Lucian Kim
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Russia

Russia won’t let me go. I became fascinated by Russia as a boy when my parents gave me a 700-page book of Russian fairy-tales one Christmas. The fact the Soviet Union was closed, far away and America’s mortal enemy added to the country’s mystique. I devoured every book on Russia I could get my hands on. When I went to college, I started studying Russian.
What continues to intrigue me is that no matter how close I get to Russia and Russians, I always end up feeling like a foreigner. Despite all the Western influence, Russia preserves its distinctiveness, belonging to neither Europe nor Asia.

Russian Show ‘Fake News’ Wages Lone Battle Against The Kremlin’s TV Propaganda

Published May 15, 2021 in NPR Leave a comment

“Our job is to give people the chance to make up their own minds,” says Natalya Sindeyeva. “They should decide for themselves if they want to be deceived.”

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Putin Hasn’t Been Vaccinated With Sputnik V Yet But Our Correspondent Got The Shot

Published February 13, 2021 in NPR Leave a comment

This week I got vaccinated with Sputnik V, the COVID-19 vaccine that Vladimir Putin is promoting as the best in the world.

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After Arrest, Kremlin Critic Navalny Calls On Supporters To ‘Take To The Streets’

Published January 18, 2021 in NPR Leave a comment

“Don’t be afraid. Take to the streets,” Navalny said. “Don’t do it for me, do it for yourselves and your future.”

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Putin And Biden Signal Chilly Relations To Come

Published December 21, 2020 in NPR Leave a comment

“Putin doesn’t count on personal relations with American leaders. Today he only counts on the intersection of interests.”

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Arms Control: When Biden Takes Office, Clock Will Be Ticking To Save New START Treaty

Published December 9, 2020 in NPR Leave a comment

“The danger is that to get to the point of a new détente, we may have to go through a period when it will be pretty scary, and we are not there yet.”

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Protesters In Russia’s Far East Challenge Putin’s Authority, Demand His Resignation

Published July 24, 2020 in NPR Leave a comment

“People go out every day without any kind of organization. I’m really happy that people from my region have finally taken responsibility for their lives.”

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Russians Are Voting On 206 Reforms. The Most Important One Will Extend Putin’s Rule

Published June 30, 2020 in NPR Leave a comment

“It is very important to Putin to have this popular endorsement, even if it is a farce, even if it is a travesty of popular will.”

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Putin’s Rule Turns 20: Many Russians Find Stability; A New Generation Sees Stagnation

Published January 6, 2020 in NPR Leave a comment

“We remember our roots from Soviet times. Patriotism is in our blood. We always aimed to be number one in the world, and Putin understands that.”

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The View From Moscow On The Trump Impeachment Inquiry

Published November 27, 2019 in NPR Leave a comment

“Thank God nobody is accusing us anymore of interfering in U.S. elections,” Putin said. “They’re accusing Ukraine. Let them sort this out among themselves.”

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‘The Government Is Very Afraid’: Meet Moscow’s New Opposition Leader, Lyubov Sobol

Published August 21, 2019 in NPR Leave a comment

“People admire her for her strength of character and the fact she’s a woman in a very male-centered culture,” said Sergey Radchenko.

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Putin’s War on Young People

If Russia is ever to become a country that seeks peace with its neighbors and respects the rights of its own citizens, then such a future depends on Russia’s young people.

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About Lucian

Based in Berlin and Moscow, I reported from the former Soviet empire for 25 years for NPR, Reuters, Slate, Bloomberg, and others. My first book, Putin’s Revenge: Why Russia Invaded Ukraine, is now available from Columbia University Press.

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