Opinion Editor @MoscowTimes | Studying MA IR & @warstudies | Pitch to c.hancock@themoscowtimes.com | Ex-@business | My views
Joined March 2017
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Charlie Hancock retweeted
The incident is understood to have occurred roughly 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight.
themoscowtimes.com/2026/06/1…
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Charlie Hancock retweeted
Breaking: The Times understands reports were received from a UK-registered yacht alleging that the Russian Navy vessel fired warning shots nearby at a distance of approximately 500 yards.
The incident is understood to have taken place about 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight, outside UK territorial waters.
No injuries or damage have been reported by the yacht, which is continuing its journey.
-HMS MERSEY was monitoring the Russian vessel at the time.
A seaboat from HMS TYNE has visited the yacht to gather details and check that they are safe.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We are investigating reports of an incident in the Channel.”
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Just been on @LBC talking with @ShelaghFogarty about why Keir Starmer is hesitant to hike defence funding despite orders for the arson attack targeting him coming from Russia, and what governments can learn from the Baltics and Scandinavia in talking to citizens about the threat
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It's wild for me as somebody who reports on Russia for a living, and spends a significant amount of time both covering and navigating internet restrictions in the country, to hear my own country talking about regulating VPNs in the name of "child safety"
'We will make further statements in July about VPNs and further restrictions'
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall told #BBCBreakfast she will outline more details next month about the social media ban on under 16s in the UK - as well as additional restrictions on Virtual Private Networks, curfews and chatbots
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2ky…
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Funnily enough, Russia has one of the highest rates of VPN usage in the world, increasing from 4% in 2021 to 40% after the full scale invasion of Ukraine. People learn about where to find working VPNs through their friends and Telegram channels.
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Let's say young people in Britain turn to free VPNs on dodgy looking websites to get around restrictions. That's a national security issue. Many of the most popular VPNs on the apps store route data through Russia and China
techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privac…
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Jun 15
You could say something ... Backfired
Jun 15
Russia’s Defense Ministry said the crew ejected from the aircraft and were alive and well.
themoscowtimes.com/2026/06/1…
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Charlie Hancock retweeted
Jun 15
Captain of Russian shadow fleet tanker intercepted in English Channel charged, says National Crime Agency bbc.in/4ouhc0g
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Jun 15
I was a geeky teenager who spent hours watching IQ^2 and Oxford Union debates, as well as documentaries about science and different counties. This very website helped me realise I wanted to be a journalist
But I never used vertical video. They’re the real cognitive scourge
Jun 15
Imagine banning a history-obsessed teenage boy from watching Mark Felton Productions on YouTube. Or watching Clarkson's old war documentaries. Horrendous.
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Jun 15
This cat's sense of timing is impressive
A cat took to the stage during the final scene of a Romeo and Juliet ballet performance by the Imperial Russian Ballet Company in İzmir
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Jun 15
Don't let the fact that this should not come as a surprise at all distract from this being a very good investigation
Jun 15
Great investigation from @FT. Arson targeting Keir Starmer properties originated in Russia ft.com/content/dd79d6eb-44e4… via @ft
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Charlie Hancock retweeted
Jun 14
Russia's shadow fleet is reacting to the seizure by British forces directed by @Keir_Starmer this morning. AIS data shows multiple sanctioned tankers altering course and turning away from UK waters in the hours since UK @Commando_Ops stormed and seized the SMYRTOS.
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Charlie Hancock retweeted
Jun 14
BREAKING: There were 25 crew members of various nationalities on board the Russian shadow fleet vessel that was intercepted by UK forces in the Channel, according to Lieutenant Colonel Tom Quinn, Commanding Officer, 42 Commando. They are "in the care" of the National Crime Agency
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Charlie Hancock retweeted
Jun 14
No info so far from @DefenceHQ & @ukhomeoffice on:
1. the number & nationality of crew on the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet vessel that was seized
2. whether any other passengers were on board
3. what's going to happen to them all
Apparently it's because this is an ongoing National Crime Agency investigation
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Jun 12
I for one would be interested to see the reports from this pilot programme
Tallinn erects modular bomb shelter in the heart of the city
#Estonia news.err.ee/1610052535/talli…
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Charlie Hancock retweeted
Jun 12
Russian authorities have confiscated assets worth $7.59 billion linked to jailed billionaire Vadim Moshkovich and transferred them to state ownership, in what appears to be the largest asset seizure of Russia's recent wave of nationalizations.
themoscowtimes.com/2026/06/1…
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Charlie Hancock retweeted
Jun 12
A senior military official in Europe told me there is a "very real" danger the UK could lose its status in NATO by not committing to defence funding.
The position of Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe has always been held by UK but, they said, that could even be questioned.
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Jun 12
Also noticed this. Very encouraging for the anti-screen/brainrot movement. Reading through a 40 min commute twice a day can help you reach your reading goals
Jun 11
I’ve noticed whilst on the tube, a lot more people are reading books instead of looking at their phone.
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