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
In March 2019, after suing in DC court, I obtained the official autopsy. Among other things, it showed Lesin’s hyoid bone in his neck was broken. It’s a bone that is extremely difficult to break given its location; hanging will cause it; or strangulation, or a sharp blow.
November 5, 2025 at 2:57 PM
In March 2019, after suing in DC court, I obtained the official autopsy. Among other things, it showed Lesin’s hyoid bone in his neck was broken. It’s a bone that is extremely difficult to break given its location; hanging will cause it; or strangulation, or a sharp blow.
In March 2016, the U.S. attorney’s office and DC police announced he had died due to “blunt-force injuries to the head,” and torso/lower extremities. 7 months later, U.S. officials announced it was an “accident,” “induced by falls,” and “acute ethanol intoxication” contributing.
November 5, 2025 at 2:56 PM
In March 2016, the U.S. attorney’s office and DC police announced he had died due to “blunt-force injuries to the head,” and torso/lower extremities. 7 months later, U.S. officials announced it was an “accident,” “induced by falls,” and “acute ethanol intoxication” contributing.
🧵Today is the 10th anniversary of one of Washington’s most persistent unsolved mysteries: the death of Mikhail Lesin. A former Putin media minister who built the Russia Today, Lesin’s body was found in the Dupont Circle Hotel on Nov. 5, 2015.
November 5, 2025 at 2:55 PM
🧵Today is the 10th anniversary of one of Washington’s most persistent unsolved mysteries: the death of Mikhail Lesin. A former Putin media minister who built the Russia Today, Lesin’s body was found in the Dupont Circle Hotel on Nov. 5, 2015.
The resumption of US nuke testing (or threat of) appears was top of agenda for the Security Council meeting. Here's the chief of the general staff, Gen. Gerasimov, offering his 2 cents: "If we don't take action now, we will miss the opportunity to respond promptly to US actions."
November 5, 2025 at 2:22 PM
The resumption of US nuke testing (or threat of) appears was top of agenda for the Security Council meeting. Here's the chief of the general staff, Gen. Gerasimov, offering his 2 cents: "If we don't take action now, we will miss the opportunity to respond promptly to US actions."
There are many charming aspects of Slovakia's capital city. For example, the "Cheese-O-Matic" vending machine.
November 4, 2025 at 7:16 PM
There are many charming aspects of Slovakia's capital city. For example, the "Cheese-O-Matic" vending machine.
Aleksandr Zhukov, a Russian who called himself the “king of fraud," is about to get out of prison and deported, per new filing. He wants the US Justice Department to return his XBox, other items seized by the FBI. Zhukov was sentenced in 2021 to 10 years for running the "MethBot" ad fraud scheme.
October 30, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Aleksandr Zhukov, a Russian who called himself the “king of fraud," is about to get out of prison and deported, per new filing. He wants the US Justice Department to return his XBox, other items seized by the FBI. Zhukov was sentenced in 2021 to 10 years for running the "MethBot" ad fraud scheme.
Ukraine's top military officer, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskiy, says he's traveled to Pokrovsk; likely a sign of how dire things are in the city, where Russia troops are increasing their hold. (also grumbling among Ukrainian officers too about lack of support...) t.me/osirskiy/1300 Map by @deepstate_ua
October 30, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Ukraine's top military officer, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskiy, says he's traveled to Pokrovsk; likely a sign of how dire things are in the city, where Russia troops are increasing their hold. (also grumbling among Ukrainian officers too about lack of support...) t.me/osirskiy/1300 Map by @deepstate_ua
Kremlin spokesman responds to Trump's threat on resuming nuke testing: "if it's somehow a reference to the Burevestnik test, that wasn't a nuclear test, not in any way....The US has the right to make sovereign decisions. [But] if someone breaks the [test] moratorium, Russia will act accordingly."
October 30, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Kremlin spokesman responds to Trump's threat on resuming nuke testing: "if it's somehow a reference to the Burevestnik test, that wasn't a nuclear test, not in any way....The US has the right to make sovereign decisions. [But] if someone breaks the [test] moratorium, Russia will act accordingly."
Putin now announcing that Russia yesterday conducted a test of another new weapons system -- the remote, nuclear-capable, long-range torpedo Poseidon. Comes 3 days after announcement of test of long-range nuke-powered cruise missile Burevestnik.
October 29, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Putin now announcing that Russia yesterday conducted a test of another new weapons system -- the remote, nuclear-capable, long-range torpedo Poseidon. Comes 3 days after announcement of test of long-range nuke-powered cruise missile Burevestnik.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has this to say about the Burevestnik nuke-powered missile test (partly in response to Trump's remarks): "There is nothing here that could or should strain relations between Moscow and Washington-- especially since these relations are already at a minimum level."
October 27, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has this to say about the Burevestnik nuke-powered missile test (partly in response to Trump's remarks): "There is nothing here that could or should strain relations between Moscow and Washington-- especially since these relations are already at a minimum level."
Trump, responding to reports of the Burevestnik missile test, reminds (reveals) the presence of a US nuke sub somewhere off the Russian coast. "We test missiles all the time, but we do have a nuclear submarine...I don't think it's an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying."
October 27, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Trump, responding to reports of the Burevestnik missile test, reminds (reveals) the presence of a US nuke sub somewhere off the Russian coast. "We test missiles all the time, but we do have a nuclear submarine...I don't think it's an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying."
Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev posts video (I guess in the U.S.) saying that he and delegation notified U.S. officials about the Burevestnik test (raises a LOT of questions about when it happened, how, and also why he's transmitting strategic weapons info on behalf of Kremlin...)
October 26, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev posts video (I guess in the U.S.) saying that he and delegation notified U.S. officials about the Burevestnik test (raises a LOT of questions about when it happened, how, and also why he's transmitting strategic weapons info on behalf of Kremlin...)
Exact details of test unclear but observers have been watching the Novaya Zemlya test sites closely since mid-summer. Backstory here: www.rferl.org/a/russia-nuc...
October 26, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Exact details of test unclear but observers have been watching the Novaya Zemlya test sites closely since mid-summer. Backstory here: www.rferl.org/a/russia-nuc...
Russia has successfully tested a long-range nuclear powered cruise missile called the Burevestnik, Gen, Valery Gerasimov tells Putin. He says missile was tested Oct. 21, travelled 14,000 kilometers and was aloft for 15 hours.
October 26, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Russia has successfully tested a long-range nuclear powered cruise missile called the Burevestnik, Gen, Valery Gerasimov tells Putin. He says missile was tested Oct. 21, travelled 14,000 kilometers and was aloft for 15 hours.
... and a "Sineva" SLBM was fired from the Bryansk ballistic missile sub in the Barents Sea.
October 22, 2025 at 12:50 PM
... and a "Sineva" SLBM was fired from the Bryansk ballistic missile sub in the Barents Sea.
Russia's Defense Ministry releases sizzle reel footage of strategic missile tests as part of this week's Grom exercises. A truck-launched "Yars" ICBM was fired from Plesetsk (at Kamchatka) ...
October 22, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Russia's Defense Ministry releases sizzle reel footage of strategic missile tests as part of this week's Grom exercises. A truck-launched "Yars" ICBM was fired from Plesetsk (at Kamchatka) ...
The Kharkiv kindergarten building that was heavily damaged in the overnight Russian air strikes that hit locations nationwide. Officials say 48 children were the building at the time; in a basement bomb shelter. Preliminary reports say none were injured. (video by @radiosvoboda.org.web.brid.gy)
October 22, 2025 at 11:31 AM
The Kharkiv kindergarten building that was heavily damaged in the overnight Russian air strikes that hit locations nationwide. Officials say 48 children were the building at the time; in a basement bomb shelter. Preliminary reports say none were injured. (video by @radiosvoboda.org.web.brid.gy)
Ukrainian children being rescued from a Kharkiv kindergarten after it was hit/damaged amid overnight Russian strikes across the country. Officials say there were 48 children in the school at the time.
October 22, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Ukrainian children being rescued from a Kharkiv kindergarten after it was hit/damaged amid overnight Russian strikes across the country. Officials say there were 48 children in the school at the time.
Ukrainian emergency services release photos of kindergartners being rescued, in the aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv.
October 22, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Ukrainian emergency services release photos of kindergartners being rescued, in the aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv.
Kharkiv officials say a kindergarten was hit (or damaged) during the overnight Russian strikes. At least 1 person was killed, 5 injured, per city mayor. Unconfirmed reports that children were among the wounded.
t.me/ihor_terekho...
t.me/ihor_terekho...
October 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Kharkiv officials say a kindergarten was hit (or damaged) during the overnight Russian strikes. At least 1 person was killed, 5 injured, per city mayor. Unconfirmed reports that children were among the wounded.
t.me/ihor_terekho...
t.me/ihor_terekho...
At least 6 killed, nearly 20 wounded in massive overnight Russian air attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions, per emergency officials.
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October 22, 2025 at 6:20 AM
At least 6 killed, nearly 20 wounded in massive overnight Russian air attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions, per emergency officials.
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Russia's deputy foreign minister signals that Washington and Moscow can't even agree on a Lavrov-Rubio meeting-- never mind a Trump-Putin Budapest meeting: "You can’t postpone something that hasn’t been agreed upon."
ria.ru/20251021/rya...
ria.ru/20251021/rya...
October 21, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Russia's deputy foreign minister signals that Washington and Moscow can't even agree on a Lavrov-Rubio meeting-- never mind a Trump-Putin Budapest meeting: "You can’t postpone something that hasn’t been agreed upon."
ria.ru/20251021/rya...
ria.ru/20251021/rya...
The State Department's (also terse) read-out of today's Lavrov Rubio call.
October 20, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The State Department's (also terse) read-out of today's Lavrov Rubio call.