iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Julian Evans

Luke Harding @lukeharding1968.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Friends! I'm speaking about my new book Betrayal at Blackwells in Oxford on Thursday (Sep 24) at 5.30pm, as part of the bookshop's non-fiction festival. In conversation with @julianevans.bsky.social, who has written a wonderful book about Odesa, Undefeatable www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/julian-eva...

eventbrite.co.uk

Julian Evans and Luke Harding in conversation

Authors Julian Evans and Luke Harding discuss their respective new books, 'Undefeatable' and 'Betrayal'.

1216

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

In all the years I visited my Ukrainian in-laws in Odesa, their fridge was always full of stale bread. After Stalin’s deliberate famine that killed 4,000,000, no one threw bread away. And today Ukrainians are the people best versed in resisting murderers I know #Holodomor

110

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

As well as all the vile Russian wins in the “peace plan”, it’s a sort of Versailles treaty, but punishing the victim not the aggressor. If Europe lets it happen, it’ll leave itself open to future Russian attack. And how will it be the ally of an angry embittered Ukraine?

030

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

Q: can you tell me the difference between Nathan Gill, Reform’s Welsh leader, jailed for 10yrs for taking bribes to make speeches written by Russians, and Donald Trump behaving like a Russian asset and imposing on Ukraine a peace plan written by Russians? There must be one, surely

030

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

News on our latest car: delivered Mon Odesa, Thurs in Kharkiv, Sat resprayed & already working for R–––’s special forces unit at Pokrovsk. With 2 cars hit in the last 3 weeks, we aim for this one to last longer. Ukraine’s holding. 1000 thanks to all of you who loyally donated

010

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

In a pause from talking about Ukraine, I’ve no doubt Angela Rayner is innocent of wrongdoing. Rules about UK trusts are so invincibly opaque that trust experts and lawyers barely understand them either www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

theguardian.com

Angela Rayner admits underpaying stamp duty on £800,000 seaside flat

Exclusive: Deputy PM refers herself to ethics adviser as confirmation puts her position under threat

010

Reposted by Julian Evans

The Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

On Angela Rayner and tax law - a brief post by me Substack - emptycity.substack.com/p/on-angela-... Own blog: davidallengreen.com/2025/09/on-a...

223988

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Today Ukrainians honour their fallen soldiers. Look at this young guy who gave everything as a defender of his family, his land, his freedom. Your freedom. So that truth and freedom will one day be a thing that not just bombs will discuss (📷 Kyiv, Independence Square, March 2025)

020

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

If you’re near Queen’s Park on Saturday, I’m going to have a very enjoyable hour talking to the brilliant @lukeharding1968 about Odesa, Ukraine, and the vital importance of never giving in to Russia. 30th August, 2.30pm. It’ll be lively queensparkbookfestival.co.uk/collections/...

queensparkbookfestival.co.uk

Julian Evans: Undefeatable - Odesa in Love and War

Odesa in Love and War In 1994 Julian Evans discovered Odesa at the end of a boat journey from Kyiv. He fell in love with the crumbling, romantic town. Returning five years later, he also fell in lov...

010

Reposted by Julian Evans

Tobias Jones @tobiasjones.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Absolute shysters: "...the idea that some company can just, with zero consequences, feed it [creative effort] into a machine is so insane to me that I can’t fully wrap my head around it.” www.vanityfair.com/news/story/m...

vanityfair.com

This Is How Meta AI Staffers Deemed More Than 7 Million Books to Have No “Economic Value”

As more than a dozen lawsuits churn ahead, newly unsealed case files reveal the company’s stance: The pirated books Meta used to train its AI, including ones by Beverly Cleary, Jacqueline Woodson, and...

041

Reposted by Julian Evans

Luke Harding @lukeharding1968.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

US secretary of state Marco Rubio says the Trump administration will soon abandon its attempt to broker a peace deal in Ukraine. Predictable, lazy and absurd: the US has taken no concrete steps to pressure Moscow, while blaming Kyiv for the war www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

theguardian.com

US ready to abandon Ukraine peace deal if there is no progress, says Marco Rubio

Secretary of state threatens to pull plug ‘within days’, as Kyiv says it has signed mineral deal memorandum

88132

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

After Russia's massacre in Sumy this morning, killing 32, injuring >85, it's unconscionable that we are not providing the strength to defeat it. We owe it to Ukraine, to Europe’s front line, and we owe it with every gram of our belief in humanity and life’s value

000

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Today was a good day in Trump’s never never land. This pm we delivered our latest car to Khartiia Brigade north of Kharkiv. “We don’t listen to them,” the guys say. “We fight till Russia goes.” And we will go on delivering cars, meds, whatever they need

010

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

The one thing missing from all the “messages to Putin” is our leaders in Europe saying that until he accepts clearly that Ukraine is a sovereign state, there won’t be peace, sanctions/military aid will continue, and Russia will be shackled to a war it will never win

020

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

Trump’s despicable greasing up to Putin means instant escalation, with missiles killing 14 in Dobropillya last night. “Such strikes show Russia’s goals are unchanged,” as Zelenskyy wrote. If anyone thinks otherwise, they’re deluded. Europe must freeze Trump and step up faster NOW

000

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Even the CIA had the interests of Europe at heart in the past. Contrast its books programme for Poland with the US’s alignment with Russia today. My piece about Charlie English’s fascinating The CIA Book Club – the nut that cracked the nutcracker www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...

telegraph.co.uk

000

Reposted by Julian Evans

Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Very early draft of the front page for the next print edition, but you can see where we're heading with this MOB RULE: How the World's Policeman Became a Global Gangster

451305357

Reposted by Julian Evans

Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

I do not think people realize how comprehensive the Trump Administration is being in its attempts to help Putin kill Ukrainians. I have it on an excellent source that Ukrainian UAV operations are 15% less effective because of the US intel cut off.

23753260

Reposted by Julian Evans

Adam Schwarz @adamjschwarz.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

French Senator Claude Malhuret: "Washington has become Nero’s court, with an incendiary emperor, submissive courtiers and a jester high on ketamine... We were at war with a dictator, we are now at war with a dictator backed by a traitor."

16548126325619

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

This is the most vicious ambush of a visiting head of state I have ever seen. Zelensky has tried to speak the truth and Trump and Vance have treated him like a beggar. Europe must now stand up for him and Ukraine

000

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

“Perish the United States, rather than a principle!” – Gustave Flaubert, 1852 My evening after discovering this quote is entirely perfect

000

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Here is a man just now, twisting on a line and profoundly uncomfortable between having been told what to do by his Russian handler and been told the truth by the French president standing next to him

000

Reposted by Julian Evans

Luke Harding @lukeharding1968.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

My write up of Zelenskyy's press conference today. Ukraine's won't cave into US bullying and sign Trump's outrageous $500bn minerals "deal". And: “Why should I be offended? A dictator would be offended by being called a dictator,” Ze said, after Trump's attack www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...

theguardian.com

Zelenskyy refuses Trump demand to give $500bn of Ukraine minerals to US

The Ukrainian president said US military aid was a ‘grant’ rather than a debt, but added that he wanted Trump to be ‘on our side’

27017

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

On the 3rd anniversary of Russia’s invasion we decided to buy another big 4WD for the troops. Whatever you read, no Ukrainian I know is giving up so Trump can get his Nobel and lithium, and Putin can squeak his little victory. Leaving for Kharkiv in 2 wks’ time full of tourniquets and heat blankets

010

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

After Trump’s utterances yesterday it’s clear that the country that’s been lost is not Ukraine, but the USA. If Europe can recognise that new map of the battlefield, there is a slim chance that sanity will prevail. But Europe must act to arm Ukraine and rearm itself to defend the freedoms of both

100

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

“Russians enjoy impunity. Europe enjoys their ballet and gas.” Tragically Victoria Amelina’s not alive to see her impossible-to-forget book Looking at Women Looking at War published. But we are, and it’s hugely worth reading. My review here www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fi...

telegraph.co.uk

Russia killed this novelist – her book couldn’t be more urgent

Looking at Women, Looking at War, a mix of diary and reportage by Victoria Amelina, makes for a harrowing portrait of Ukraine’s invasion

010

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Delighted to be reviewed in @thetls.bsky.social by an Odesan and to emerge not just unscathed but smiling. Thank you for your generosity, Boris Dralyuk

051

Reposted by Julian Evans

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Hi everyone. New author selfie alert – If you are interested in Odesa, Ukraine, Russia's war and what might happen in that marvellous heroic country, my book UNDEFEATABLE is being launched at Hatchards Bookshop, Piccadilly tomorrow, Thursday 16 Jan. Do come! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/odesa-ukra...

023

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

023

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

Wordselfie alert – on 16 Jan at 6.30 I’ll be keeping the conversation about Ukraine going at Hatchards in Piccadilly. If you’re interested in Odesa, Ukraine, love, beauty, war, heroism, what’s going on in that bewitching city and on the frontline, please come www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/odesa-ukra...

002

Reposted by Julian Evans

kerraway.bsky.social @kerraway.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Looking forward to reading this too, and I already have a dozen books by Norman Lewis on the shelves...

021

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

In the scheme of things, a new collection of a writer’s old pieces isn’t wildly exciting. But when the writer is Norman Lewis and the 30 pieces are his best, it’s impossible not to feel a thrill at A QUIET EVENING being published this January. An absolute must-have

010

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

100 per cent thanks to Viv Groskop for her super generous review in the @financialtimes.com. “A memoir brimming with emotion and good hope”, “journalistic rigour is at work here” (phew), “driven by a quiet charm” – the nicest start to the New Year. Z Novim Rokom to everyone!

021

Reposted by Julian Evans

Luke Harding @lukeharding1968.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

Happy New Year! Here's a suitably uplifting story of how a group of teenagers and a biologist replanted a forest in #Kharkiv burned down by a Russian glide bomb. They buried 40,000 acorns, some of which will grow into English oak trees. "Where we are standing will be Ukraine," one volunteer told me

16523

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

Thank you (again), Thomas. A fascinating selection

020

Reposted by Julian Evans

(((Tendar))) @tendar.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

You allow Russia to invade one country, you invite Russia to invade the next country. You allow Russia to shoot down one passenger plane, you invite Russia to shoot down the next passenger plane. You allow Russia to cut one undersea cable, you invite Russia to cut more undersea cables.

632605713

Reposted by Julian Evans

Thomas Leurs @thomasleurs.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

Liebe Freunde Osteuropas! Das Jahr neigt sich dem Ende. Zeit, noch auf den Dezember zu blicken, was alles an Neuerscheinungen zu #Osteuropa erschienen ist. Viel Mainstreamiges war nicht dabei. Ist schon zum Teil Special Interest. Aber auf jeden Fall spannende Lektüre dabei. 1/41

264

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

These 2 photos were taken 30 minutes apart this morning, at the same place in Lviv city centre by the mayor. It’s hard to think of a pair of images that better illustrates Ukrainians’ willingness to pay the highest price in pursuit of hope and happiness

000

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

It’s a marvellous book – you’ll read and hear much more in Lindsey’s book about what war brings to people’s imaginations, often awful and unbidden, than you will in almost all factual accounts. Superb

020

Reposted by Julian Evans

Steve B @stevebasnett.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

I have just been alerted to your "loveletter" Undefeatable by Lindsey @lindseyhilsum.bsky.social. It is clearly superb. Coincidentally, I have been working flat out over the past couple of weeks in an attempt to preserve The Observer. You save Ukraine, I'll save The Observer - do we have a deal?

111

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Book signings, fine coffee, ancient towns, generous reviews – I’ve been excessively lucky this week. I wrote Undefeatable partly to keep the message alive that Ukraine’s fighting for not just its freedom but ours. Resistance is about lasting longer than your enemy, and I feel strangely optimistic

011

Reposted by Julian Evans

Steve B @stevebasnett.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

A superb review by Luke Harding @lukeharding1968.bsky.social, describing an extraordinary 'love letter' to Odesa by Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social. Thank you to Lindsey @lindseyhilsum.bsky.social for bringing Undefeatable to my attention.

042

Reposted by Julian Evans

Luke Harding @lukeharding1968.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

My review of 'Undefeatable', a love letter to #Odesa by @julianevans.bsky.social. "Evans is a wonderful writer and observer, as elegant and gloriously freewheeling as Jonathan Raban. Each paragraph has a lapidary charm". Thanks to Ursula Kenny & Observer books www.theguardian.com/books/2024/d...

theguardian.com

Undefeatable: Odesa in Love & War by Julian Evans review – a ‘sleeping beauty’ now besieged

A stylish love letter to the Ukrainian port charts its transformation from exotic mafia capital to beacon of freedom and, now, battered Russian target

2153

Julian Evans @julianevans.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Today’s publication day. It’s nice having a book about Odesa published, but the real point’s to keep the message alive: Ukraine matters, Ukrainians must have freedom, Russia must not win @phillipspobrien.bsky.social @igor-kyivskyi.bsky.social @antongerashchenko.bsky.social @mariadrutska.bsky.social

020

Reposted by Julian Evans

Darth Putin @darthputinkgb.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Everyone seems to have forgotten is Ukraine has been using American ATACMS on Russian territory for 3 years and we've done fuck all. So now it's on bits we didn't annex it suddenly matters. But it doesn't matter on other bits of what we say is Russia.

796693