user avatar
John Helin
@J_JHelin
Analyst and Founder @black_birdgroup Journalist 📞 +358413106215 ✉️ John(at)blackbirdgroup.fi
Helsinki
scribblemaps.com/maps/view/The-…
Joined March 2016
574
Following
31.8K
Followers
Posts
  • Pinned
    user avatar
    John Helin
    @J_JHelin
    Mar 23
    Apparently, I'm heading to Washington DC in the autumn for a six-month fellowship at the Atlantic Council's Transatlantic Security Initiative. I'll be looking at Washington's "new normal" for approach to alliances and what it means for Finland. Big thanks to @HSsaatio for this.
    21K
  • user avatar
    John Helin
    @J_JHelin
    Jan 25, 2025
    This photo of Musk speaking at the AfD rally has an interesting composition. I'm sure the AFP photographer had fun.
    3M
  • user avatar
    John Helin
    @J_JHelin
    Aug 7, 2024
    Some thoughts on what's happening in Kursk. The Russian border defences were most likely prepared to slow down and stop smaller-scale raids. Looking at the Russian telegram channels it seems that the Russian high command may have also ignored the Ukrainian buildup. 1/
    2.1M
  • user avatar
    John Helin
    @J_JHelin
    Dec 15, 2022
    Some have called the Russian efforts to take Bakhmut senseless, but I don't necessarily agree. Why does Bakhmut matter and why are both Ukraine and Russia willing to throw so many men into the meatgrinder it has become? As promised: why Bakhmut? A thread. 1/
  • user avatar
    John Helin
    @J_JHelin
    Jul 28, 2024
    "Russia is burning Ukrainian troops to exhaustion" The situation around the village of Prohress is deteriorating. Russia is advancing at a rate of up to a kilometre per day. It has advanced 8km in two weeks. The Pokrovsk front is buckling. Some thoughts on the situation. 1/
    1.7M
  • user avatar
    John Helin
    @J_JHelin
    Jan 25, 2025
    Replying to @polidemitolog
    Surely any similarities with these classics are entirely coincidental
    80K
  • user avatar
    John Helin
    @J_JHelin
    Nov 7, 2022
    If you're laughing at videos of Russian mobiks and conscripts being literally raped you should probably re-evaluate your life choices. And yes, partially that applies to combat footage too. The amount of dehumanization going around is pretty fucked.
  • user avatar
    John Helin
    @J_JHelin
    Jun 7, 2023
    Velyka Novosilka, a thread. I've been asked about this enough and considering the developments of today on the Tokmak axis, it's good to get it out of the way. Information presented here is mostly based on satellite data from monday as well as Russian video and reports. 1/
    1.4M
  • user avatar
    John Helin
    @J_JHelin
    Jun 11, 2023
    Three out of the six Leopard 2R mine-clearing vehicles Finland donated to Ukraine have been lost in the same field. With other engineering vehicles in the field as well, this is a massive loss for the brigade, no matter what.
    1.7M
  • user avatar
    John Helin
    @J_JHelin
    Nov 7, 2023
    The discourse on Ukraine's counter-offensive often oversimplifies Soviet doctrine as rigid mass warfare and NATO- as flexible maneuver warfare. The truth is far more nuanced, and needed for future discussions. Thus: Soviet tactical and operational doctrine, a thread. 1/
    589K
  • user avatar
    John Helin
    @J_JHelin
    May 10, 2023
    Seen some people go crazy over a Ukrainian "breakthrough" in Bakhmut. Confirmed changes today in yellow:
    517K
  • user avatar
    John Helin
    @J_JHelin
    Aug 7, 2024
    Replying to @J_JHelin
    As a result, Russia has to scramble the QRF's and local forces to respond to this. This gives the Ukrainians time and ability to joyride in the area to their souls content. Reconnaisance groups are largely moving far ahead of the main force to sow more confusion. 2/
    181K
  • user avatar
    John Helin
    @J_JHelin
    Jan 11, 2024
    A quick example of the minor mistakes in narratives having large implications. I'm currently reading "The Battle for Kyiv" by Christopher Lawrence. It's an excellent book. There's however a minor mistake that seems to find its way into every story of the battle. Ivankiv. 1/
    582K
  • user avatar
    John Helin
    @J_JHelin
    Mar 13, 2025
    SITREP 13.03.2025: Ukraine withdraws from Kursk. Over the past 10 days, a Russian offensive pushed Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk salient, ending a 7-month operation. What happened? Why did Ukraine withdraw? What’s next? 🧵 You can read a longer version on our Substack 1/
    567K