Nikolaus von Twickel
@niktwick.bsky.social
Editor with @libmod.de in Berlin, responsible for @russlandverstehen.eu; Longtime Journalist and Russia watcher. Formerly with the OSCE SMM in Donetsk 🇺🇦, @dpa.com Moscow and @themoscowtimes.com 📧 n.vontwickel@greyfriars.oxon.org; @niktwick.69 on Signal
Russia has declared key successor organizations to the dissolved @enmemorial.bsky.social as "undesirable" – Zukunft Memorial, registered in Berlin, and the Geneva-registered Memorial International
Das russische Justizministerium hat die Liste der "unerwünschten Organisationen" aktualisiert. Darauf stehen zwei Nachfolger der 2022 zwangsaufgelösten Organisation #Memorial: Der Verein "Zukunft Memorial" in Berlin sowie das Netzwerk "Memorial International" in Genf:
meduza.io/news/2026/02...
meduza.io/news/2026/02...
Новые «нежелательные»: международный «Мемориал» и проект Ильи Шуманова по изучению проблем Арктики — Meduza
Министерство юстиции обновило перечень организаций, деятельность которых признана «нежелательной» на территории России.
meduza.io
February 18, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Russia has declared key successor organizations to the dissolved @enmemorial.bsky.social as "undesirable" – Zukunft Memorial, registered in Berlin, and the Geneva-registered Memorial International
Reposted by Nikolaus von Twickel
I thought it was impossible by now, but, sadly, Georgia 🇬🇪 is even crazier than Georgia 🇺🇸.
Ivanishvili-backed university introduces ‘astrolinguistics’ as key universities face cuts
The programmes were introduced by a ‘gematria specialist’ who claims to have uncovered ‘hidden knowledge’ in ancient Georgian texts.
oc-media.org
February 18, 2026 at 12:22 PM
I thought it was impossible by now, but, sadly, Georgia 🇬🇪 is even crazier than Georgia 🇺🇸.
Must. Read.
Reading Kofman. Some thoughts on Michael Kofman's great piece in Foreign Affairs. open.substack.com/pub/profradc...
Reading Kofman
Mike's latest piece on the Russia-Ukraine war, and my comments
open.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Must. Read.
Reposted by Nikolaus von Twickel
Am heutigen zweiten Todestag von Alexej #Nawalny haben zahlreiche Menschen das Grab des Oppositionspolitikers in Moskau besucht und Blumen abgelegt. Darunter Nawalnys Mutter und Schwiegermutter sowie Vertreter europäischer Botschaften (Quelle "Ostoroschno Nowosti" a Telegram): t.me/ostorozhno_n...
Осторожно, новости
t.me
February 16, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Am heutigen zweiten Todestag von Alexej #Nawalny haben zahlreiche Menschen das Grab des Oppositionspolitikers in Moskau besucht und Blumen abgelegt. Darunter Nawalnys Mutter und Schwiegermutter sowie Vertreter europäischer Botschaften (Quelle "Ostoroschno Nowosti" a Telegram): t.me/ostorozhno_n...
Reposted by Nikolaus von Twickel
"if you face things that threaten the stability of your country, I know that President Trump would be very interested" is an interesting thing to read weeks ahead of elections for which Orban is trailing behind badly.
Rubio says Orbán’s leadership is ‘essential’ to US interests ft.trib.al/AFvFw91
Rubio says Orbán’s leadership is ‘essential’ to US interests
US secretary of state hails ‘golden era’ in relations with Hungary
ft.trib.al
February 16, 2026 at 2:01 PM
"if you face things that threaten the stability of your country, I know that President Trump would be very interested" is an interesting thing to read weeks ahead of elections for which Orban is trailing behind badly.
Reposted by Nikolaus von Twickel
2025 has become the deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to Conflict Intelligence Team.
Their research shows that 2,919 civilians were killed by Russia in Ukraine, and 17,775 more were injured.
Their research shows that 2,919 civilians were killed by Russia in Ukraine, and 17,775 more were injured.
February 16, 2026 at 1:48 PM
2025 has become the deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to Conflict Intelligence Team.
Their research shows that 2,919 civilians were killed by Russia in Ukraine, and 17,775 more were injured.
Their research shows that 2,919 civilians were killed by Russia in Ukraine, and 17,775 more were injured.
Reposted by Nikolaus von Twickel
Mit dem Tod des Psychiaters Semen #Hlusman (1946-2026) verliert die Ukraine einen der letzten großen Dissidenten aus der Sowjetzeit. Hlusman kämpfte seinerzeit insbesondere gegen den politischen Missbrauch seines Fachs und kam dafür auch ins Straflager. (Foto: Kyjiw, 2014)
February 16, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Mit dem Tod des Psychiaters Semen #Hlusman (1946-2026) verliert die Ukraine einen der letzten großen Dissidenten aus der Sowjetzeit. Hlusman kämpfte seinerzeit insbesondere gegen den politischen Missbrauch seines Fachs und kam dafür auch ins Straflager. (Foto: Kyjiw, 2014)
Reposted by Nikolaus von Twickel
Especially for @number10cat.bsky.social
Sunday’s @thetimes.com cartoon times.newsprints.co.uk/morten-morla...
February 14, 2026 at 11:20 PM
Especially for @number10cat.bsky.social
He does not polish them himself, does he?
The winner of the shiniest shoes in Munich award goes to Ilham Aliyev president of Azerbaijan… winner of previous awards on corruption and dictatorship… also the only world leader to be married to the vice president … quite a guy. But those shoes - wow. The arm and wrist power that went into that!!
February 15, 2026 at 8:32 AM
He does not polish them himself, does he?
Reposted by Nikolaus von Twickel
It’s telling what the White House highlights with regard to Rubio’s speech. „Shared heritage“, „Christian foundations“, „cultural legacy“, „cultural preservation“, and a rejection of globalism. That‘s at the heart of its understanding of „Western civilization“.
February 15, 2026 at 8:16 AM
It’s telling what the White House highlights with regard to Rubio’s speech. „Shared heritage“, „Christian foundations“, „cultural legacy“, „cultural preservation“, and a rejection of globalism. That‘s at the heart of its understanding of „Western civilization“.
Russia is setting up its own version of the US wartime "Project Pigeon" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project...
Only they call it "biodrones" now...
Only they call it "biodrones" now...
February 12, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Russia is setting up its own version of the US wartime "Project Pigeon" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project...
Only they call it "biodrones" now...
Only they call it "biodrones" now...
Wenig überraschend.
Der Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst @daadworldwide.bsky.social ist von Russland zur "unerwünschten Organisation" erklärt worden. Das bedeutet, dass russische #DAAD-Stipendiaten ab sofort Strafverfolgung riskieren. sotaproject.com/news/109023
Немецкая служба академических обменов ( DAAD ) объявлена «нежелательной» в РФ
sotaproject.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Wenig überraschend.
(This article is from 2025)
Seriously: Will Russians, especially the online-savvy, tolerate that any social media activity is limited to a single app?
Seriously: Will Russians, especially the online-savvy, tolerate that any social media activity is limited to a single app?
Russia has been tightening the screws on WhatsApp and Telegram in hopes of pushing Russians to state-backed messenger Max.
We delved into Max's functionality, its vulnerabilities and the government's turbo-charged effort to promote it.
We delved into Max's functionality, its vulnerabilities and the government's turbo-charged effort to promote it.
Everything You Need to Know About Max, Russia’s State-Backed Answer to WhatsApp - The Moscow Times
Russia's latest attempt to build a sovereign digital ecosystem is moving into high gear.
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:25 AM
(This article is from 2025)
Seriously: Will Russians, especially the online-savvy, tolerate that any social media activity is limited to a single app?
Seriously: Will Russians, especially the online-savvy, tolerate that any social media activity is limited to a single app?
New German ambassadors in places like Moscow, Tel Aviv and Beijing. table.media/berlin/talk-...
Große Botschafter-Rotation: Lambsdorff nach Tel Aviv, Ackermann nach Peking, Goetze nach Moskau
Das Auswärtige Amt plant eine umfangreiche Botschafter-Rotation mit wichtigen Posten in Tel Aviv, Peking und Moskau. Die Besetzungen sollen am Mittwoch vom Kabinett abschließend bestätigt werden.
table.media
February 11, 2026 at 3:38 PM
New German ambassadors in places like Moscow, Tel Aviv and Beijing. table.media/berlin/talk-...
Reposted by Nikolaus von Twickel
"You don’t need 37 dolls for your daughter. 2 or 3 is nice."
Barbie maker Mattel forecasts annual profit below estimates on cautious consumer spending reut.rs/4quGHy3
Barbie maker Mattel forecasts annual profit below estimates on cautious consumer spending
Mattel on Tuesday forecast full-year profit below Wall Street expectations after missing fourth-quarter estimates, as weak discretionary spending weighed on toy demand.
reut.rs
February 10, 2026 at 9:42 PM
"You don’t need 37 dolls for your daughter. 2 or 3 is nice."
"You don’t need 37 dolls for your daughter. 2 or 3 is nice."
Barbie maker Mattel forecasts annual profit below estimates on cautious consumer spending reut.rs/4quGHy3
Barbie maker Mattel forecasts annual profit below estimates on cautious consumer spending
Mattel on Tuesday forecast full-year profit below Wall Street expectations after missing fourth-quarter estimates, as weak discretionary spending weighed on toy demand.
reut.rs
February 10, 2026 at 9:42 PM
"You don’t need 37 dolls for your daughter. 2 or 3 is nice."
"Gerüchten darüber, dass im Kyjiwer Regierungsviertel nach der Nachricht über Jermaks Entlassung die Sektkorken knallten, kann man also getrost Glauben schenken."
Die Ukraine stellt ihre Drohnenabwehr neu auf: Pawlo Jelisarow soll als neuer Kommandeur einen Schutzschirm gegen den russischen Luftterror errichten. Doch ohne westliche Hilfe ist das Überleben des Landes nicht zu sichern
t.ly/v517y
✍️ @denistrubetskoy.bsky.social für @ukraineverstehen.de
t.ly/v517y
✍️ @denistrubetskoy.bsky.social für @ukraineverstehen.de
Drohnenabwehr neu organisiert
Präsident Selenskyj kann aufatmen: er hat nach Korruptionsvorwürfen eine heftige innenpolitische Krise gemeistert – und geht sogar gestärkt aus ihr hervor.Die ukrainische Luftwaffe hat einen neuen ste...
t.ly
February 10, 2026 at 12:40 PM
"Gerüchten darüber, dass im Kyjiwer Regierungsviertel nach der Nachricht über Jermaks Entlassung die Sektkorken knallten, kann man also getrost Glauben schenken."
Und wie ist es mit dem Perfekt? Ich habe gebuken?
Es winkt das (nicht-) Verb "gewunken" (ist auch nicht ok).
Es winkt das (nicht-) Verb "gewunken" (ist auch nicht ok).
Da fragt man sich bei der Lektüre: Müsste es nicht 'molk sie 15 Kühe' heißen? Doch das ist nicht der Fall: melken ist wie backen ein Verb, das zwei Varianten zulässt, melkte/molk und backen/buk. Doch warum ist es bei anderen Verben nicht so, z.B. singte/sang oder liegte/lag?
February 10, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Und wie ist es mit dem Perfekt? Ich habe gebuken?
Es winkt das (nicht-) Verb "gewunken" (ist auch nicht ok).
Es winkt das (nicht-) Verb "gewunken" (ist auch nicht ok).
Really good podcast about the Bella 1-seizure AND about Russia's dwindling budget revenues.
On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, I spoke with Craig Kennedy about his new report on what was really behind Russia's reflagging of the Bella-1 oil tanker. www.powervertical.org/2026/02/06/t...
THE DARK ART OF GEOPOLITICAL EXTORTION
powervertical · THE DARK ART OF GEOPOLITICAL EXTORTION It’s a playbook we’ve seen the Kremlin deploy again and again. And like Charlie Brown getting tricked by Lucy with the football, w…
www.powervertical.org
February 9, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Really good podcast about the Bella 1-seizure AND about Russia's dwindling budget revenues.
The power of ignorance.
Trump was asked at an event in Iowa whether he was worried about the dollar’s recent fall, and responded: “No, I think it’s great.”
www.ft.com/content/04c7...
www.ft.com/content/04c7...
Dollar slides as Trump says he is not concerned with its recent decline
Greenback trades at lowest level in four years as worries over US currency mount
www.ft.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:38 PM
The power of ignorance.
The same rule applies to Russia.
In my view, repression at home and thuggery abroad - most recently Greenland - are two sides of the same coin. Both reflect the worldview of people who think violence, power, threat and coercion are all that's required to push your agenda through & secure your interests.
January 24, 2026 at 11:11 PM
The same rule applies to Russia.
Reposted by Nikolaus von Twickel
Ah, the quality exchanges on X we're all missing out on.
January 23, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Ah, the quality exchanges on X we're all missing out on.
Reposted by Nikolaus von Twickel
Ein Moskauer Gericht hat einen Mann für die Zerstörung der Politkowskaja-Gedenktafel zu einer Geldstrafe von umgerechnet 11 Euro (!) verurteilt.
Eine Ersatz-Tafel wurde zweimal wieder abgerissen – offenbar von einer Hausbewohnerin:
novayagazeta.eu/articles/202...
Eine Ersatz-Tafel wurde zweimal wieder abgerissen – offenbar von einer Hausbewohnerin:
novayagazeta.eu/articles/202...
January 22, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Ein Moskauer Gericht hat einen Mann für die Zerstörung der Politkowskaja-Gedenktafel zu einer Geldstrafe von umgerechnet 11 Euro (!) verurteilt.
Eine Ersatz-Tafel wurde zweimal wieder abgerissen – offenbar von einer Hausbewohnerin:
novayagazeta.eu/articles/202...
Eine Ersatz-Tafel wurde zweimal wieder abgerissen – offenbar von einer Hausbewohnerin:
novayagazeta.eu/articles/202...
Reposted by Nikolaus von Twickel
There you have it, the Board of Peace is nothing more than a corrupt real estate deal dressed up as diplomacy with the sole purpose of enriching Trump and his favoured cronies.
Trump makes concluding remarks. He says Gaza ceasefire push began because he is “a real estate person at heart, and it’s all about location, and I said, ‘look at this location, on the sea, look at this beautiful piece of property’”.
January 22, 2026 at 11:16 AM
There you have it, the Board of Peace is nothing more than a corrupt real estate deal dressed up as diplomacy with the sole purpose of enriching Trump and his favoured cronies.