Peter Thornton
@peterthornton.bsky.social
Head of The Phoenix Foundation
Russia hopes for a corresponding reaction from NATO to justify the mobilization of 400'000 to 600'000 Russians. Period.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament that intelligence from NATO, Ukraine, and the US pointed to a deliberate plan: strike NATO countries and call it an accident, to test whether collective defense was more than words.
🔗 euromaidanpress.com/2026/09/18/r...
🔗 euromaidanpress.com/2026/09/18/r...
September 18, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Russia hopes for a corresponding reaction from NATO to justify the mobilization of 400'000 to 600'000 Russians. Period.
Reposted by Peter Thornton
🇦🇹🇷🇺 Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International is facing renewed scrutiny as the biggest Western bank still operating in #Russia, after a short-selling firm alleged it was a key channel enabling more than $1 billion of Russian trade to circumvent sanctions.
www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/17/r...
www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/17/r...
Raiffeisen Bank Helping Russia Circumvent Sanctions, Report Claims - The Moscow Times
Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is facing renewed scrutiny as the biggest Western bank still operating in Russia, after a short-selling firm alleged it was a key channel enabling more th...
www.themoscowtimes.com
September 17, 2026 at 5:50 PM
🇦🇹🇷🇺 Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International is facing renewed scrutiny as the biggest Western bank still operating in #Russia, after a short-selling firm alleged it was a key channel enabling more than $1 billion of Russian trade to circumvent sanctions.
www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/17/r...
www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/17/r...
Reposted by Peter Thornton
You haven’t seen a ship like this before(!): China’s New Giant Submarine Drone Mothership
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
China's New Giant Submarine Drone Mothership - Naval News
A new vessel spotted at a Chinese shipyard is likely the world’s first mothership designed to deploy submarine drones. It represents the latest piece in the puzzle of China’s undeclared effort to deve...
www.navalnews.com
September 15, 2026 at 8:34 AM
You haven’t seen a ship like this before(!): China’s New Giant Submarine Drone Mothership
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
What the Af is this?
US envoy Steve Witkoff:
So, first of all, President Putin, thank you so much for having us.
When we retire, we'll have all these incredible stories and incredible memories, and yours will be right at the top of it all.
So, first of all, President Putin, thank you so much for having us.
When we retire, we'll have all these incredible stories and incredible memories, and yours will be right at the top of it all.
September 5, 2026 at 8:26 PM
What the Af is this?
Reposted by Peter Thornton
This is excellent
September 5, 2026 at 3:41 PM
This is excellent
But at least Le Pen has to wear an electronic ankle monitor.
If Le Pen wins the presidential election in France, Russia could launch an invasion inside the EU knowing that both Paris and Washington might sit out Europe's defense.
That shift massively increases the likelihood of a major war inside the EU
That shift massively increases the likelihood of a major war inside the EU
August 26, 2026 at 10:04 AM
But at least Le Pen has to wear an electronic ankle monitor.
Reposted by Peter Thornton
If my 2026 self had a chance to tell my 2019 self what to expect, I would take her to the nearest psychiatric hospital lol.
August 22, 2026 at 12:42 PM
If my 2026 self had a chance to tell my 2019 self what to expect, I would take her to the nearest psychiatric hospital lol.
Reposted by Peter Thornton
⚡️Musk 'may change his mind' on using Starlink over Russian territory, Zelensky says.
"So far, he has said that this constitutes an escalation," President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Aug. 22. "However, he may change his mind once he sees further arguments."
"So far, he has said that this constitutes an escalation," President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Aug. 22. "However, he may change his mind once he sees further arguments."
Musk 'may change his mind' on using Starlink over Russian territory, Zelensky says
"So far, he has said that this constitutes an escalation," President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Aug. 22. "However, he may change his mind once he sees further arguments."
kyivindependent.com
August 23, 2026 at 7:49 PM
⚡️Musk 'may change his mind' on using Starlink over Russian territory, Zelensky says.
"So far, he has said that this constitutes an escalation," President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Aug. 22. "However, he may change his mind once he sees further arguments."
"So far, he has said that this constitutes an escalation," President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Aug. 22. "However, he may change his mind once he sees further arguments."
Reposted by Peter Thornton
Mars, a volunteer from Spain who chose to serve in the International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, shares his vision of Ukraine, its people, and its army, as well as the reality he faced after arriving on the battlefield.
t.me/c/1606301574...
t.me/c/1606301574...
August 20, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Mars, a volunteer from Spain who chose to serve in the International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, shares his vision of Ukraine, its people, and its army, as well as the reality he faced after arriving on the battlefield.
t.me/c/1606301574...
t.me/c/1606301574...
His behavior after his dismissal reveals the reason for it.
⚡️'I have no moral right to engage in anything else' — Fedorov hopes for reinstatement as defense minister.
Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said he still hopes to return to the post after being dismissed during the government's recent reshuffle, speaking on Serhii Sternenko's Aug. 6 show.
Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said he still hopes to return to the post after being dismissed during the government's recent reshuffle, speaking on Serhii Sternenko's Aug. 6 show.
'I have no moral right to engage in anything else' — Fedorov hopes for reinstatement as defense minister
Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said he still hopes to return to the post after being dismissed during the government's recent reshuffle, speaking on Serhii Sternenko's Aug. 6 YouTube show.
kyivindependent.com
August 7, 2026 at 12:59 AM
His behavior after his dismissal reveals the reason for it.
Reposted by Peter Thornton
Russia needs to learn the concept of reciprocity:
If Russia is allowed to cite NATO ”expansion” as a valid threat requiring a military response, then the West had every right to view the expansion and militarization of the CSTO as a direct threat to its own security
If Russia is allowed to cite NATO ”expansion” as a valid threat requiring a military response, then the West had every right to view the expansion and militarization of the CSTO as a direct threat to its own security
August 4, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Russia needs to learn the concept of reciprocity:
If Russia is allowed to cite NATO ”expansion” as a valid threat requiring a military response, then the West had every right to view the expansion and militarization of the CSTO as a direct threat to its own security
If Russia is allowed to cite NATO ”expansion” as a valid threat requiring a military response, then the West had every right to view the expansion and militarization of the CSTO as a direct threat to its own security
Kasparov and the Phoenix Foundation agree on this point.
Garry Kasparov:
I would bet a considerable sum that in 10 years, Russia will not exist in its current borders.
I hope it will happen sooner, because it's not that people ask me, do you want Russia to collapse? It's not about whether I want or not. It's going to happen.
I would bet a considerable sum that in 10 years, Russia will not exist in its current borders.
I hope it will happen sooner, because it's not that people ask me, do you want Russia to collapse? It's not about whether I want or not. It's going to happen.
August 2, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Kasparov and the Phoenix Foundation agree on this point.
Reposted by Peter Thornton
Ukrainian man defied the USSR at the 1976 Olympics.
July 27, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Ukrainian man defied the USSR at the 1976 Olympics.
Reposted by Peter Thornton
Zelensky announced Maj Gen Mykhailo Drapatyi as the next Commander-in-Chief.
On May 9 2014 he was a battalion commander in this leading BMP that broke through Russian barricades to free hostages held at the Mariupol city police headquarters, helping prevent the capture of the city.
On May 9 2014 he was a battalion commander in this leading BMP that broke through Russian barricades to free hostages held at the Mariupol city police headquarters, helping prevent the capture of the city.
July 21, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Zelensky announced Maj Gen Mykhailo Drapatyi as the next Commander-in-Chief.
On May 9 2014 he was a battalion commander in this leading BMP that broke through Russian barricades to free hostages held at the Mariupol city police headquarters, helping prevent the capture of the city.
On May 9 2014 he was a battalion commander in this leading BMP that broke through Russian barricades to free hostages held at the Mariupol city police headquarters, helping prevent the capture of the city.
Reposted by Peter Thornton
“Die Situation wird fachkundig, konstruktiv und zum Wohle unseres Staates gelöst.
Ich rufe dazu auf, niemanden zu hetzen. Der Feind beobachtet aufmerksam jede unserer internen Auseinandersetzungen und wartet darauf, dass wir anfangen, uns gegenseitig zu bekämpfen.”
General Budaov
Ich rufe dazu auf, niemanden zu hetzen. Der Feind beobachtet aufmerksam jede unserer internen Auseinandersetzungen und wartet darauf, dass wir anfangen, uns gegenseitig zu bekämpfen.”
General Budaov
July 20, 2026 at 1:12 PM
“Die Situation wird fachkundig, konstruktiv und zum Wohle unseres Staates gelöst.
Ich rufe dazu auf, niemanden zu hetzen. Der Feind beobachtet aufmerksam jede unserer internen Auseinandersetzungen und wartet darauf, dass wir anfangen, uns gegenseitig zu bekämpfen.”
General Budaov
Ich rufe dazu auf, niemanden zu hetzen. Der Feind beobachtet aufmerksam jede unserer internen Auseinandersetzungen und wartet darauf, dass wir anfangen, uns gegenseitig zu bekämpfen.”
General Budaov
Reposted by Peter Thornton
In collaboration with the Munk School, I am sharing a ten-lecture course I taught at @utoronto.ca this past year. The course is called “Hitler and Stalin Today.”
Watch the first lecture here: snyder.substack.com/p/new-lectur...
Watch the first lecture here: snyder.substack.com/p/new-lectur...
July 16, 2026 at 3:19 PM
In collaboration with the Munk School, I am sharing a ten-lecture course I taught at @utoronto.ca this past year. The course is called “Hitler and Stalin Today.”
Watch the first lecture here: snyder.substack.com/p/new-lectur...
Watch the first lecture here: snyder.substack.com/p/new-lectur...
WTF? GFU Syrskyi
⚡️Update: Fedorov confirms dismissal as defense minister.
Fedorov listed over 20 achievements during his year in office, including cutting Russian forces off from Starlink, the campaign to isolate occupied Crimea, and "an unpopular but extremely important" military reform initiative.
Fedorov listed over 20 achievements during his year in office, including cutting Russian forces off from Starlink, the campaign to isolate occupied Crimea, and "an unpopular but extremely important" military reform initiative.
Zelensky dismisses Defense Minister Fedorov
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has been offered the role of Ukraine's next defense minister, a lawmaker from the governing Servant of the People party told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonym...
kyivindependent.com
July 15, 2026 at 7:13 PM
WTF? GFU Syrskyi
Reposted by Peter Thornton
To our friends around the world: Trump is not America, and America is not Trump.
July 15, 2026 at 3:01 PM
To our friends around the world: Trump is not America, and America is not Trump.
By trying to do nothing wrong, Germany is doing everything wrong.
Germany will sit out the first military exercises of the "coalition of the willing," the roughly 35-nation group backing Ukraine, govt sources in Berlin say. The force was agreed in December at a Ukraine summit Germany itself hosted. The drills will be held in Poland. www.ariva.de/news/manoeve...
Manöver der 'Koalition der Willigen' ohne Deutschland
Nachricht: Manöver der 'Koalition der Willigen' ohne Deutschland - 14.07.26 - News
www.ariva.de
July 15, 2026 at 5:48 AM
By trying to do nothing wrong, Germany is doing everything wrong.
Enlightening indeed. Must read.
The fuel crisis in Russia has long ceased to be a problem solely for drivers and farmers. It is gradually becoming a problem for the state budget. Russian authorities had projected that the deficit for all of 2026 would amount to 3.786 trillion rubles ($48,9 billion) (1.6% of GDP)⤵️
July 14, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Enlightening indeed. Must read.
Reposted by Peter Thornton
French President Macron announced that Ukraine has received a license to manufacture Aster-30 anti-aircraft missiles for SAMP/T, AASM Hammer guided aerial munitions, and SCALP cruise missiles.
July 13, 2026 at 8:40 PM
French President Macron announced that Ukraine has received a license to manufacture Aster-30 anti-aircraft missiles for SAMP/T, AASM Hammer guided aerial munitions, and SCALP cruise missiles.
Mitch is doing great.
July 13, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Mitch is doing great.
Reposted by Peter Thornton
Russian mobile fire group training goes wrong while using a YakB-12.7 rotary machine gun developed for a Mi-24 helicopter mount
(Full version, no watermarks)
(Full version, no watermarks)
July 12, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Russian mobile fire group training goes wrong while using a YakB-12.7 rotary machine gun developed for a Mi-24 helicopter mount
(Full version, no watermarks)
(Full version, no watermarks)
Reposted by Peter Thornton
Reposted by Peter Thornton
🇩🇰 PM Frederiksen: We need three things. First, we need an even stronger NATO. Secondly, we need to step up and rearm Europe. And thirdly, we need to help Ukraine even more, put more pressure on Russia, and ensure that only right winner of this war, of course, will be Ukraine.
July 8, 2026 at 5:15 PM
🇩🇰 PM Frederiksen: We need three things. First, we need an even stronger NATO. Secondly, we need to step up and rearm Europe. And thirdly, we need to help Ukraine even more, put more pressure on Russia, and ensure that only right winner of this war, of course, will be Ukraine.