Anton Shekhovtsov
@shekhovtsov.substack.com
PhD UCL SSEES, visiting professor at CEU, director of the Centre for Democratic Integrity, author of books "Russia and the Western Far Right" and "Russian Political Warfare", columnist for EUObserver @euobserver.bsky.social, outdoor research fellow
Pinned
I’m honoured to announce the release of the volume "Russia against Ukraine: Russian Political Mythology and the War on Ukrainian Identity", a multi-author study that examines the politically driven hostility towards Ukraine deeply rooted in Russian geopolitical chauvinism: buff.ly/obr8I30
On Tuesday, the Trump regime imposed visa bans on a former EU commissioner and anti-disinformation activists, alleging censorship of US social media. 1/6
December 24, 2025 at 7:35 AM
On Tuesday, the Trump regime imposed visa bans on a former EU commissioner and anti-disinformation activists, alleging censorship of US social media. 1/6
“Voices in the shadows have long decried MI6’s shackling by a risk-averse, politically correct bureaucracy. A new more swashbuckling style would be welcome”, writes Edward Lucas @edwardlucas.bsky.social : www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
December 23, 2025 at 7:58 AM
“Voices in the shadows have long decried MI6’s shackling by a risk-averse, politically correct bureaucracy. A new more swashbuckling style would be welcome”, writes Edward Lucas @edwardlucas.bsky.social : www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Russian elites are obtaining Serbian passports with visa-free access to the EU during the war. Among them are an FSB special forces member, a friend of Nikolay Patrushev, nuclear weapons manufacturers, a close associate of Ramzan Kadyrov, and dozens of others. storage.googleapis.com/istories/en/...
Belgrade Syndicate
Russian elites are obtaining Serbian passports with visa-free access to the EU during the war. Among them are an FSB special forces member, a friend of Nikolay Patrushev, nuclear weapons manufacturers,...
storage.googleapis.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Russian elites are obtaining Serbian passports with visa-free access to the EU during the war. Among them are an FSB special forces member, a friend of Nikolay Patrushev, nuclear weapons manufacturers, a close associate of Ramzan Kadyrov, and dozens of others. storage.googleapis.com/istories/en/...
How Putin Got His Preferred U.S. Envoy: Come Alone, No CIA www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
https://www.wsj.com/world/putin-witkoff-russia-envoy-04da229d
www.wsj.com
December 21, 2025 at 6:52 AM
How Putin Got His Preferred U.S. Envoy: Come Alone, No CIA www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
Following Russia’s fullscale attack on Ukraine, UK lord Richard Balfe framed the war as a Western “proxy conflict”, echoing Russian lies. Not surprising; his path into the pro-Kremlin sphere began in 2015, via the same people who’d later bribe Nathan Gill. shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/richard-ba...
Richard Balfe’s Path to Pro-Kremlin Alignment
From fake election observation to a decade of Moscow-friendly narratives
shekhovtsov.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Following Russia’s fullscale attack on Ukraine, UK lord Richard Balfe framed the war as a Western “proxy conflict”, echoing Russian lies. Not surprising; his path into the pro-Kremlin sphere began in 2015, via the same people who’d later bribe Nathan Gill. shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/richard-ba...
Finally. Germany’s foreign intelligence agency is set to gain powers to disrupt and sabotage enemies of the state as Berlin tightens its security strategy.
December 19, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Finally. Germany’s foreign intelligence agency is set to gain powers to disrupt and sabotage enemies of the state as Berlin tightens its security strategy.
Europe’s digital sovereignty won’t be secured by scolding oligarchs alone. It requires firm enforcement, transparency, and support for non-oligarchic platforms. Otherwise, social media remains governed by opaque algorithms and unaccountable power. shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/beyond-the...
Beyond the €120 Million Fine on X
Unresolved DSA concerns and the EU’s digital sovereignty
shekhovtsov.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Europe’s digital sovereignty won’t be secured by scolding oligarchs alone. It requires firm enforcement, transparency, and support for non-oligarchic platforms. Otherwise, social media remains governed by opaque algorithms and unaccountable power. shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/beyond-the...
Belgian politicians and finance bosses targeted by Russian intelligence over seized assets www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Belgian politicians and finance bosses targeted by Russian intelligence over seized assets
Exclusive: Key figures at frozen assets depository among targets of intimidation campaign, say European intelligence agencies
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Belgian politicians and finance bosses targeted by Russian intelligence over seized assets www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Nigel Farage’s £9m Donor Profits From Putin Propaganda Platform While Holding MoD Stake bylinetimes.com/2025/12/16/n...
Nigel Farage’s £9m Donor Profits From Putin Propaganda Platform While Holding MoD Stake
Reform UK's biggest donor is profiting from ties to a pro-Kremlin platform that hosts a Russian intelligence-backed influence operation
bylinetimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Nigel Farage’s £9m Donor Profits From Putin Propaganda Platform While Holding MoD Stake bylinetimes.com/2025/12/16/n...
While I remain sceptical about the Kremlin’s willingness to depart from its maximalist objectives in Ukraine (the elimination of the Ukrainian nation-state), the current US-UA-EU talks appear to be moving towards the minimum definition of Ukraine’s victory that I formulated a year ago --> 1/4
December 16, 2025 at 1:22 PM
While I remain sceptical about the Kremlin’s willingness to depart from its maximalist objectives in Ukraine (the elimination of the Ukrainian nation-state), the current US-UA-EU talks appear to be moving towards the minimum definition of Ukraine’s victory that I formulated a year ago --> 1/4
A German right-wing nationalist honoured in New York, courted in Moscow, and promoted as “our candidate” by Russian intermediaries. The story behind Markus Frohnmaier’s transnational alliances. shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/from-mosco...
December 16, 2025 at 9:36 AM
A German right-wing nationalist honoured in New York, courted in Moscow, and promoted as “our candidate” by Russian intermediaries. The story behind Markus Frohnmaier’s transnational alliances. shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/from-mosco...
Markus Frohnmaier of the German far-right AfD meets a US State Department official, praises MAGA, attacks Europe’s political direction – and has a long record of pro-Kremlin engagement. This article connects the dots: shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/from-mosco...
December 15, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Markus Frohnmaier of the German far-right AfD meets a US State Department official, praises MAGA, attacks Europe’s political direction – and has a long record of pro-Kremlin engagement. This article connects the dots: shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/from-mosco...
From Moscow to MAGA: AfD’s Markus Frohnmaier and the Transnational Far-Right Convergence shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/from-mosco...
December 15, 2025 at 11:43 AM
From Moscow to MAGA: AfD’s Markus Frohnmaier and the Transnational Far-Right Convergence shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/from-mosco...
Markus Frohnmaier’s rapprochement with the MAGA movement signals more than US interest in cooperation with anti-EU forces. Given his long-standing ties to Russian operatives, he has emerged as a conduit linking Kremlin interests to MAGA, reinforcing anti-EU transatlantic alliances: buff.ly/catIYI0
From Moscow to MAGA
AfD’s Markus Frohnmaier and the Transnational Far-Right Convergence
shekhovtsov.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Markus Frohnmaier’s rapprochement with the MAGA movement signals more than US interest in cooperation with anti-EU forces. Given his long-standing ties to Russian operatives, he has emerged as a conduit linking Kremlin interests to MAGA, reinforcing anti-EU transatlantic alliances: buff.ly/catIYI0
Anti-Ukrainian hate crimes are becoming routine in Poland. On a Poznań tram, two Polish 27-year-old men assaulted a Ukrainian couple. The attack was witnessed by city councillor Andrzej Prendke, who published a video online. Police detained both attackers. tvn24.pl/poznan/pozna...
Atak na parę w tramwaju. Policja zatrzymała dwóch 27-latków
W jednym z poznańskich tramwajów dwaj mężczyźni zaatakowali parę Ukraińców, ponieważ rozmawiali ze sobą w swoim ojczystym języku. O zajściu poinformował miejski radny Andrzej Prendke, który...
tvn24.pl
December 15, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Anti-Ukrainian hate crimes are becoming routine in Poland. On a Poznań tram, two Polish 27-year-old men assaulted a Ukrainian couple. The attack was witnessed by city councillor Andrzej Prendke, who published a video online. Police detained both attackers. tvn24.pl/poznan/pozna...
Will MAGA ever deal with this malicious DEI influence?! Where’s Heritage Roleplay, Tradwives, Purity Patrol, Conservative Couplings, Patriarchal Passions, ModestButProvocative…?
December 11, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Will MAGA ever deal with this malicious DEI influence?! Where’s Heritage Roleplay, Tradwives, Purity Patrol, Conservative Couplings, Patriarchal Passions, ModestButProvocative…?
Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s “foreign minister”, says Russia can give a written promise not to attack Europe.
But this is the same Lavrov who insists that Russia has _never_ attacked Ukraine. In fact, Russia has never attacked anyone, ever! 1/2
But this is the same Lavrov who insists that Russia has _never_ attacked Ukraine. In fact, Russia has never attacked anyone, ever! 1/2
December 11, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s “foreign minister”, says Russia can give a written promise not to attack Europe.
But this is the same Lavrov who insists that Russia has _never_ attacked Ukraine. In fact, Russia has never attacked anyone, ever! 1/2
But this is the same Lavrov who insists that Russia has _never_ attacked Ukraine. In fact, Russia has never attacked anyone, ever! 1/2
The UN GA vote on the resolution “Strengthening of international cooperation and coordination of efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster”.
December 11, 2025 at 7:35 AM
The UN GA vote on the resolution “Strengthening of international cooperation and coordination of efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster”.
During his tenure as director of the US Defence Intelligence Agency, Michael Flynn “gave a lecture on leadership at the Moscow headquarters of the Russian military intelligence directorate GRU”. More here: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017...
December 10, 2025 at 9:30 PM
During his tenure as director of the US Defence Intelligence Agency, Michael Flynn “gave a lecture on leadership at the Moscow headquarters of the Russian military intelligence directorate GRU”. More here: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017...
Belgian orban, Prime Minister Bart De Wever, does not rule out legal action if EU confiscates Russia's assets at Euroclear.
December 10, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Belgian orban, Prime Minister Bart De Wever, does not rule out legal action if EU confiscates Russia's assets at Euroclear.
There is a certain magical Russian irony in the fact that the main literary condemnation of Putin’s Russia and its people was written not by a Russian émigré journalist or a dissident expert, but by the impeccably calibrated Russian fascist, Alexander Prokhanov.
December 10, 2025 at 4:41 PM
There is a certain magical Russian irony in the fact that the main literary condemnation of Putin’s Russia and its people was written not by a Russian émigré journalist or a dissident expert, but by the impeccably calibrated Russian fascist, Alexander Prokhanov.
Reposted by Anton Shekhovtsov
The 2025 National Security Strategy document makes it official: the Trump administration believes that European liberal democracy is a threat to U.S. national interest.
The US is not just Europe’s unwilling ally, but an adversary steeped in far-right ideology | Cas Mudde
Don’t say you weren’t warned: Trump’s new national security strategy seeks to destroy liberal democracy as we know it, says academic and author Cas Mudde
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The 2025 National Security Strategy document makes it official: the Trump administration believes that European liberal democracy is a threat to U.S. national interest.
The EU must not limit itself to investigating dominant platforms such as X, TikTok or Meta, but should begin actively cooperating with existing non-oligarchic social media initiatives that foreground social responsibility and the public interest over profit. shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/beyond-the...
December 10, 2025 at 8:46 AM
The EU must not limit itself to investigating dominant platforms such as X, TikTok or Meta, but should begin actively cooperating with existing non-oligarchic social media initiatives that foreground social responsibility and the public interest over profit. shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/beyond-the...
The EU’s €120 million fine on X surprised no one, but the narrow scope did. The European Commission punished failures in transparency, researcher access and misleading verification, yet avoided the deeper issues of illegal content, information manipulation, and algorithmic risks. 1/5
December 9, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The EU’s €120 million fine on X surprised no one, but the narrow scope did. The European Commission punished failures in transparency, researcher access and misleading verification, yet avoided the deeper issues of illegal content, information manipulation, and algorithmic risks. 1/5
The vehement responses by Musk and MAGA regime to the Commission’s decision to fine X raise the question of whether any of them actually read the Commission’s report: the fine has nothing to do with illegal content or manipulative information spread on X: shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/beyond-the...
Beyond the €120 Million Fine on X
Unresolved DSA concerns and the EU’s digital sovereignty
shekhovtsov.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:56 PM
The vehement responses by Musk and MAGA regime to the Commission’s decision to fine X raise the question of whether any of them actually read the Commission’s report: the fine has nothing to do with illegal content or manipulative information spread on X: shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/beyond-the...