, 2025 at 5:16 PM
⚡️Update: 15 killed, 135 injured in mass Russian strike on Kyiv.
"Unfortunately, the worst predictions regarding the number of people who may be trapped under the rubble have been confirmed," Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city's military administration, said.
"Unfortunately, the worst predictions regarding the number of people who may be trapped under the rubble have been confirmed," Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city's military administration, said.