Category: Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

Former Kremlin deputy chief of staff reportedly wrote Putin letter condemning war in Ukraine before his resignation in September — Meduza  meduza.io/en/feature/2025/11…
Former Kremlin deputy chief of staff reportedly wrote Putin letter condemning war in Ukraine before his resignation in September
7:47 am, November 28, 2025Source: Agentstvo Media

Grigory Sysoev / Sputnik / Profimedia
Former Kremlin Deputy Chief of Staff Dmitry Kozak wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin condemning Moscow’s war against Ukraine shortly before his resignation in September, Agentstvo Media reports.

Kozak, who previously served as Russia’s deputy prime minister, became Putin’s deputy chief of staff in January 2020. According to a Meduza source close to the Kremlin, when the members of Russia’s Security Council realized in February 2022 that Putin was preparing to launch a full-scale war in Ukraine, Kozak opposed the plan. In the months that followed, Kozak was reported to have “fallen out of favor” with the Russian president.

According to Agentstvo, when Kozak submitted his official resignation on September 18, 2025, he also handed Putin a personal letter criticizing the war. “In the letter, the former deputy chief condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine, using very strong language,” the outlet reported, citing a source who knows Kozak personally.

Another longtime acquaintance of Kozak said the former official does not believe the letter angered Putin and that he “even expects to meet with him in the near future.”

Kozak has spent considerable time abroad since stepping down, but a source close to him told Agentstvo that this is not due to concerns for his safety. He has been traveling for medical treatment and continues to return to Russia, the source said.

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 28, 2025

Kremlin Insider Dmitry Kozak Criticized War in Letter to Putin Before Resigning – Agentstvo – The Moscow Times  themoscowtimes.com/2025/11/2…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 28, 2025

The effects of  #antisemitism on  #Jews in the late  #USSR: self-hatred and various character pathologies – GS  google.com/search?q=The+effe…
State-sponsored and pervasive societal anti-semitism in the late USSR had profound psychological effects on Jewish individuals, leading to internalized anti-semitism (self-hatred), alienation, and various psychological distresses and identity conflicts. [1, 2] 
Internalized Anti-Semitism and Self-Hatred The constant barrage of negative messages and official discrimination led many Soviet Jews to internalize the prevailing societal prejudice. This “owning of a negative self-image” manifested in several ways:

• Identity Rejection: Many individuals sought to deny or hide their Jewish identity to escape stigma and persecution.
• Feelings of Inferiority and Shame: The low social status and ongoing persecution produced a sense of inferiority, embarrassment, and shame about their heritage.
• Desire for Assimilation: A strong desire to assimilate into the dominant non-Jewish society was common, seen as a way to become “a man without blemish” or a “pure individual” free of the “sin” of being a Jew.
• Self-Negation: In some cases, this manifested as “self-negation” and the adoption of viewpoints critical of the Jewish community or supportive of the dominant culture’s anti-semitic narratives. [1, 3, 4, 5] 

Character Pathologies and Psychological Effects Beyond self-hatred, the anti-semitic environment fostered a range of psychological and behavioral responses:

• Chronic Fear and Anxiety: A deep, pervasive fear of persecution was common, stemming from a history of state-sponsored violence and the lack of reliable official protection.
• Alienation and Identity Conflict: The official labeling in passports and systemic discrimination prevented full assimilation and led to a profound sense of being marginal and despised, eroding loyalty to the Soviet state and creating internal identity conflicts.
• Psychosomatic Symptoms: Studies of Jewish migrants from the former Soviet Union have found higher rates of depression, anxiety, fatigue, and various psychosomatic problems, suggesting a long-lasting impact of the experienced anti-semitism.
• Secrecy and Euphemisms: Due to fear of government surveillance and punishment, Jews often felt unable to express their culture or discuss their experiences openly.
• Emigration as a Solution: For many, the only perceived escape from this psychological burden and systemic discrimination was emigration, which occurred in large numbers when the opportunity arose in the late 1970s and during Perestroika. [2, 6, 7, 8] 

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1]  sciencedirect.com/topics/soc…
[2]  dh.scu.edu/exhibits/exhibits…
[3]  link.springer.com/article/10…
[4]  cambridge.org/core/books/ant…
[5]  history.washington.edu/sites…
[6]  hrlibrary.umn.edu/ins/russia…
[7]  pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/article…
[8]  cambridge.org/core/books/jew…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 28, 2025

Брайтонские Частушки: Вот такие вот дела: Всё Контора замела!  thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 28, 2025

kozak and putin – Google Search  google.com/search?q=kozak+an…
Dmitry Kozak was a long-time and close aide to Vladimir Putin, working with him since their time in the St. Petersburg mayor’s office in the 1990s. Kozak held several high-level positions in the Russian government under Putin but recently resigned from his role as deputy chief of staff of the presidential administration after reportedly opposing the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Relationship and career

Shared history: Both men are lawyers by training and worked together in the 1990s in the city administration of St. Petersburg under Mayor Anatoly Sobchak.
Trust and positions: Putin brought Kozak to Moscow in the early 2000s and entrusted him with top government roles, including as a deputy prime minister for nearly 12 years.
Professional and personal connection: Some observers note their relationship extended beyond purely professional duties, although they were not considered close friends. [1, 4]

Alleged opposition to the Ukraine invasion

Reported disagreement: According to reports, Kozak privately expressed that he believed the invasion of Ukraine was a mistake.
Unsuccessful negotiations: Some sources suggest he tried to negotiate a truce, and that Putin rejected a deal that Kozak had struck with Ukraine.
Western contacts: Kozak reportedly acted as a conduit for discussions with Western officials and asked for arguments to potentially persuade Putin to change course, as detailed in The New York Times. [2, 5, 6, 7]

Recent events

Resignation: Kozak resigned from his post as deputy chief of staff of the presidential administration in September 2025.
Possible reasons: His departure followed public reports of his alleged opposition to the war. [2, 3, 8]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1]  kyivindependent.com/what-the…
[2]  nytimes.com/2025/09/18/world…
[3]  interfax.com/newsroom/top-st…
[4]  rferl.org/a/kozak-resigns-pu…
[5]  nytimes.com/2025/08/10/world…
[6]  youtube.com/watch?v=YzDNOQN5…
[7]  russiapost.info/politics/sur…
[8]  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 28, 2025

On  #Espionage and  #Intelligence Gathering | On The Record  cfrontherecord.podbean.com/e…
Summary by  #Gemini

This podcast episode, titled “New Frontiers in Intelligence: The Changing Nature of Espionage,” is a recording of a Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) event. It features a discussion on how technology and shifting global threats are fundamentally altering the intelligence landscape.

Host: Barton Gellman (Brennan Center for Justice)
Guests:
Anthony Vinci: Author of The Fourth Intelligence Revolution, former CTO of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).
Rebecca U. Weiner: Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism, NYPD.
Robert Cardillo: Former Director of the NGA.

Key Themes and Discussions:

1. The Fourth Intelligence Revolution
Anthony Vinci outlined a historical framework for intelligence, arguing we are currently entering a “Fourth Revolution”:
Revolution 1 (WWII): The “Big Bang” of modern US intelligence with the creation of the OSS.
Revolution 2 (Cold War): Professionalization and the creation of agencies like the CIA and NSA. This era was defined by secrecy and compartmentalization.
Revolution 3 (Post-9/11): A shift to a “whole-of-government” approach (creation of the ODNI) because Cold War compartmentalization created cracks that allowed terrorists to slip through.
Revolution 4 (Current): Driven by AI and the threat of China. This era requires integrating vast amounts of data and adapting to machines as primary processors of intelligence.

2. The Radical Shift in Threats
Rebecca Weiner discussed how the threat landscape has evolved rapidly, forcing local law enforcement (like the NYPD) to adopt an intelligence mindset:
Evolution of Targets: The focus has shifted from Al-Qaeda (2006) to lone actors (2010s) to a complex mix of ideologies today, including foreign terrorists, far-right/far-left extremists, and conspiracy theorists.
“Grievance-Fueled Violence”: Weiner noted a rise in violence driven by personal grievances amplified by online ecosystems. She cited the assassination of a health insurance CEO (referencing the Luigi Mangione case) as an example of how online rhetoric can accelerate real-world violence.
Minors as Actors: A disturbing trend of “nihilistic violent extremism” largely perpetrated by minors, often manifesting as school shootings or random acts of terror.

3. From Secret Satellites to Open Source
Robert Cardillo explained the transformation of Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT):
Old Model: A closed loop where Top Secret questions were answered by Top Secret satellites for a few cleared individuals.
New Reality: Commercial satellites and open-source data now provide massive visibility. The “advantage” no longer comes from having the only picture, but from the speed and integration of data.
“Out-America China”: Cardillo argued that the U.S. should not try to copy China’s state-controlled system (“out-China China”) but should instead leverage the innovation and risk-taking of the American private sector to maintain an edge.

4. Emerging Risks & Challenges
Biological Threats: Vinci identified bio-threats (e.g., genetically engineered diseases) as the “scariest possible threat.” Detecting them is difficult because it requires monitoring personal health data, raising privacy concerns that the government cannot solve alone.
The Privacy Paradox: Weiner pointed out that while citizens are wary of government surveillance, they willingly give massive amounts of sensitive data to private companies (like TikTok), which constitutes a major national security vulnerability.
Politicization: The panel discussed the perennial fear of intelligence being politicized. Vinci noted this is not new (citing LBJ, JFK) but is more felt now because intelligence collection increasingly touches the lives of everyday Americans rather than just foreign military targets.

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 28, 2025

On Espionage and Intelligence Gathering | On The Record  cfrontherecord.podbean.com/e…
Summary by Gemini
gemini.google.com/app/c_29aa…
This podcast episode, titled “New Frontiers in Intelligence: The Changing Nature of Espionage,” is a recording of a Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) event. It features a discussion on how technology and shifting global threats are fundamentally altering the intelligence landscape.

Host: Barton Gellman (Brennan Center for Justice)
Guests:
Anthony Vinci: Author of The Fourth Intelligence Revolution, former CTO of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).
Rebecca U. Weiner: Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism, NYPD.
Robert Cardillo: Former Director of the NGA.

Key Themes and Discussions:

1. The Fourth Intelligence Revolution
Anthony Vinci outlined a historical framework for intelligence, arguing we are currently entering a “Fourth Revolution”:
Revolution 1 (WWII): The “Big Bang” of modern US intelligence with the creation of the OSS.
Revolution 2 (Cold War): Professionalization and the creation of agencies like the CIA and NSA. This era was defined by secrecy and compartmentalization.
Revolution 3 (Post-9/11): A shift to a “whole-of-government” approach (creation of the ODNI) because Cold War compartmentalization created cracks that allowed terrorists to slip through.
Revolution 4 (Current): Driven by AI and the threat of China. This era requires integrating vast amounts of data and adapting to machines as primary processors of intelligence.

2. The Radical Shift in Threats
Rebecca Weiner discussed how the threat landscape has evolved rapidly, forcing local law enforcement (like the NYPD) to adopt an intelligence mindset:
Evolution of Targets: The focus has shifted from Al-Qaeda (2006) to lone actors (2010s) to a complex mix of ideologies today, including foreign terrorists, far-right/far-left extremists, and conspiracy theorists.
“Grievance-Fueled Violence”: Weiner noted a rise in violence driven by personal grievances amplified by online ecosystems. She cited the assassination of a health insurance CEO (referencing the Luigi Mangione case) as an example of how online rhetoric can accelerate real-world violence.
Minors as Actors: A disturbing trend of “nihilistic violent extremism” largely perpetrated by minors, often manifesting as school shootings or random acts of terror.

3. From Secret Satellites to Open Source
Robert Cardillo explained the transformation of Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT):
Old Model: A closed loop where Top Secret questions were answered by Top Secret satellites for a few cleared individuals.
New Reality: Commercial satellites and open-source data now provide massive visibility. The “advantage” no longer comes from having the only picture, but from the speed and integration of data.
“Out-America China”: Cardillo argued that the U.S. should not try to copy China’s state-controlled system (“out-China China”) but should instead leverage the innovation and risk-taking of the American private sector to maintain an edge.

4. Emerging Risks & Challenges
Biological Threats: Vinci identified bio-threats (e.g., genetically engineered diseases) as the “scariest possible threat.” Detecting them is difficult because it requires monitoring personal health data, raising privacy concerns that the government cannot solve alone.
The Privacy Paradox: Weiner pointed out that while citizens are wary of government surveillance, they willingly give massive amounts of sensitive data to private companies (like TikTok), which constitutes a major national security vulnerability.
Politicization: The panel discussed the perennial fear of intelligence being politicized. Vinci noted this is not new (citing LBJ, JFK) but is more felt now because intelligence collection increasingly touches the lives of everyday Americans rather than just foreign military targets.

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 28, 2025

On Espionage and Intelligence Gathering | On The Record  cfrontherecord.podbean.com/e…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 28, 2025

P110 million cash surrendered to DOJ by engineer Henry Alcantara  newsinfo.inquirer.net/214772…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 28, 2025

Putin: Moscow ready for ‘serious’ talks on Ukraine peace plan  cnbc.com/2025/11/27/putin-mo…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 27, 2025