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Laura Starink

@laurastarink.bsky.social
2.5K followers 344 following 63 posts

Slavicist, journalist, writer. Former Moscow correspondent of Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad. Published 5 books: 'Mail from Russia', 'The Russian Hangover', 'German Roots', 'The Shadow of Big Brother' and 'A Land from Hearsay

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Reposted by Laura Starink
The Ukrainian Review @theukrainianreview.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
🛳️ How Ukraine and its allies are countering Russia’s shadow fleet schemes 🔥 This time, the strike on empty ships demonstrated that even the sale of Russian oil after transshipment and transportation is no guarantee of safety. Read more 👀⬇️ theukrainianreview.info/coming-out-o...
theukrainianreview.info
Coming out of the shadows: how Ukraine and its allies are countering the Russian Federation's shadow fleet schemes
What is a shadow fleet? The “Russian shadow fleet” is a term that emerged in the context of the occupier's invasion of Ukraine. However, the term itself is
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 19/11/2025
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it would reduce Poland’s diplomatic presence in Russia in response to the closure of its Gdansk consulate.
themoscowtimes.com
Poland to Close Russia’s Last Consulate in Response to Sabotage Accusations - The Moscow Times
Poland will revoke permission for Russia’s last operating consulate in the country, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Wednesday, after Warsaw accused Moscow of orchestrating acts of sabot...
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Kriszta Satori @fulelo.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
#BBCNews - Russian attack hits flats in one of deadliest strikes on western Ukraine www.bbc.com/news/article... #UkraineWar
bbc.com
Russian attack on Ternopil hits flats in one of deadliest strikes on western Ukraine
At least 16 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in the attack on the western region of Ternopil.
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Gert-Jan Dennekamp @gjdennekamp.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
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hromadske @hromadske.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
At least 16 people died and 64 others were wounded when Russian drones and missiles struck two residential high-rises in Ternopil on Wednesday morning, the National Police of Ukraine reported.
hromadske.ua
Death toll in Russian attack on Ternopil rises to 16, number of injured stands at 64
At least 16 people died and 64 others were wounded when Russian drones and missiles struck two residential high-rises in Ternopil early on Wednesday, the National Police of Ukraine reported .
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The Ukrainian Review @theukrainianreview.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
🇺🇦❗️ Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned Ukraine is running short on soldiers as many men flee abroad, - POLITICO He said Russian forces attack in relentless "waves" and urged lowering the draft age from 25 to around 22.
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 12/11/2025
Ukraine suspends justice minister amid energy corruption scandal – Europe live
theguardian.com
Ukraine suspends justice minister amid energy corruption scandal – Europe live
Prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said that the decision to suspend German Galushchenko had been taken at an emergency government session Ukrainian justice minister German Galushchenko has been suspended amid an alleged corruption scandal in the country’s energy sector, uncovered by the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, or SAPO. AFP reported that the authorities alleged that Galushchenko was involved in a $100m corruption scheme orchestrated by Timur Mindich, an ally of president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and personally benefited from the plot. Continue reading...
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Steve Rosenberg @bbcstever.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
In today’s Russian papers: ▪️ Russia’s budget deficit gets bigger ▪️ plans for a new “tax on gadgets” ▪️ a “cooling off period” for SIM cards ▪️t he dangers of rehabilitating Joseph Stalin #ReadingRussia
youtu.be
Russia: budget deficit grows and new "tax on gadgets"
YouTube video by Steve Rosenberg
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NOELREPORTS @noelreports.com · 12/11/2025
In Kyiv, a court is deciding pre-trial measures for Dmytro Basov, a key figure in the "Mindych tapes" case. Basov, ex-security director of Energoatom and a former prosecutor, is accused by NABU of co-leading the scheme under the alias "Tenor." SAP seeks his arrest with bail set at 45.4 million UAH.
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POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 12/11/2025
Ukraine’s Justice Minister German Galushchenko has been suspended amid a sweeping corruption probe into the country’s energy sector, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko announced.
politico.eu
Ukraine’s justice minister suspended amid $100M corruption probe
Growing scandal rattles Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government in Kyiv.
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Reposted by Laura Starink
Kyiv Post @kyivpost.com · 12/11/2025
Russia claimed it is ready for new direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, while NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov arrived in Turkey to restart stalled prisoner exchange negotiations. www.kyivpost.com/post/64083
kyivpost.com
Moscow Again Signals ‘Readiness’ for Negotiations With Ukraine – But on Whose Terms?
Russia claimed it is ready for new direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, while NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov arrived in Turkey to restart stalled prisoner exchange negotiations.
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The Economist @economist.com · 12/11/2025
Fighting in Ukraine will grind on in 2026. Vladimir Putin will continue to throw away Russian lives pointlessly, but sooner or later a reckoning is coming
econ.st
Vladimir Putin has no plan for winning in Ukraine
Fighting in Ukraine will grind on in 2026. Vladimir Putin will continue to throw away Russian lives pointlessly, but sooner or later a reckoning is coming
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Reposted by Laura Starink
The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 12/11/2025
Russian regions bordering Ukraine, including Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk, regularly report civilian casualties and damage from drone and missile attacks.
themoscowtimes.com
Ukrainian Drone Attacks Have Killed Nearly 400 People Across Russia in 2025, MFA Official Says - The Moscow Times
Almost 400 people have been killed in Ukrainian drone strikes across Russia since January, the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia reported on Wednesday, citing a senior Foreign Ministry official.
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Trouw @trouw.nl · 12/11/2025
Radicaalrechts lied over azc’s van YouTube en Spotify verdwenen
trouw.nl
Radicaalrechts lied over azc’s van YouTube en Spotify verdwenen
Het radicaalrechtse anti-azc-lied Wij zeggen nee, nee, nee tegen een azc staat woensdag niet meer op YouTube en Spotify.
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ElieNYC @elienyc.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
The phrase “We tried to tell you” springs to mind for some reason
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de Volkskrant @volkskrant.nl · 30/10/2025
Rob Jetten grote winnaar, maar VVD heeft sleutel van formatie in handen
volkskrant.nl
Rob Jetten grote winnaar, maar VVD heeft sleutel van formatie in handen
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Tom Nichols @radiofreetom.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
The president wants to resume nuclear testing. This is a really bad idea - and he can't even get his facts right about why he wants to do it: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
theatlantic.com
Trump Is Very Confused About Nuclear Weapons
The president says he wants to resume nuclear testing but doesn’t seem to know why.
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De Groene Amsterdammer @groene.nl · 30/10/2025
Het was zijn energie waarmee D66-leider Rob Jetten succes boekte deze campagne. Onwankelbaar, optimistisch en niet vies van een beetje theater. Een beetje zoals... Rutte. @kimvankeken.bsky.social
buff.ly
Met een partijleider die transformeerde van klimaatdrammer naar positivo boekte D66 een grote verkiezingswinst
Het was zijn energie waarmee D66-leider Rob Jetten succes boekte deze campagne. Onwankelbaar, optimistisch en niet vies van een beetje theater. Een beetje zoals… Rutte.
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Anton Gerashchenko @antongerashchenko.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy, railway, and residential infrastructure last night. ▪️ In Zaporizhzhia, private houses and apartment buildings were damaged. One person was killed. More than a dozen people were injured, including six children. Russia struck a dormitory, destroying several floors.
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Mark Fitzpatrick @marktfitz.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Pretty scary that a dottering man who wrongly thinks Russia and China are testing nukes, who doesn’t know which part of his government is in charge of US nukes, and assumes they can be tested “immediately” has sole authority to order their launch.
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Peter Breedveld @frontaalnaakt.nl · 30/10/2025
Intellectueel zijn is een doodszonde in zompig Nederland.
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Laura Starink @laurastarink.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
That Putin will not accept.
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Alexander S. Vindman @avindman.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
NO KINGS! Join the nationwide protest this Saturday, October 18th - America has no monarchs and no one is above the law. #NoKings nokings.org
nokings.org
No Kings
As the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the NO KINGS non-violent movement continues to rise stronger. We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power ...
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RAAM – op Rusland, Oekraïne en Belarus @platformraam.nl · 24/07/2025
De benoeming van Oleksandr Alfjorov tot directeur van het Oekraïense Instituut voor Nationale Herinnering heeft tot ophef geleid. Het laat zien hoe geschiedenis een wapen in een oorlog op leven en dood is geworden, schrijft @laurastarink.bsky.social. platformraam.nl/artikelen/28...
platformraam.nl
Benoeming omstreden Oekraïense historicus rakelt oorlog om het verleden op
De benoeming van Oleksandr Alfjorov tot directeur van het Oekraïense Instituut voor Nationale Herinnering in Kyiv heeft de afgelopen weken tot ophef...
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Martin Sauerbrey @martinsauerbrey.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Die Versuche Karl Schlögel als Kriegstreiber darzustellen offenbaren den Amoklauf gegen die Wirklichkeit, wenn es um Russlands Krieg in der Ukraine geht, schonungslos. Historiker, die seit Jahren vor russischer Aggression warnen, die klar die wahren Wurzeln des Konflikts 1/
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The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 31/07/2025
⚡️Update: 15 killed, 135 injured in mass Russian strike on Kyiv. "Unfortunately, the worst predictions regarding the number of people who may be trapped under the rubble have been confirmed," Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city's military administration, said.
kyivindependent.com
15 killed, record number of children injured in Russia’s massive attack on Kyiv
Three police officers and 12 children were among the injured. Thirty people, including five children, remain hospitalized as of 2:40 p.m. local time, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
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Het Parool @parool.nl · 31/07/2025
Pjotr Sauer schrijft een afscheidscolumn voor zijn overleden vader Derk: ‘Ik ga ontelbaar veel dingen aan hem missen’
parool.nl
Pjotr Sauer schrijft een afscheidscolumn voor zijn overleden vader Derk: ‘Ik ga ontelbaar veel dingen aan hem missen’
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Kriszta Satori @fulelo.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
#BBCNews - US halts some weapons shipments to Ukraine, White House says www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
US halts some weapons shipments to Ukraine, White House says
US is concerned about low stockpiles for its own needs, as Russia intensifies the war in Ukraine.
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De Groene Amsterdammer @groene.nl · 14/06/2025
Zijn hele leven deed Chomsky zijn best om de kille politiek achter de zachte diplomatie te ontmaskeren, maar nu kan iedereen live op zijn scherm zien hoe wereldleiders over kleinere staten denken. buff.ly/m6zlbyR
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Joshua Livestro @joshualivestro.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
This is also what happened in Nazi Germany. Only there the firings were antisemitic rather than ideological in motivation. The effect is the same: science is made subservient to the ruling party.
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Zarina Zabrisky @zarinazabrisky.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Here is the link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9od...
youtube.com
Zarina Zabrisky - Russia is Training Killers in a Human Safari Being Inflicted on Kherson City Daily
YouTube video by Silicon Curtain
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Roman Yeremenko @roalyr.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
#Ukraine #UkrainianView
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Gustav C Gressel @gresselgustav.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
On Monday I talked through the Spiderweb operation with @sumlenny.bsky.social for ERIC youtu.be/dsJ7mdCi7qE?...
youtu.be
Ukraine Has Wiped Out Russia's Strategic Bombers. What Comes Next?
YouTube video by European Resilience Initiative Center
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Christoph Schmidt @christophschmidt.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
'Hard-right parties can transform countries when they have an absolute majority and are not checked by other branches of government, as in Hungary under Viktor Orban or in Poland from 2015-23. That is not possible in the Netherlands’ fragmented political landscape.'
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Meduza in English @meduza.io · 01/04/2025
In our latest Q&A, Cold War historian Sergey Radchenko (@radchenko.bsky.social) explains why talk of a “New Yalta” between Putin and Trump misses the mark.
meduza.io
‘A devil’s bargain’ Cold War historian Sergey Radchenko explains why talk of a ‘New Yalta’ between Putin and Trump misses the mark — Meduza
Ahead of a call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on March 18, a Russian state media reporter asked Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov if the two leaders planned to discuss a “new Yalta.” Peskov…
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Republicans Against Trumpism @rpsagainsttrump.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
BREAKING: Members of Donald Trump’s National Security Council — including WH national security adviser Mike Waltz — have conducted government business using personal Gmail accounts. Lock. Them. Up. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
washingtonpost.com
Waltz and staff used Gmail for government communications, officials say
Trump’s national security adviser is trying to manage his way out of a crisis. But new revelations about his team’s operational security are piling up in the inbox.
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Savchenko Volodymyr @savchenkoua.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
🚫 Negotiations at a standstill: Russia rejects US proposals to end war in Ukraine “in their current form,” — Reuters US peace initiatives “do not eliminate the problems that caused the war.” Putin wants Ukraine to refuse to join NATO, reduce the army and recognize the annexation of 4 regions.
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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
🚨BREAKING: HUNGARY QUITS THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ON WEDNESDAY—just as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, wanted by the ICC for war crimes & crimes against humanity, arrives in Budapest to meet Viktor Orbán. First reported by RFE/RL, confirmed to me at @vsquare.bsky.social by diplomatic sources.
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dr. Marina @drmarina.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Morgen 10.16 begint het debat over “eenheid van kabinetsbeid inzake de ondertekening van lintjes-voordrachten. Wilders staat niet op de sprekerslijst, hij laat zich vervangen door PVV-er Vondeling die sinds 6 december 2023 kamerlid is.
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The Ukrainian Review @theukrainianreview.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
🤬 Odesa under massive attack by Shaheds!
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WesselNOS @wesselnos.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Dit. @zurhake.bsky.social en @martenporte.bsky.social en @laurastarink.bsky.social Vervelend verhaal maar dit is de realiteit. Vrees ik ook. Hun vechtlust zullen ze niet verliezen. Maar dat is niet genoeg.
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RAAM – op Rusland, Oekraïne en Belarus @platformraam.nl · 31/03/2025
De besprekingen over een wapenstilstand zijn verwaterd tot een voorstel voor een staakt-het-vuren op de Zwarte Zee. De Russen zijn daar militair al zo goed als uitgespeeld, dus halen zij volgens @laurastarink.bsky.social het meeste voordeel uit zo'n bestand. platformraam.nl/artikelen/27...
platformraam.nl
Vooral Rusland heeft baat bij bestand op de Zwarte Zee
Een maand vol bilaterale bijeenkomsten in Moskou en Saoedi-Arabië heeft niet tot een tijdelijke wapenstilstand geleid. En dus verwaterden de...
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Edward Hunter Christie @ehunterchristie.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
A BBC article about the Finnish defence tech sector. Helsinki is now among the top five cities in Europe for defence, security and resilience investments. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
The Finnish defence tech firms 'on steroids'
Helsinki has become one of the top five cities in Europe for investment in defence and security technologies.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 01/04/2025
At least 54% of soldiers left with disabilities after fighting in Ukraine are amputees. While the state seeks to paint these men as “heroes with enhanced capabilities,” many face delayed payments and surgeries and struggle to adapt to civilian life.
themoscowtimes.com
After Losing Limbs to War, Russian Amputee Veterans Grapple With Officials’ Empty Promises - The Moscow Times
“If there are no disability payments or awards, can I at least get a parrot on my shoulder to fit the image?” says Konstantin, a former Russian soldier who lost his leg during the war in Ukraine, in a...
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Denis Trubetskoy @denistrubetskoy.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Endlich mal eine Nacht gänzlich ohne Luftalarm und Drohnen, die auf Kyjiw fliegen. Bin mir unsicher, ob es sowas 2025 überhaupt gab. Insgesamt gab es im letzten Halbjahr bisher nur zwei Nächte ohne russische Drohnen: 14. Oktober und 14. März. Was vieles über den Alltag hier sagt.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 01/04/2025
Meanwhile, Ukraine reported no overnight Russian drone strikes between Monday and Tuesday, marking the first such pause in months.
themoscowtimes.com
Ukrainian Drone Attacks Injure 15 in Occupied Donetsk Region - The Moscow Times
At least 15 people were injured in Ukrainian drone strikes in occupied eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, as Kyiv reported no overnight Russian drone attacks for the first time in months.
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Laura Starink @laurastarink.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Lees mijn artikel over de contekst van het Zwarte Zeebestand. Combi van Russ lijntrekken, proefballon over sancties en testen van Trump. platformraam.nl/artikelen/27...
platformraam.nl
Vooral Rusland heeft baat bij bestand op de Zwarte Zee
Een maand vol bilaterale bijeenkomsten in Moskou en Saoedi-Arabië heeft niet tot een tijdelijke wapenstilstand geleid. En dus verwaterden de...
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James Sullivan @mrjamessullivan.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
We are looking for a motivated Research Analyst to join our cyber and tech team at @rusi.bsky.social. You need to be able to work in London. Full job spec below 👇 royalunitedservicesinstitute.peoplehr.net/Pages/JobBoa...
royalunitedservicesinstitute.peoplehr.net
Research Analyst
This position sits in RUSI’s Cyber and Tech Research group, which seeks to shine a light on UK and international cyber and technology issues. We take what can sometimes be complex and technical subjec...
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Savchenko Volodymyr @savchenkoua.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
🤯🇩🇰🇺🇸 JD Vance: "Denmark, which controls Greenland, is not fulfilling its responsibilities and is not a good ally. If that means we need to show more territorial interests in Greenland, that's what President Trump will do. Because he doesn't care how the Europeans yell at us."
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