Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 7hThis elderly woman in Saratov took offense at a Dobby figurine in the window of a cafe, saying it’s impermissible to insult Putin, esp on his birthday and with a war on. She threatens to call the police. The barista explains it’s a Harry Potter figurine but the woman insists he looks like Putin. 2134
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 7hDmitry Medvedev making clear what they think of Europeans and Americans still traveling to Russia. Probably just a coincidence that this comes a week after the annual Valdai conference. 062
Reposted by Brian TaylorPhil Klay @philklay.bsky.social · 20hI think Hegseth is fundamentally a broken human being. 1318514
Reposted by Brian TaylorOleksandr Polianichev @opolianichev.bsky.social · 08/10/2026For perspective: in the three years before Russia’s full-scale invasion, shelling and SALW in the entire Donbas took the lives of 23 civilians – 8 in 2019, 8 in 2020 and 7 in 2021. A single Russian strike killed more civilians there today than in those three years combined.bbc.comRussian strike on buses kills at least 30, say officials, as deadly attacks on Ukraine surgeUkraine accused Russia of targeting the crowded vehicles in the frontline city of Kramatorsk to kill as many civilians as possible. 086
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 08/10/2026You should ask for a phone call to clarify some details and see if this person can do a convincing Terry Gross imitation (guessing they haven't built an AI version just yet) 020
Reposted by Brian TaylorBusiness Ukraine magazine @businessukraine.bsky.social · 08/10/202622 people killed in their beds yesterday in a targeted Russian strike on a residential building in northern Ukraine. 33 people killed this morning in Russian attacks on public buses in eastern Ukraine. Russia is now massacring Ukrainian civilians with complete impunity 04430
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 07/10/2026"The New Nobility," in the immortal words of former FSB Director Nikolai Patrushev. Also the title of a great book on the FSB by @andreisoldatov.bsky.social and Irina Borogan. 050
Reposted by Brian TaylorActive Measures, LLC @activemeasures.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Happy birthday to Putin and the 10th anniversary to the day ODNI/DHS released a statement about Russian election interference at 3pm EDT, WaPo published the Access Hollywood tape at 4pm or so, and WikiLeaks began dumping the Podesta emails around 7pm* www.yahoo.com/news/64-hour... 12710
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Text of first P.M. speech here:api.duma.gov.ruЗаседание ГД от 16.08.1999 020
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Putin also said that defending the interests of Russians abroad was a "priority task." He said, "It should be clear to everyone that oppressing Russians is unwise and counterproductive." He forgot to add, "that's my job." Wishing him a very unhappy birthday. 1110
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Putin turns 74 today. He was 46 when he 1st became prime minister in August 1999, 47 when he became president a few months later. More than 1/3 of his life. In his 1st speech as P.M., he said, "One cannot expect the people to trust authorities who disregard their real interests and everyday needs." 1136
Reposted by Brian TaylorDylan Primakoff @dylanmp.bsky.social · 07/10/2026An important anniversary today – it's 20 years since the murder of Anna Politkovskaya in her Moscow apartment building. As this piece describes, she was one of the first to recognize the essence of the Putin regime and try to show it to the world. www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...lemonde.frAnna Politkovskaya: The journalist killed 20 years ago for understanding Putin before anyone elseMurdered in 2006 in the stairwell of her apartment building in Moscow, the renowned Russian reporter relentlessly warned, with remarkable clarity, about the true nature of Vladimir Putin. Her reportin... 05113
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 06/10/2026static.klipy.comIce Cube Driving a ConvertibleALT: Ice Cube Driving a Convertible 172
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Patriot Park is quintessential Putinism: overbearing militarism, monstrous corruption, and garish architecture 0112
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Grading midterms for my undergrad civil-military relations class ("Politic and the Military") and one student has taken to writing "Sam Hunt" instead of "Sam Huntington." They know better, just saving time/effort. Fair enough. #civmilsky 1121
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Peskov denying plague outbreakstatic.klipy.comLeslie Nielsen Liar Nose GrowsALT: Leslie Nielsen Liar Nose Grows 1100
Reposted by Brian TaylorIan M @marriotti67.bsky.social · 05/10/2026He probably thinks this award is about him. 1627052
Reposted by Brian TaylorCarnegie Politika @ceip-politika.bsky.social · 05/10/2026For every ruble allocated to social policy, health, and education in 2027, double that amount is earmarked for the army, the police, and the security services, writes Alexandra Prokopenko.carnegieendowment.orgWho Is Funding Russia’s War in the 2027 Budget?For every ruble allocated to social policy, health, and education in 2027, double that amount is earmarked for the army, the police, and the security services. 031
Reposted by Brian TaylorIikka Korhonen @iikkakorhonen.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Our latest forecast for #Russia 2026-28 is out! Basically our view is unchanged from the spring: Growth remains anemic, mostly driven by war-related industries. Other sectors stagnate or contract. 1/ @bofit.suomenpankki.fi @suomenpankki.fi www.bofit.fi/en/bofit/new...bofit.fiBOFIT Forecast for Russia 2026–2028 / 2The Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT) is an internationally renowned research institute specialising in emerging economies and global economic developments. 1247
Reposted by Brian TaylorJana Kobzova @jkobzova.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Our - with @kadriliik.bsky.social report on #Russia and its society is out. #Europe is seen more negatively than the #US, but there's a concern about #China. Few expect Putin's war against #Ukraine to end - but they also seem to have forgotten why Russia started it in the first place. /1 1176
Reposted by Brian TaylorNicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Putin apologists want you to buy that: -An alleged off-the-books 1991 verbal promise outweighs a signed 1994 treaty -Democratic countries formerly occupied by Russia asked to join an anti-Russia alliance for no reason -Ukrainians don't want freedom, an American tricked them into it with cookies 13635157
Reposted by Brian TaylorJim Goldgeier @jimgoldgeier.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Indeed. Europe needs Ukraine for deterrence and defense. 0122
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 03/10/2026The policy implication from @massdara.bsky.social: "It is critical that Ukraine receives the support that it needs to defend the skies not only from ballistic missiles, but to counter Geran 4/5 and Banderol." Doubt if Trump cares, but a Democratic House & Senate could increase the pressure. 050
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 03/10/2026A 🧵from @massdara.bsky.social from the other place, showing the deep roots of this plan in 🇷🇺 military thinking. "They are very explicit.. about why: to break the life-support systems of cities...The cruelty is the point. The fear and suffering of civilians is a desired operational outcome."threadreaderapp.comThread by @MassDara on Thread Reader App@MassDara: I haven’t seen the plan described in this article (although I want to) but I feel confident about its content and what’s next. Russian strategy has discussed for 10+ years what we are seein... 140
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 03/10/2026"Russia’s ambition is to freeze Ukrainians into submission...The ultimate goal is to cut off major Ukrainian cities from power, heat and water, which could set off a humanitarian crisis."nytimes.comRussia Is Planning Its Most Powerful Blow Yet to Try to Freeze Ukraine (Gift Article)Ukraine showed European partners what it said were intercepted Russian plans to cut off major cities from power, heat and water this winter. 264
Reposted by Brian TaylorRuth Deyermond @ruthdeyermond.bsky.social · 01/10/2026And yet Putin himself has done precisely that. He has brought into being a Russia which exists primarily to service war - a war he started through poor judgement and imperialist hubris and on which his regime now depends. 013331
Reposted by Brian TaylorBelfer Center for Science and International Affairs @belfercenter.bsky.social · 01/10/2026🚨Our Fellowship Application Portal is now open for the 2027-2028 academic year. Learn more and apply: www.belfercenter.org/fellowships 102
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 01/10/2026"Kremlin called on NATO not to view threats of nuclear strikes as 'confrontational'" Uh, ok. Thanks?ru.themoscowtimes.comВ Кремле призвали НАТО не считать «конфронтацией» угрозы ударов ядерным оружием - Русская служба The Moscow Times 66513
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Russian reboot of "The Producers," also includes a Nazi main character 080
Reposted by Brian TaylorForeign Affairs @foreignaffairs.com · 30/09/2026Russia’s principal target is now “the will of the Ukrainian people and of their partners,” writes Dmytro Kuleba. “Putin intends to break Ukrainian morale by breaking the country’s economy and external support for it.”foreignaffairs.comRussia’s Plan to Break UkraineWhat Kyiv needs to survive. 41911
Reposted by Brian TaylorAnders Puck Nielsen @anderspucknielsen.dk · 30/09/2026I'm skeptical that more stupid warriors is the best way forward for armed forces. 2821021
Reposted by Brian TaylorKevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 29/09/2026Political analyst Ekaterina Schulmann says the FSB tortured election expert Alexander Kynev with electric shocks and broke his leg in two places while trying to force him to confess to treason. When he refused, she says, they slapped him with the felony drug charges. t.me/tvrain/111762t.meДождь | Новости❗️Политолога Кынева пытались обвинить в госизмене, его пытали силовики — Екатерина Шульман Об этом политолог заявила в программе «Статус». «Вчера я выступала на совместном заседании двух комитетов П... 12410
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Well spotted & great Q. This is meant to indicate both direction and effect - so although Putin's popularity is declining, overall his level of popularity is a stabilizing feature. As stated: "Putin’s popularity has weakened modestly, although it remains an important pillar of regime stability." 010
Reposted by Brian TaylorEdward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Thread. I agree w @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social take, but add the obvious point that the further out you look, the more uncertainty. Risk is low, maybe very low, for (say) the next 12 months, but after maybe two years we enter “who knows” territory. 011
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 29/09/2026The title of this session from the annual Valdai Discussion Club meeting shows a truly remarkable lack of self awareness: "Unrestricted Confrontation: How the Spirit of War Permeates Reality and Distorts Minds"valdaiclub.comUnrestricted Confrontation: How the Spirit of War Permeates Reality and Distorts Minds. Second Session of the Valdai Discussion Club’s 23rd Annual MeetingThe concept of “total war,” which emerged less than a hundred years ago, is being revived under new conditions. The universal interconnectedness that was once seen as the key to avoiding clashes is no... 131
Reposted by Brian TaylorIan Stone @ianstonecomedy.bsky.social · 29/09/2026I think the next Oasis reunion gigs could be angrier than the last lot 5574
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 29/09/2026See the link in the 1st post to read the full overview, plus blurbs from all of us. Here's mine. 150
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Andrea Kendall Taylor leads the project and writes the overview of each indicator. Also participating are Erica Frantz, @timfrye.bsky.social, @samagreene.bsky.social, @msnegovaya.bsky.social, Angela Stent, & @dstreisman.bsky.social. The summary table: 2102
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Latest version of the @cnas.bsky.social Russia Stability Tracker is out. First update in almost 3 years. Very short 🧵- but check the link, it's a quick read.cnas.orgThe Russia Stability TrackerWhile the group’s experts agreed that Putin and his regime maintain a firm grip on power, there is now less certainty about Russia’s domestic stability. 1168
Reposted by Brian TaylorMark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Who says they “don’t make enough money”? Compared to what? You don’t need to grant the far right authoritarian party’s premise. You can write that they’re using arbitrary numbers based on no standards that should not be taken seriously, & you can just say that plainly instead of stenographizing 24595155
Reposted by Brian TaylorNate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026On hybrid war discourse and how "Europe must respond": Europeans (and Americans) have been responding for years, evidenced by the hundreds of thousands of dead Russians in the fields of Ukraine. 2102
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 28/09/2026And here is a news story about it.nbcnews.comLawmakers slam Trump’s ‘unlawful’ move to cut $810 million in federal fundsThe Trump administration used a rare and controversial budgetary tactic to reject funding that would have supported research, education and minority groups. 000
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Here is the Trump justification. You see, it's all about "Woke International Education" and, predictably, "queer and trans community building in foreign countries."whitehouse.govPresident Trump Takes Historic Action to Eliminate Wasteful and Harmful SpendingPresident Trump is committed to utilizing all possible tools to cut wasteful and harmful government spending that does not benefit American citizens. Last 122
Brian Taylor @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social · 28/09/2026A Trumpian tale in 4 acts: 1) Trump admin illegally closes down programs responsible for higher ed foreign language & int'l education; 2) Congress puts (some of the) $$ back in; 3) New grant competition is announced, schools apply; 4) Trump illegally cancels funds. Crazy xenophobic vandals 174
Reposted by Brian TaylorEdward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Exc piece. NB: “Despite their considerable professional experience, panelists were generally cautious in their forecasts… Most experts rated the probability of a new mobilization wave by the end of 2026 as high (12 experts, 46.2%) or medium (8 experts, 30.8%).” 011
Reposted by Brian TaylorTomila Lankina @t-vl.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Great lineup of papers in latest issue of @postsovietaffairs.bsky.social already getting a lot of attention! Spread the word 052