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
Pinned
Mike Eckel
@mikeeckel.bsky.social
· Jan 13
Vladimir Gusinsky was once one of Russia’s most influential oligarchs. In recent years, he’s been tangled in lawsuits, debt disputes, and legal fights. He’s also drawn scrutiny from the FBI for, among other things, his ties to former FBI special agent Charles McGonigal. 🧵👇
Nomma Zarubina, the Russian woman charged with lying to the FBI about her (alleged) ties to the FSB -- who then had her bail revoked because she was drunk-texting an FBI agent -- has changed her plea, now pleading guilty. She'll be sentenced in June.
www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr...
www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr...
www.justice.gov
February 20, 2026 at 6:14 AM
Nomma Zarubina, the Russian woman charged with lying to the FBI about her (alleged) ties to the FSB -- who then had her bail revoked because she was drunk-texting an FBI agent -- has changed her plea, now pleading guilty. She'll be sentenced in June.
www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr...
www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr...
looks like the participation of revisionist historian Vladimir Medinsky, as head of the Russian negotiating team in Geneva, didn't go over so well...
February 19, 2026 at 6:46 AM
looks like the participation of revisionist historian Vladimir Medinsky, as head of the Russian negotiating team in Geneva, didn't go over so well...
Putin declares that demographics will be a national priority for the Russian government for the coming year (narrator's voice: he declared demographics to be a national priority in his first state-of-the-nation address in 2000-- and it's been a priority nearly every year since)
February 18, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Putin declares that demographics will be a national priority for the Russian government for the coming year (narrator's voice: he declared demographics to be a national priority in his first state-of-the-nation address in 2000-- and it's been a priority nearly every year since)
"The former Ukrainian army general widely seen as the top political rival to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken publicly for the first time about a deep rift between the two men."
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
February 18, 2026 at 10:55 AM
"The former Ukrainian army general widely seen as the top political rival to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken publicly for the first time about a deep rift between the two men."
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
Russia's lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky: today's talks (with Ukraine) were difficult but business-like.
February 18, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Russia's lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky: today's talks (with Ukraine) were difficult but business-like.
🧐The second day of Russian Ukrainian peace talks in Geneva have ended after just under 2 hours. Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky says they were difficult. More talks to be planned in near future.
t.me/tass_agency/...
t.me/tass_agency/...
ТАСС
Переговоры в Женеве продлились около двух часов, были тяжелыми, но деловыми. Новая встреча по Украине состоится в ближайшее время, сообщил Мединский.
t.me
February 18, 2026 at 10:04 AM
🧐The second day of Russian Ukrainian peace talks in Geneva have ended after just under 2 hours. Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky says they were difficult. More talks to be planned in near future.
t.me/tass_agency/...
t.me/tass_agency/...
Russia and Ukrainian negotiators are meeting in Geneva today for the latest round of US-brokered peace talks. Overnight, hours ahead of the talks, Moscow fired more than 420 drones and cruise/ballistic missiles at targets across Ukraine, including Odesa.
February 17, 2026 at 8:11 AM
Russia and Ukrainian negotiators are meeting in Geneva today for the latest round of US-brokered peace talks. Overnight, hours ahead of the talks, Moscow fired more than 420 drones and cruise/ballistic missiles at targets across Ukraine, including Odesa.
Rubio is asked why the US didn't join in European report about the frog toxin poisoning of Navalny: "Sometimes countries go out and do their thing based on intelligence they gather...It's a troubling report. We don't have any reason to question it."
www.youtube.com/live/aRHHBcG...
www.youtube.com/live/aRHHBcG...
Secretary Rubio holds a joint press availability with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico - 7:30AM
YouTube video by U.S. Department of State
www.youtube.com
February 15, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Rubio is asked why the US didn't join in European report about the frog toxin poisoning of Navalny: "Sometimes countries go out and do their thing based on intelligence they gather...It's a troubling report. We don't have any reason to question it."
www.youtube.com/live/aRHHBcG...
www.youtube.com/live/aRHHBcG...
Statement from Britain, Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands on Alexei Navalny's poisoning:
February 14, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Statement from Britain, Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands on Alexei Navalny's poisoning:
Reposted by Mike Eckel
🇩🇪 🇺🇸 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure a nervous Europe on Saturday, saying that Washington wanted to "revitalise" the transatlantic alliance so that a strong Europe could help the US on its mission of global "renewal" ➡️ u.afp.com/S6iy
February 14, 2026 at 9:43 AM
🇩🇪 🇺🇸 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure a nervous Europe on Saturday, saying that Washington wanted to "revitalise" the transatlantic alliance so that a strong Europe could help the US on its mission of global "renewal" ➡️ u.afp.com/S6iy
Reposted by Mike Eckel
The next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks will be held in Geneva on Feb. 17-18, per Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. And the Russian delegation will be headed by Vladimir Medinsky, the revisionist historian. (The Ukrainians will be less than thrilled)
interfax.ru/russia/1072631
interfax.ru/russia/1072631
Новый раунд переговоров по Украине пройдет 17-18 февраля в Женеве
Интерфакс: Новый раунд переговоров РФ, США и Украины состоится в Женеве, российскую делегацию возглавит помощник президента РФ Владимир Мединский, сообщил пресс-секретарь российского лидера Дмитрий Пе...
interfax.ru
February 13, 2026 at 11:06 AM
The next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks will be held in Geneva on Feb. 17-18, per Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. And the Russian delegation will be headed by Vladimir Medinsky, the revisionist historian. (The Ukrainians will be less than thrilled)
interfax.ru/russia/1072631
interfax.ru/russia/1072631
SpaceX Dragon rocket blasting off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida just now, carrying 2 Americans, 1 French, and 1 Russian to the International Space Station. This is currently only way to get humans to the station, due to major accident at Roscosmos' Baikonur launch pad in Nov.
February 13, 2026 at 10:41 AM
SpaceX Dragon rocket blasting off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida just now, carrying 2 Americans, 1 French, and 1 Russian to the International Space Station. This is currently only way to get humans to the station, due to major accident at Roscosmos' Baikonur launch pad in Nov.
Reposted by Mike Eckel
“Everything he was doing to make America great I was cool with up until he started messing with the immigrants,” said Andre Lewis, 32, who lives in White Bear Lake.
Gotta love the American voter
www.startribune.com/minnesotas-s...
Gotta love the American voter
www.startribune.com/minnesotas-s...
Minnesota’s suburbs are an election battleground. Trump’s immigration surge is unpopular there.
A new poll shows suburban residents and independents aligning more with Twin Cities residents in opposing Trump’s crackdown and immigration agents’ tactics.
www.startribune.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:39 PM
“Everything he was doing to make America great I was cool with up until he started messing with the immigrants,” said Andre Lewis, 32, who lives in White Bear Lake.
Gotta love the American voter
www.startribune.com/minnesotas-s...
Gotta love the American voter
www.startribune.com/minnesotas-s...
👀
February 12, 2026 at 8:25 AM
👀
Russia's tech regulator Roskomnadzor has begun throttling Telegram, citing the messenger app's "failure to comply with Russian law." The move is the part of an ongoing effort to push Russians away from non-state-controlled apps (incl. WhatsApp) and onto Messenger Max.
www.interfax.ru/digital/1072...
www.interfax.ru/digital/1072...
February 10, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Russia's tech regulator Roskomnadzor has begun throttling Telegram, citing the messenger app's "failure to comply with Russian law." The move is the part of an ongoing effort to push Russians away from non-state-controlled apps (incl. WhatsApp) and onto Messenger Max.
www.interfax.ru/digital/1072...
www.interfax.ru/digital/1072...
Viktor Bout (convicted arms dealer, “Lord of War” inspiration etc.), newly interviewed by propaganda channel linked to former Wagner Group. Says he’s getting back into business in Africa, a middle finger to enemies: "Despite everything, you guys didn't get what you wanted."
February 10, 2026 at 7:15 AM
Viktor Bout (convicted arms dealer, “Lord of War” inspiration etc.), newly interviewed by propaganda channel linked to former Wagner Group. Says he’s getting back into business in Africa, a middle finger to enemies: "Despite everything, you guys didn't get what you wanted."
The European Union is teeing up its 20th round of sanctions, related to the Russian war on Ukraine. Among the new targets is a Kyrgyz cryptocurrency exchange called Meer, where the ruble-backed stablecoin A7A5 has major trading volumes.
February 9, 2026 at 2:52 PM
The European Union is teeing up its 20th round of sanctions, related to the Russian war on Ukraine. Among the new targets is a Kyrgyz cryptocurrency exchange called Meer, where the ruble-backed stablecoin A7A5 has major trading volumes.
The Kremlin's "Anchorage Formula" has now become "The Spirit of Anchorage"
February 9, 2026 at 10:19 AM
The Kremlin's "Anchorage Formula" has now become "The Spirit of Anchorage"
Russia's FSB, trickling out new purported details of the alleged attackers of GRU Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev: the shooter was recruited by Ukraine's SBU last Aug.; was trained at a Kyiv shooting range; was promised $30K. His accomplice was allegedly a Navalny supporter. (caveat lector etc.)
February 9, 2026 at 6:36 AM
Russia's FSB, trickling out new purported details of the alleged attackers of GRU Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev: the shooter was recruited by Ukraine's SBU last Aug.; was trained at a Kyiv shooting range; was promised $30K. His accomplice was allegedly a Navalny supporter. (caveat lector etc.)
"As someone who worked happily at the Post for a decade a long time ago, and as an ardent reader of the paper, I am sick about all this. I feel like someone forced to watch an arsonist torch the house he grew up in."
In @newyorker.com Daily newsletter, David Remnick weighs in on Bezos dismantling the @washingtonpost. “I feel like someone forced to watch an arsonist torch the house he grew up in.” www.newyorker.com/newsletter/t...
Democracy Dies in Broad Daylight
The dismantling of the Washington Post is a choice, not a necessity, and the blame lies with Jeff Bezos.
www.newyorker.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:20 PM
"As someone who worked happily at the Post for a decade a long time ago, and as an ardent reader of the paper, I am sick about all this. I feel like someone forced to watch an arsonist torch the house he grew up in."
The FSB also released surveillance video of the alleged shooter, as well as (super dodgy) video of the person detained in Dubai arriving in Moscow, accompanied by FSB agents.
February 8, 2026 at 7:42 AM
The FSB also released surveillance video of the alleged shooter, as well as (super dodgy) video of the person detained in Dubai arriving in Moscow, accompanied by FSB agents.
A third person (a Russian citizen) has been detained in Dubai in connection with the shooting of Russian Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev, per the FSB. Another Russian was detained in Moscow; a third reportedly fled to Ukraine.
February 8, 2026 at 7:28 AM
A third person (a Russian citizen) has been detained in Dubai in connection with the shooting of Russian Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev, per the FSB. Another Russian was detained in Moscow; a third reportedly fled to Ukraine.
Latest on the shooting of Russian Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev. Per @kommersant.bsky.social, 2 suspects have been detained, being questioned. He underwent emergency surgery; 1 bullet pierced vital organ. TASS says his life is not in danger.
www.kommersant.ru/doc/8418811
tass.ru/obschestvo/2...
www.kommersant.ru/doc/8418811
tass.ru/obschestvo/2...
👀Russian Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev -- who is the second-ranking officer at the GRU military intelligence agency -- was shot in Moscow (reportedly in the back) Investigators say it appears to have been an assassination attempt.
sledcom.ru/news/item/20...
www.interfax.ru/moscow/1071400
sledcom.ru/news/item/20...
www.interfax.ru/moscow/1071400
В Москве совершено покушение на генерал-лейтенанта Минобороны РФ
Интерфакс: Пострадавший госпитализирован, по факту инцидента возбуждено уголовное дело, заявили в СКР
www.interfax.ru
February 7, 2026 at 9:52 AM
Latest on the shooting of Russian Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev. Per @kommersant.bsky.social, 2 suspects have been detained, being questioned. He underwent emergency surgery; 1 bullet pierced vital organ. TASS says his life is not in danger.
www.kommersant.ru/doc/8418811
tass.ru/obschestvo/2...
www.kommersant.ru/doc/8418811
tass.ru/obschestvo/2...