Former President & CEO, Radio Free Europe & Radio Liberty
Prague, Czech Republic
Joined January 2014
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Life in Ukraine for citizens and my dedicated @RFERL colleagues. These events happen everyday in their hometowns, neighborhoods. Our teams report the news & give first aid along with brave responders. These are no ordinary assignments & no ordinary individuals. These are heroes
(WARNING: VIEWERS MAY FIND THE CONTENT OF THIS VIDEO DISTURBING) Ukraine’s foreign minister is calling on allies to urgently provide more air defense systems after a Russian drone strike on a shopping district in the eastern city of Pavlohrad killed at least five people and injured dozens. Andriy Sybiha said the September 10 attack, carried out in broad daylight, was part of a deliberate campaign to terrorize civilians. RFE/RL correspondent Roman Pahulych arrived at the scene as emergency crews treated the wounded and battled fires. Pavlohrad is a key logistics hub linking central Ukraine with frontline areas in the east.
Steve Capus retweeted
From Moldova to Berlin, Russia is testing how far it can push without triggering a response. Learn how our Global Shadow War Initiative aims to get allies off the back foot. cepa.org/programs/global-sha…
Steve Capus retweeted
🛰️ 200 meters. That's the distance between a Russian military satellite and a Finnish one that feeds radar images to Ukraine -- by some estimates.
Roughly the length of a football field. A thousand kilometers up and both moving faster than a rifle bullet.
A NASA veteran called it "exceptionally close." Others went further: "very deliberate." "Provocative." "Reckless."
And it wasn't a one-off. Three other satellites from the same Russian launch were tracked moving toward that same Finnish spacecraft.
So, how close is too close? And what does a fly-by like this actually tell us about the weapons already up there? Here's what you need to know.
@Mike_Eckel @ObradovicAjla
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Many people didn't see that Russia was attacking our data and cyberspace over a long period of time. Then we found a way to weaken Russia's strategy, to respond to their attacks on data. We are different here. Ukraine is more technologically advanced. The Russians attacked our data centers so many times, and still we had cell service and an Internet connection. Because we are digitally decentralized and advanced. Our responses are more painful for Russia because they are more centralized. They have a different strategy. Because they have a lot of air defense assets, they are simply defending what they have. We don’t have too much air defense – we have a shortage. That is why we decentralized everything, not only data. But we always try to respond and do so only after Russian attacks against us.
From an interview with The Sun. (3/3)
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This graphic sums up the Ukraine war better than anything I have seen.
Russia has suffered 1.5M+ casualties while Putin has accomplished absolutely nothing, other than terrorizing a nation.
Let’s help Ukraine win, now!
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He survived. His owner didn’t.
Yesterday in Kyiv, rescuers pulled this little dog alive from the rubble.
He’ll wait for the woman who will never open the door again.
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A bipartisan group of US lawmakers have warned American banks, port authorities and fuel-industry groups against facilitating imports of Russian diesel, raising the prospect of congressional investigations and legal action over President Donald Trump’s decision to ease restrictions on Russian fuel. @ralexdc
rferl.org/a/amid-legal-uncer…
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Dead bodies of students lying on the ground in black body bags after Russia bombed students’ dorm in Kyiv.
Monday .
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“…. In just the past week, Russia has reportedly launched 2,300 drones, 48 missiles and 1,600 guided bombs against Ukraine. Hardly the actions of a country preparing for peace.”
I fear Putin is playing for time, not peace.
News of fresh Ukraine peace talks in November is welcome. Every war eventually ends at a negotiating table. But we should judge Putin by what he does, not what he says.
And the evidence isn't encouraging.
Previous rounds of talks have delivered prisoner exchanges, but no meaningful progress towards a ceasefire.
In just the past week, Russia has reportedly launched 2,300 drones, 48 missiles and 1,600 guided bombs against Ukraine. Hardly the actions of a country preparing for peace.
Now Moscow wants to discuss security arrangements for after the war. Yet it still won't commit to stopping the war itself.
I suspect Putin's calculation is straightforward: keep the West talking, keep Ukraine fighting, and hope another winter weakens European resolve.
Diplomacy matters. But negotiations must not become a substitute for maintaining pressure on Russia.
I hope November proves me wrong.
Putin does not need peace talks to stop bombing Ukraine. He can stop the attacks whenever he chooses, simply by giving the order.
Steve Capus retweeted
Děkuji všem, kteří dnes jasně vyjádřili podporu ČT a veřejnoprávním médiím.
Demonstrace v Praze, ale i v dalších částech republiky pro mě znamenají mnohem víc než jen vyjádření podpory České televizi.
Vnímám je především jako důkaz, že lidem záleží na tom, jaká média veřejné služby máme a jaká budou v budoucnu. Že jim záleží na svobodě, nezávislosti, důvěryhodných informacích i na prostoru pro kulturu, vzdělávání a tvorbu pro děti.
Jako generální ředitel České televize cítím velkou odpovědnost. Vůči veřejnosti, která naši práci sleduje a platí, i vůči všem, kteří ji každý den vytvářejí. Vaši podporu proto nevnímám jako samozřejmost, ale jako závazek.
Děkuji všem, kteří dnes přišli, všem, kteří se ozvali, i těm, kteří nám vyjadřují podporu na dálku. Velmi si toho vážím.
Hynek Chudárek
generální ředitel České televize
foto: ČTK
Steve Capus retweeted
Thinking of María Corina Machado as she returns to Venezuela, and wishing her safety and strength. Her courage and steadfast leadership in the effort to restore democracy reflect the aspirations of millions of Venezuelans.
At @NEDemocracy, we stand with Venezuelans working peacefully to restore democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental freedoms—a future in which there are no political prisoners and all can speak freely, participate without fear, and choose their leaders through free and fair elections.
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And that’s a wrap! Neshaminy Mall says goodbye! No stores left. This is a very sad day. So many memories at this mall.
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I just learned that he has no mother or father to speak up for him. And now the Islamic Republic wants to hang him.
His name is Ilya Ben Rashid.
He is a young Iranian protester He has a younger sister. Now he is facing a death sentence.
He was arrested during the January 2026 protests in Iran. A Revolutionary Court in Isfahan sentenced him to death on charges of “waging war against God” for allegedly damaging public property.
He is being held in Dastgerd Prison. Reports say he was denied a lawyer of his choice.
Imagine facing execution for demanding freedom.
We must become his voice. We must stop his execution.
Say his name. Save Ilya Ben Rashid.
#StopExecutionsInIran
Steve Capus retweeted
If I went to Russia, I would be jailed and held hostage as a POW for criticizing Russia.
I went to Ukraine as a critic and the President of Ukriane invited me to his palace and allowed me to interview him.
After I interviewed @ZelenskyyUa, Russian state media, which is controlled by Putin and the Kremlin, was calling for me to be assassinated and then they were retweeting IRGC propaganda videos that called for Islamic terrorists to shoot me in the head.
Ukraine and Russia aren’t the same.
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„Putin vertraut nicht vielen Menschen. Außerdem hat er geradezu obsessive Angst davor, getötet zu werden. Und wenn er nur von einer begrenzten Zahl von Menschen umgeben ist, können diese ziemlich erfolgreich die Informationen filtern, die sie ihn hören lassen wollen.“ Die Folge: „Ich glaube, er ist nach wie vor davon überzeugt, wahrscheinlich sogar aufgrund der Berichte seiner Militärführung, dass die Operation erfolgreich verläuft. (…) Ich glaube, dass er in mehrfacher Hinsicht falsch informiert wird.“ @prezidentpavel im Interview. Das ganze Gespräch überall, wo es Podcasts gibt.
Steve Capus retweeted
Ex-CEO of $25 billion US gas export venture, launched with involvement of investor tied to the Trump family, has accused Russia's Novatek of secretly controlling the project, prompting mass exodus over fears of violating sanctions. @JamieSmythF @maxseddon ft.com/content/e9cfbfbb-e65a…
Lavrov’s lies are no match for facts & overwhelming evidence. Look at the bodies of thousands of #Ukraine civilians; destroyed schools, hospitals & flats. Their missile & drone fragments all prove, Russia’s leadership is killing Ukraine’s civilians. Humanitarians they are not!
Steve Capus retweeted
Se znepokojením sleduji vyhrocenou situaci v Poslanecké sněmovně. Žádám, aby politici utišili emoce a vrátili se k věcné debatě, aby dodržovali zavedená sněmovní pravidla a aby obnovili základní respekt mezi koalicí a opozicí. Žádám o demokratické chování a důstojnost. Totéž, věřím, od politiků očekává veřejnost.
Způsob projednávání tak důležitého zákona – tedy jeho neočekávané zařazení a noční víkendové hlasování – podkopává víru v dobré úmysly a vede k vážným pochybnostem o záměrech předkladatelů.
Dlouhodobě zastávám názor, že média veřejné služby patří mezi základní pilíře naší demokracie a každé velké změně má předcházet široká odborná i veřejná diskuse. Nelze unáhleně dělat kroky, které nepůjde navrátit. Opakuji, že média musí mít v každém ohledu jasné záruky nezávislosti v oblasti obsahové i finanční.
Česká republika patří mezi jednu z mála zemí střední a východní Evropy, kde funguje velmi dobře systém veřejné služby a soukromých médií. Pokud chtějí politici tento stav změnit, měli by to dělat se znalostí, kvalitně, promyšleně a transparentně.
Steve Capus retweeted
🇺🇸 🛬 Americký ministr zahraničí @SecRubio ve čtvrtek krátce zavítal do Prahy, kde jeho letoun doplnil palivo. Velvyslanec Merrick se s ním setkal na letišti a pohovořil o našich vynikajících vztazích s Českou republikou, včetně našich společných hodnot, obchodních a podnikatelských vazeb a hlubokých historických pout.
