Anton Shekhovtsov
@shekhovtsov.substack.com
PhD UCL SSEES, visiting professor at CEU, director of the Centre for Democratic Integrity, author of books "Russia and the Western Far Right" and "Russian Political Warfare", columnist for EUObserver @euobserver.bsky.social, outdoor research fellow
The Russo-American “peace plan” claims to confirm Ukraine’s sovereignty, but several clauses strip it away, from enforced neutrality to limits on Ukraine’s own defence. A “deal” designed to make Ukraine capitulate and be destroyed. buff.ly/ujgTKLr 1/5
November 25, 2025 at 11:49 AM
The Russo-American “peace plan” claims to confirm Ukraine’s sovereignty, but several clauses strip it away, from enforced neutrality to limits on Ukraine’s own defence. A “deal” designed to make Ukraine capitulate and be destroyed. buff.ly/ujgTKLr 1/5
Uncovering Ex-Reform UK Wales Leader's Russian Links
I did so five years before the UK moved to prosecute shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/uncovering...
I did so five years before the UK moved to prosecute shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/uncovering...
November 22, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Uncovering Ex-Reform UK Wales Leader's Russian Links
I did so five years before the UK moved to prosecute shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/uncovering...
I did so five years before the UK moved to prosecute shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/uncovering...
Future historians, if there are any, will call our time the age of indecency and dishonour.
November 21, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Future historians, if there are any, will call our time the age of indecency and dishonour.
Aww, that’s so sweet of the UN. I’m going to cry with emotion right now.
November 15, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Aww, that’s so sweet of the UN. I’m going to cry with emotion right now.
I hear Dmitry Medvedev’s consciousness has been digitised to save it from his failing body and transferred into a Russian-made robot. The transfer was apparently successful.
November 11, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I hear Dmitry Medvedev’s consciousness has been digitised to save it from his failing body and transferred into a Russian-made robot. The transfer was apparently successful.
I’m smelling Brussels bullshit from miles away.
November 9, 2025 at 12:53 AM
I’m smelling Brussels bullshit from miles away.
Earlier this year, I provided commentary to PBS Frontline for its investigation into the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany. The programme is now out, examining the forces behind the German far right’s growing appeal and the roles played by Russia and the US: www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontli...
November 6, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Earlier this year, I provided commentary to PBS Frontline for its investigation into the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany. The programme is now out, examining the forces behind the German far right’s growing appeal and the roles played by Russia and the US: www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontli...
And here's the book "Russia Against Ukraine: Russian Political Mythology and the War on Ukrainian Identity": democratic-integrity.eu/russia-again... 2/2
October 19, 2025 at 8:42 AM
And here's the book "Russia Against Ukraine: Russian Political Mythology and the War on Ukrainian Identity": democratic-integrity.eu/russia-again... 2/2
Putin’s planned visit to Budapest is not diplomacy but manipulation. The EU must make one thing clear: No Tomahawks for Ukraine, no Budapest for Putin: shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/no-tomahaw...
October 17, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Putin’s planned visit to Budapest is not diplomacy but manipulation. The EU must make one thing clear: No Tomahawks for Ukraine, no Budapest for Putin: shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/no-tomahaw...
After Prigozhin’s troll empire collapsed, how did Russia’s Social Design Agency rise to become the Kremlin’s new private contractor for political warfare in Europe? buff.ly/vrOC2b0
October 15, 2025 at 9:19 AM
After Prigozhin’s troll empire collapsed, how did Russia’s Social Design Agency rise to become the Kremlin’s new private contractor for political warfare in Europe? buff.ly/vrOC2b0
SDA documents show coordination with senior Kremlin officials, including Alexander Kharichev. These links demonstrate that the SDA functions not as an autonomous contractor but as a semi-integrated arm of the Presidential Administration. 8/11
October 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM
SDA documents show coordination with senior Kremlin officials, including Alexander Kharichev. These links demonstrate that the SDA functions not as an autonomous contractor but as a semi-integrated arm of the Presidential Administration. 8/11
A key figure, Sofia Zakharova, connected the SDA directly to the Russian Presidential Administration. As both SDA project manager and presidential adviser, she ensured that private influence operations were tightly synchronised with state propaganda directives. 7/11
October 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM
A key figure, Sofia Zakharova, connected the SDA directly to the Russian Presidential Administration. As both SDA project manager and presidential adviser, she ensured that private influence operations were tightly synchronised with state propaganda directives. 7/11
After 2022, a new generation of political technologists emerged, led by Ilya Gambashidze’s Social Design Agency (SDA). Initially focused on domestic election campaigns, the SDA expanded into foreign propaganda, applying political technology tools to information warfare. 4/11
October 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM
After 2022, a new generation of political technologists emerged, led by Ilya Gambashidze’s Social Design Agency (SDA). Initially focused on domestic election campaigns, the SDA expanded into foreign propaganda, applying political technology tools to information warfare. 4/11
In Russia, this outsourcing logic found an analogue in the fusion of state propaganda and private enterprise. Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Internet Research Agency (IRA) pioneered commercialised political warfare, blurring lines between business interests and Kremlin objectives. 2/11
October 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM
In Russia, this outsourcing logic found an analogue in the fusion of state propaganda and private enterprise. Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Internet Research Agency (IRA) pioneered commercialised political warfare, blurring lines between business interests and Kremlin objectives. 2/11
I’d never have encountered this piece of self-aggrandising melodrama – laden with moralistic clichés like “we’re asleep” and “we’ve been fed a lie” – had Durov not abused Telegram’s system for technical notifications to push it directly to users, a channel they cannot disable or moderate. 3/4
October 11, 2025 at 8:05 AM
I’d never have encountered this piece of self-aggrandising melodrama – laden with moralistic clichés like “we’re asleep” and “we’ve been fed a lie” – had Durov not abused Telegram’s system for technical notifications to push it directly to users, a channel they cannot disable or moderate. 3/4
Russia may not be the greatest military power in the world, as Putin’s aide Nikolai Patrushev fantasises, but it does not need to be one to reshape the international order to Moscow’s benefit. euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...
October 7, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Russia may not be the greatest military power in the world, as Putin’s aide Nikolai Patrushev fantasises, but it does not need to be one to reshape the international order to Moscow’s benefit. euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...
"From Valsaín to European Imperium: On the Equilibrium Between Living Traditions, Prosperity, and Power" shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/from-valsa...
September 29, 2025 at 10:43 AM
"From Valsaín to European Imperium: On the Equilibrium Between Living Traditions, Prosperity, and Power" shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/from-valsa...
"From Valsaín to European Imperium: On the Equilibrium Between Living Traditions, Prosperity, and Power" shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/from-valsa...
September 28, 2025 at 6:52 AM
"From Valsaín to European Imperium: On the Equilibrium Between Living Traditions, Prosperity, and Power" shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/from-valsa...
Saturdays are slow, good for reflective reading. I’ve just published "From Valsaín to European Imperium", an essay weaving travel writing, cultural reflection, and political analysis – from a Castilian hamlet to Europe’s future. buff.ly/dCxm31d
September 27, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Saturdays are slow, good for reflective reading. I’ve just published "From Valsaín to European Imperium", an essay weaving travel writing, cultural reflection, and political analysis – from a Castilian hamlet to Europe’s future. buff.ly/dCxm31d
Oh wow. I was under the impression it must have been an incapable operator, but look how it all turned out.
September 23, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Oh wow. I was under the impression it must have been an incapable operator, but look how it all turned out.
Presentation and discussion of the book “Russia against Ukraine: Russian Political Mythology and the War on Ukrainian Identity” edited by Anton Shekhovtsov and published by the Centre for Democratic Integrity.
Vienna, 22 September 2025, 18:00
www.idm.at/events/under...
Vienna, 22 September 2025, 18:00
www.idm.at/events/under...
September 11, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Presentation and discussion of the book “Russia against Ukraine: Russian Political Mythology and the War on Ukrainian Identity” edited by Anton Shekhovtsov and published by the Centre for Democratic Integrity.
Vienna, 22 September 2025, 18:00
www.idm.at/events/under...
Vienna, 22 September 2025, 18:00
www.idm.at/events/under...
Despite rumours about Putin’s doubles being sent to Alaska, I now have no doubts that it is the real Putin who is there.
August 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Despite rumours about Putin’s doubles being sent to Alaska, I now have no doubts that it is the real Putin who is there.
Cucks of the Chinese Communist Party.
August 15, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Cucks of the Chinese Communist Party.