Lucian Kim
@luciankim.bsky.social
Senior Ukraine Analyst @crisisgroup.org, former correspondent based in Berlin and Moscow, author of new @columbiaup.bsky.social book on why Russia invaded Ukraine. Rarely seen on social media.
Pinned
Lucian Kim
@luciankim.bsky.social
· Feb 13
Putin's Revenge | Columbia University Press
cup.columbia.edu
The war in Ukraine is not a quarrel in a faraway country between people of whom we know nothing. We know exactly who started it and that his aggression is directed as much against Ukraine as against the US and its allies. I wrote a whole book about it: cup.columbia.edu/book/putins-...
Pokrovsk, Ukraine. Portrait of a city in war by Tyler Hicks. View for free: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/w...
What Our Photographer Saw as a Safe City Became a Blood Bath
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Pokrovsk, Ukraine. Portrait of a city in war by Tyler Hicks. View for free: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/w...
Reposted by Lucian Kim
Rewatched Aki Kaurismäki’s “Le Havre” (2011). It does not pretend to offer any solutions to the migration crisis, but it does answer the question of how to retain your humanity when a destitute stranger washes up on your doorstep. As timely as ever. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqhA...
Le Havre (2011) Movie Trailer HD - TIFF - New York Film Festival NYFF
YouTube video by Rotten Tomatoes Trailers
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Rewatched Aki Kaurismäki’s “Le Havre” (2011). It does not pretend to offer any solutions to the migration crisis, but it does answer the question of how to retain your humanity when a destitute stranger washes up on your doorstep. As timely as ever. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqhA...
Rewatched Aki Kaurismäki’s “Le Havre” (2011). It does not pretend to offer any solutions to the migration crisis, but it does answer the question of how to retain your humanity when a destitute stranger washes up on your doorstep. As timely as ever. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqhA...
Le Havre (2011) Movie Trailer HD - TIFF - New York Film Festival NYFF
YouTube video by Rotten Tomatoes Trailers
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Rewatched Aki Kaurismäki’s “Le Havre” (2011). It does not pretend to offer any solutions to the migration crisis, but it does answer the question of how to retain your humanity when a destitute stranger washes up on your doorstep. As timely as ever. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqhA...
I've often heard about wounded Ukrainian troops getting evacuated by robots but never understood exactly how. No longer—this brilliant piece of reporting by C.J. Chivers is a harrowing trip into the kill zone and back. Read for free: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/m...
A Harrowing Escape From the Drone-Infested Hellscape of Ukraine’s Front Lines
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I've often heard about wounded Ukrainian troops getting evacuated by robots but never understood exactly how. No longer—this brilliant piece of reporting by C.J. Chivers is a harrowing trip into the kill zone and back. Read for free: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/m...
When in doubt, say that you've tested another nuclear weapon.
October 29, 2025 at 5:02 PM
When in doubt, say that you've tested another nuclear weapon.
Pokrovsk is on the brink—one more reason Putin doesn't want a ceasefire now.
"Pokrovsk faces its own final act in an environment of asphyxiating drone saturation at a level we have not seen in previous battles," warns Francis Farrell. kyivindependent.com/analysis-pok...
"Pokrovsk faces its own final act in an environment of asphyxiating drone saturation at a level we have not seen in previous battles," warns Francis Farrell. kyivindependent.com/analysis-pok...
Analysis: Pokrovsk on the brink as Russian troops, drones infiltrate deeper into Ukraine’s fortress city
At first, the pictures went viral for another reason.
Two Ukrainian civilians were shot dead and another injured on the roadside, the victims of another Russian war crime that was as everyday as it w...
kyivindependent.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Pokrovsk is on the brink—one more reason Putin doesn't want a ceasefire now.
"Pokrovsk faces its own final act in an environment of asphyxiating drone saturation at a level we have not seen in previous battles," warns Francis Farrell. kyivindependent.com/analysis-pok...
"Pokrovsk faces its own final act in an environment of asphyxiating drone saturation at a level we have not seen in previous battles," warns Francis Farrell. kyivindependent.com/analysis-pok...
No, Putin's phone call didn't sink a big Tomahawk announcement. But Trump heard Zelensky ask for weapons while Putin suggested more summitry.
We are not back to square one but at least back to Anchorage. truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
We are not back to square one but at least back to Anchorage. truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
Truth Social
Truth Social is America's
truthsocial.com
October 17, 2025 at 10:07 PM
No, Putin's phone call didn't sink a big Tomahawk announcement. But Trump heard Zelensky ask for weapons while Putin suggested more summitry.
We are not back to square one but at least back to Anchorage. truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
We are not back to square one but at least back to Anchorage. truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
The chill in the Trump-Putin relationship, if there ever was one, is over. With today's phone call, and a follow-on summit in Budapest, Putin will have the first and last word on Zelensky's White House meeting. truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
Truth Social
Truth Social is America's
truthsocial.com
October 16, 2025 at 6:02 PM
The chill in the Trump-Putin relationship, if there ever was one, is over. With today's phone call, and a follow-on summit in Budapest, Putin will have the first and last word on Zelensky's White House meeting. truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
Reposted by Lucian Kim
Putin is right about one thing—the root causes of Russia's war against Ukraine will not go away.
Now you can listen to my book on the war's origins, from what really happened in 2014 to the fateful steps leading up to the full-scale invasion. Sample here: rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97...
Now you can listen to my book on the war's origins, from what really happened in 2014 to the fateful steps leading up to the full-scale invasion. Sample here: rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97...
RBmedia | Putin's Revenge
Listen to the audiobook Putin's Revenge, written by Lucian Kim, narrated by David Lee Huynh.
rbmediaglobal.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Putin is right about one thing—the root causes of Russia's war against Ukraine will not go away.
Now you can listen to my book on the war's origins, from what really happened in 2014 to the fateful steps leading up to the full-scale invasion. Sample here: rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97...
Now you can listen to my book on the war's origins, from what really happened in 2014 to the fateful steps leading up to the full-scale invasion. Sample here: rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97...
Putin is right about one thing—the root causes of Russia's war against Ukraine will not go away.
Now you can listen to my book on the war's origins, from what really happened in 2014 to the fateful steps leading up to the full-scale invasion. Sample here: rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97...
Now you can listen to my book on the war's origins, from what really happened in 2014 to the fateful steps leading up to the full-scale invasion. Sample here: rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97...
RBmedia | Putin's Revenge
Listen to the audiobook Putin's Revenge, written by Lucian Kim, narrated by David Lee Huynh.
rbmediaglobal.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Putin is right about one thing—the root causes of Russia's war against Ukraine will not go away.
Now you can listen to my book on the war's origins, from what really happened in 2014 to the fateful steps leading up to the full-scale invasion. Sample here: rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97...
Now you can listen to my book on the war's origins, from what really happened in 2014 to the fateful steps leading up to the full-scale invasion. Sample here: rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97...
Join @crisisgroup.org for a 7-minute tour of Africa, from São Tomé and Príncipe to Libya and Mali, tracing the growing reach of Russia's Africa Corps (né Wagner). www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0yI...
MAPPING CONFLICT | Russia’s Growing Influence in Africa
YouTube video by International Crisis Group
www.youtube.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Join @crisisgroup.org for a 7-minute tour of Africa, from São Tomé and Príncipe to Libya and Mali, tracing the growing reach of Russia's Africa Corps (né Wagner). www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0yI...
Reposted by Lucian Kim
My thoughts on the Quantico meeting
Trump’s Speech to Generals Was Incitement to Violence Against Americans
Military leaders’ quiet professionalism offers hope amid a maelstrom.
foreignpolicy.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:39 PM
My thoughts on the Quantico meeting
As someone who has covered Putin for 20+ years, I'm always surprised by how much speculation surrounds his intentions. Although Putin dissembles, he also says what he thinks—it's just that people don't want to hear him. Here's what he said today about Zelensky and a peace deal:
September 5, 2025 at 7:21 PM
As someone who has covered Putin for 20+ years, I'm always surprised by how much speculation surrounds his intentions. Although Putin dissembles, he also says what he thinks—it's just that people don't want to hear him. Here's what he said today about Zelensky and a peace deal:
"First they swarm us with drones and bomb drops. Then they come in to clear the position. We hear their voices, it's usually two of them, and the firefight starts."
Essential reporting on the Ukrainian troops holding the line, by @francisjfarrell. kyivindependent.com/behind-ukrai...
Essential reporting on the Ukrainian troops holding the line, by @francisjfarrell. kyivindependent.com/behind-ukrai...
Behind Ukraine’s manpower crisis lies a bleak new battlefield reality for infantry
Editor’s Note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only.
DONETSK OBLAST – Since he first v...
kyivindependent.com
September 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
"First they swarm us with drones and bomb drops. Then they come in to clear the position. We hear their voices, it's usually two of them, and the firefight starts."
Essential reporting on the Ukrainian troops holding the line, by @francisjfarrell. kyivindependent.com/behind-ukrai...
Essential reporting on the Ukrainian troops holding the line, by @francisjfarrell. kyivindependent.com/behind-ukrai...
Reposted by Lucian Kim
President lifts golden weight bar in front of his applauding cabinet. www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Pd...
Turkmenistan's president lifts golden weight bar in front of his applauding cabinet
YouTube video by The Telegraph
www.youtube.com
August 27, 2025 at 2:24 PM
President lifts golden weight bar in front of his applauding cabinet. www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Pd...
Reposted by Lucian Kim
Mid-August's flurry of news, speculation, & summitry made it hard to keep track of reality. To help, we've got last week's commentary from @crisisgroup.org's @luciankim.bsky.social & Oleg Ignatov on the underlying facts of the present stage of the Russo-Ukrainian war & attendant diplomacy. A 🧵. 1/12
Beyond the Ukraine Summits: Five Realities after Three Years of War | International Crisis Group
As the dust settles on two whirlwind summits, it is clear only that diplomacy aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine must meet a higher bar. Crisis Group experts offer observations about five realiti...
www.crisisgroup.org
August 27, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Mid-August's flurry of news, speculation, & summitry made it hard to keep track of reality. To help, we've got last week's commentary from @crisisgroup.org's @luciankim.bsky.social & Oleg Ignatov on the underlying facts of the present stage of the Russo-Ukrainian war & attendant diplomacy. A 🧵. 1/12
President lifts golden weight bar in front of his applauding cabinet. www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Pd...
Turkmenistan's president lifts golden weight bar in front of his applauding cabinet
YouTube video by The Telegraph
www.youtube.com
August 27, 2025 at 2:24 PM
President lifts golden weight bar in front of his applauding cabinet. www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Pd...
Reposted by Lucian Kim
Worth noting is Lavrov's remark that Putin recognizes Zelensky as "de facto head of regime" and is ready to meet with him—but that when the time comes to sign any agreement, there will need to be a Ukrainian representative deemed legitimate by the Kremlin. Remember that.
August 25, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Worth noting is Lavrov's remark that Putin recognizes Zelensky as "de facto head of regime" and is ready to meet with him—but that when the time comes to sign any agreement, there will need to be a Ukrainian representative deemed legitimate by the Kremlin. Remember that.
Reposted by Lucian Kim
(Also, it is incorrect to say WW2, like all major conflicts, was settled by some kind of negotiation. Both Germany and Japan surrendered unconditionally and faced military occupation; their opinion did not count.)
August 25, 2025 at 8:25 PM
(Also, it is incorrect to say WW2, like all major conflicts, was settled by some kind of negotiation. Both Germany and Japan surrendered unconditionally and faced military occupation; their opinion did not count.)
Reposted by Lucian Kim
JD Vance boils disagreement down to security guarantees (critical to Ukraine) vs. borders (critical to Russia).
Yes for Kyiv, no for Moscow. Putin doesn't want new territories per se; he wants to revassilize Ukraine—that is the crux of the conflict. www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-pre...
Yes for Kyiv, no for Moscow. Putin doesn't want new territories per se; he wants to revassilize Ukraine—that is the crux of the conflict. www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-pre...
Meet the Press – August 24, 2025
Vice President JD Vance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Monica Alba, Matt Gorman, Fmr. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, and Amna Nawaz
www.nbcnews.com
August 25, 2025 at 8:17 PM
JD Vance boils disagreement down to security guarantees (critical to Ukraine) vs. borders (critical to Russia).
Yes for Kyiv, no for Moscow. Putin doesn't want new territories per se; he wants to revassilize Ukraine—that is the crux of the conflict. www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-pre...
Yes for Kyiv, no for Moscow. Putin doesn't want new territories per se; he wants to revassilize Ukraine—that is the crux of the conflict. www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-pre...
Reposted by Lucian Kim
Almost no news in NBC's 50-minute Lavrov interview, an avalanche of Kremlin talking points ("2014 coup", "Nazis") and denials "no civilian targeting", "no Bucha"). Lavrov seemed uncharacteristically nervous, twisting a paper clip for a good part of the interview.
August 25, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Almost no news in NBC's 50-minute Lavrov interview, an avalanche of Kremlin talking points ("2014 coup", "Nazis") and denials "no civilian targeting", "no Bucha"). Lavrov seemed uncharacteristically nervous, twisting a paper clip for a good part of the interview.
JD Vance boils disagreement down to security guarantees (critical to Ukraine) vs. borders (critical to Russia).
Yes for Kyiv, no for Moscow. Putin doesn't want new territories per se; he wants to revassilize Ukraine—that is the crux of the conflict. www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-pre...
Yes for Kyiv, no for Moscow. Putin doesn't want new territories per se; he wants to revassilize Ukraine—that is the crux of the conflict. www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-pre...
Meet the Press – August 24, 2025
Vice President JD Vance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Monica Alba, Matt Gorman, Fmr. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, and Amna Nawaz
www.nbcnews.com
August 25, 2025 at 8:17 PM
JD Vance boils disagreement down to security guarantees (critical to Ukraine) vs. borders (critical to Russia).
Yes for Kyiv, no for Moscow. Putin doesn't want new territories per se; he wants to revassilize Ukraine—that is the crux of the conflict. www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-pre...
Yes for Kyiv, no for Moscow. Putin doesn't want new territories per se; he wants to revassilize Ukraine—that is the crux of the conflict. www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-pre...
Almost no news in NBC's 50-minute Lavrov interview, an avalanche of Kremlin talking points ("2014 coup", "Nazis") and denials "no civilian targeting", "no Bucha"). Lavrov seemed uncharacteristically nervous, twisting a paper clip for a good part of the interview.
August 25, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Almost no news in NBC's 50-minute Lavrov interview, an avalanche of Kremlin talking points ("2014 coup", "Nazis") and denials "no civilian targeting", "no Bucha"). Lavrov seemed uncharacteristically nervous, twisting a paper clip for a good part of the interview.
I'm reminded of the curse during the Bosnian war: "May your house appear on CNN." Now they're showing Dobropillia, the hometown of my best Ukrainian friend, on BBC. People always think war is someone else's misfortune until it comes, as always, uninvited. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Inside Donetsk as residents flee attacks on Ukrainian region Putin wants to control
Quentin Sommerville follows volunteers carrying out evacuations in eastern Ukraine as drone attacks rage.
www.bbc.com
August 25, 2025 at 6:06 PM
I'm reminded of the curse during the Bosnian war: "May your house appear on CNN." Now they're showing Dobropillia, the hometown of my best Ukrainian friend, on BBC. People always think war is someone else's misfortune until it comes, as always, uninvited. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Lucian Kim
Question 2: How likely is a trilateral summit? Putin disdains Zelensky, who defied him by staying alive and fighting back. The Europeans' support for a "trilat" seems to be one way of getting behind Trump and heaving the ball back into Putin's court after Anchorage.
August 18, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Question 2: How likely is a trilateral summit? Putin disdains Zelensky, who defied him by staying alive and fighting back. The Europeans' support for a "trilat" seems to be one way of getting behind Trump and heaving the ball back into Putin's court after Anchorage.