James Marson Profile Banner
James Marson Profile
James Marson

@marson_jr

Followers
14,570
Following
1,838
Media
273
Statuses
2,362

Ukraine bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal

Joined November 2013
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
@marson_jr
James Marson
9 months
Ukrainian counteroffensive forces have penetrated the main Russian defensive line in the southeast near Verbove village. Paratroopers are fighting through entrenched positions, seeking to open a gap for Western-supplied armour to punch through. Our story:
22
250
2K
@marson_jr
James Marson
3 years
How it started How it’s going
Tweet media one
Tweet media two
21
176
1K
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
A decade after fleeing Syria with her 1-year-old son, a Ukrainian mother needed to get him away from war again: by sending him on a solo trip to safety in Slovakia. "I wanted him to live," she said.
19
320
903
@marson_jr
James Marson
11 months
“I don’t have the right to look weak.” @WSJ spent a half-day in Odesa with President @ZelenskyyUa , visiting a hospital, the port, and govt residence, where we interviewed him. I wrote about how Zelensky the man drives Zelensky the president.
21
287
935
@marson_jr
James Marson
1 year
In eastern Ukraine in Sept, I met a volunteer battalion called @SkalaBattalion , a brave crew of civilians-turned-soldiers who helped defeat the Russians south of Kharkiv. Then, they received one more call for help…With @grytsenko_o and @emanuelesatolli
51
246
856
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Ukraine's army has published a guide where best to target Russian armored vehicles with Molotov cocktails
@GeneralStaffUA
Генеральний штаб ЗСУ
2 years
Вразливі місця ворожої техніки. Бий окупанта! Разом переможемо!
Tweet media one
Tweet media two
Tweet media three
Tweet media four
130
2K
8K
7
328
753
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Hasan's flight from Russia's war depended on the good will of strangers and the wits of a cheerful boy with a phone number scribbled on his hand. Before he set off, his mum said: "I love you" and "don't play games on your phone and drain the battery."
16
161
620
@marson_jr
James Marson
1 year
In 2016 I went with @NikaMelkozerova and @grytsenko_o to visit some illegal amber miners. They told us that the Russian church leader known as “Pasha Mercedes” had an amber portrait. Today, Ukrainian security service raided his house. Voilà.
Tweet media one
16
154
582
@marson_jr
James Marson
7 months
I've been running @WSJ 's Ukraine coverage for more than a year. Now, it's official: I'm Ukraine bureau chief. Everything has changed so that everything can remain the same.
26
34
448
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
In the north of Kyiv, a cafe has been preparing free meals for soldiers, volunteers and police from the first day of the war. In the beginning they would even sleep here overnight. On the menu today: borscht followed by sausages or chicken with cabbage and macaroni.
Tweet media one
9
29
309
@marson_jr
James Marson
9 months
@Vnark Not a claim. A fact.
Tweet media one
15
28
278
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
A sad postscript to my battle of Kyiv story. Cat, the powerlifting mortarman who gave the Russians hell to the west of Kyiv, was killed near Kharkiv not long after. “You are the best,” his son Ivan wrote on Facebook. “We will avenge you.”
Tweet media one
17
34
240
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Putin says Ukrainians who oppose Russian control of their country are Nazis. Olha Tverdohlibova remembers the Nazis: She fought them. "How could we imagine that Putin, Russia would attack us ... when we ate from one mess tin together?" says the decorated Red Army and KGB veteran.
Tweet media one
8
73
238
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
I asked a Ukrainian reservist how he was doing yday via WhatsApp. He finally replied just now. "Fucking putin with western help or without." He added: "We do everything that depends on us and the whole world must do everything that depends on you to stop putin."
0
46
206
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
A trip along the main highway west from Kyiv, which is littered with incapacitated Russian vehicles. First, a tank.
Tweet media one
9
47
200
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is showing calmness and fortitude that is winning over critics and holding the country together as Russia, in his words, has made him "Target No. 1." My story in today's @WSJ
11
34
184
@marson_jr
James Marson
1 year
I spent the last year trying to put into words what Ukrainians have experienced in resisting Russia's invasion. I'm proud that @yarotrof and I were recognised as Pulitzer finalists. Here's a selection of our work.
7
39
195
@marson_jr
James Marson
8 months
Inside Ukraine's battle to retake Bakhmut. The 3rd Assault Brigade takes a village on heights above the city. But the cost is high. Fantastic on-the-ground reporting by @iglovett and photos by @ManuBrabo
2
52
169
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Parts of the Ukrainian arm of the Russian Orthodox Church are in open revolt against Moscow. Some priests and even a metropolitan are no longer praying for the Russian patriarch. Astonishing turn of events.
8
52
147
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
"Welcome to hell russian invaders" - thousands of ordinary citizens prepare to fight Russian forces in Kyiv, including a pizzeria owner and a political consultant.
5
31
144
@marson_jr
James Marson
1 year
Pete Reed, a U.S. medic, went to help a civilian hurt in a Russian strike in Bakhmut. Then the Russians struck again, killing him. A WSJ team including @JSivorka and @emanuelesatolli arrived on the scene seconds later. Here’s our story.
10
82
159
@marson_jr
James Marson
4 years
Meduza reports that the RIA story that Boris Johnson would be put on a ventilator was simply made up in Moscow, and the London bureau didn't know about it. A must-read for anti-disinfo warriors and professors who research this topic.
8
94
130
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Kyiv is trying to pierce the Russian silence about war casualties via Telegram. “Mum, I’m a prisoner in Ukraine,” says a blindfolded man. “How can it be?” a female voice responds.
3
46
133
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Got a message from a Ukrainian army contact. During a break in fighting, he turned his phone on and got a message from his bank that his monthly subscription for @WSJ had been paid. Let's hope he can soon get back to reading it with his morning coffee.
8
6
134
@marson_jr
James Marson
6 years
@HenryJFoy That's a pretty silly comparison. The Ukrainians are saying quite clearly that they did this as a sting operation, whereas the Russians are simply lying about all these things.
7
11
113
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
In early April, @grytsenko_o @emanuelesatolli and I set out to try to understand how Ukraine had won the Battle of Kyiv. The resulting story was published today in print and online. A thread on how it came together and what we found…
Tweet media one
7
31
115
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
We went to investigate the story behind the shocking picture of four bodies in a shallow grave in Motyzhyn village. We found a story of a mayor’s love for her village, country, family and friends, and theirs for her. With @grytsenko_o and @emanuelesatolli
1
83
120
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
The elite Ukrainian unit was trying to thwart Vladimir Putin’s plan for a rapid takeover of Kyiv some 20 miles away. But their mission started badly. My story with @grytsenko_o on the day-long battle at Hostomel Airport.
5
50
118
@marson_jr
James Marson
3 years
Classic Kremlin move announcing expulsions of European diplomats on the day the EU foreign-policy chief is in town. It's aimed at showing the EU's powerlessness and that the Kremlin not only doesn't care what the EU says but doesn't respect the EU as a serious power.
8
43
116
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
It’s nearly nine years since @mefimus called on people to come to Maidan in Kyiv to rally for Ukraine’s European future. They did, and then some. After a revolution, a Russian covert invasion and, this year, a full-scale invasion, Ukraine is now an EU candidate country.
Tweet media one
7
17
111
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Ukrainians hide in basements as Putin launches full-scale war. Five attack helicopters thundered over Lyudmyla's modest house near Kyiv then attack an airport. “It’s a peaceful village. Then that bastard Putin came. He can burn in hell,” she said.
5
22
92
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Russia has occupied some cities in southern Ukraine. Popular resistance there shows how it would struggle to control the whole country. “No one here was waiting for Russia.” My story about Melitopol.
1
26
98
@marson_jr
James Marson
1 year
"I just don’t know when they’ll run out. Everywhere is already strewn with corpses." We caught up with @SkalaBattalion in Bakhmut. Skala described Russia's human-wave tactics using Wagner fighters. Our story from w/ @grytsenko_o , photos @emanuelesatolli
5
29
99
@marson_jr
James Marson
4 years
"American chaos" says Le Soir newspaper of Belgium, a country that just took more than a year to form a government after elections.
@lesoir
Le Soir
4 years
📰🇺🇸 Le chaos américain 🔴🔵 Edition spéciale de votre journal @lesoir à découvrir dès maintenant en version numérique sur et via notre application #Election2020
Tweet media one
5
18
13
2
28
88
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Great to be back in Kyiv. Heading down the funicular to Podil.
2
6
96
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Ukraine isn’t waiting for a war to start. It has been fighting one since 2014. 20-year-old Ihor Tychyna was the first solder to die this year on New Year’s Day. Here’s his story.
Tweet media one
6
57
91
@marson_jr
James Marson
7 years
The Moscow metro is cutting no corners in efforts to unmask potentially dangerous members of society
Tweet media one
3
50
87
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
A column of ammunition supply trucks that were hit by artillery.
Tweet media one
3
15
81
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
After Russia's plan for lightening victory in Ukraine failed, it switched to trying to bludgeoning civilians with shelling and aerial bombardments. I looked inside one of the move devastating attacks, which killed more than 47 in Chernihiv.
8
44
85
@marson_jr
James Marson
10 years
#ukraine election observer in Kurakhove http://t.co/FH5LAt3MKj
Tweet media one
11
98
65
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
And finally, a Russian tank completely wiped out - upside down, it’s tracks and turret blown off.
Tweet media one
4
14
76
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
NATO forces in Latvia training to disrupt a hypothetical enemy advancing on Riga from the east. Alliance foreign ministers meet tomorrow, with the Russian threat high on the agenda.
6
31
76
@marson_jr
James Marson
3 years
People thronging to the Navalny protest in Vladivostok
@navalny_vdk
Навальный | Владивосток
3 years
У нас во Владивостоке мингующих так много, что даже на крышах уже нет свободных мест
97
944
4K
6
31
67
@marson_jr
James Marson
3 years
Remembering Larry King. Was this his most lucrative interviewee? Apparently King was paid $225,000 to interview then-PM Azarov, who now lives in Russia.
Tweet media one
3
31
72
@marson_jr
James Marson
6 years
@HenryJFoy the ukrainians say their aim was to catch a would-be killer and they admitted they released a fake news story the next day for that purpose. you are drawing false equivalence, in your own way adding to the fake news fire that you claim to be so keen to put out
5
3
58
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Then there was the special forces soldier, Marik. He and his men played a key role defending the capital. He summed up the battle of Kyiv when I asked who won it: “Everyone did.”
2
10
62
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
A new initiative from tireless Ukrainians: a call to boycott Russian products
6
35
59
@marson_jr
James Marson
3 years
Ukraine sent a Turkish drone - of the kind that shredded Russian armor in Syria, Libya and Azerbaijan last year - over the east last night
@mil_in_ua
Мілітарний
3 years
🇺🇦 Вночі ударний #БПЛА #Bayraktar TB2 пролетів з південної частини на східну, після чого по зворотному маршруту повернувся до точки зльоту. Деталі ⬇ #Авіація #Україна #Навчання
4
78
247
9
27
46
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Ukraine gaining EU candidate status made me think of Yanukovych. He had a point when he told Merkel the EU left him one on one with Putin facing massive economic losses. The EU severely underestimated what it would take to help Ukraine escape Russia’s grasp.
2
8
64
@marson_jr
James Marson
10 years
Girl came up to me at Donetsk #ukraine protest. Wanted to know about eu. Why we need that? Another Ukr guy answered: just go there and look
6
99
50
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
I spoke with Lt. Kharchenko, the Ukrainian paratrooper who was injured in this operation. He’s doing much better, says he’ll be back on his feet soon. “We’ll burn them all.”
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
The elite Ukrainian unit was trying to thwart Vladimir Putin’s plan for a rapid takeover of Kyiv some 20 miles away. But their mission started badly. My story with @grytsenko_o on the day-long battle at Hostomel Airport.
5
50
118
0
10
56
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
In a city where Russia triumphed in a battle 300 years ago, Ukrainians are preparing to resist Moscow. My dispatch from Poltava.
1
19
59
@marson_jr
James Marson
9 months
I wrote the story of Ukraine’s counteroffensive through the eyes of one small unit, including a school teacher, a restaurateur and a journalist. After one failed armored assault, they began to advance on foot. But danger lurked in every trench and treeline
2
26
65
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Boris Johnson was popular in Ukraine, but his role went beyond his government’s weapons deliveries. His pep talks on the phone in the tough first days of the war were a great source of strength to President Zelensky, a person close to Ze told me recently.
6
13
62
@marson_jr
James Marson
6 years
My story on two Russian farmers who have transformed their collective farms into profitable businesses and helped Russia claim the crown as the world's top wheat exporter. via @WSJ
7
29
48
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Inside Europe’s cocaine gateway: big money, flashy cars, growing corruption and front companies. “It’s a repeat of Miami in the 1980s,” says a senior DEA official.
0
25
59
@marson_jr
James Marson
8 years
Steven Seagal handed a carrot by Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko. "Try it, it's good for you."
@dimsmirnov175
Дмитрий Смирнов
8 years
"Кушай, это полезно" Лукашенко угостил Стивена Сигала морковкой со своего огорода, а Коля принес арбуз
8
94
58
2
40
45
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
In Bohdanivka village to the east of Kyiv, we were looking around this Russian encampment when a man drove up, asked if we were journalists, and told us he had an exclusive for us.
Tweet media one
1
6
53
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
The collection of “war trophies” at a volunteer supply hub for the army in Kyiv. Including: a piece of a Russian fighter jet and a missile launcher that downed a Russian helicopter on Day 1 of the war.
Tweet media one
4
5
53
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Pickups for ambush teams. Thermal sights for snipers. Drones for artillery units. Crowdsourcing is bolstering Ukraine's army, led by people like TV host and comedian @serhiyprytula . Our story.
1
11
55
@marson_jr
James Marson
8 years
Kremlin: "UK report on Litvinenko death will poison relations." Interesting choice of words.
3
49
42
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Colors of (eastern) Ukraine
Tweet media one
1
6
53
@marson_jr
James Marson
9 years
Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers pulled out of Debaltseve. Escaped overnight on foot, in vehicles http://t.co/hkdAYzH7ro
Tweet media one
15
184
45
@marson_jr
James Marson
1 year
Russia’s attempts to stamp its control on Ukraine have killed millions over centuries. Dozens of them are buried in a cemetery clinging to a hillside in the village of Stariy Sambir. A journey through Ukraine's long struggle to shake off Russian control.
7
16
51
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
We went to the Chornobyl zone where a hunting-lodge manager coordinated intelligence for a special forces team that hammered Russian columns heading toward Kyiv.
Tweet media one
2
8
51
@marson_jr
James Marson
7 years
Introducing Riot Cop Duck. Because in Russia, order starts in children's bathtubs. H/t @kolyandr
Tweet media one
3
38
42
@marson_jr
James Marson
1 year
Found out today that a Ukrainian soldier I interviewed last summer was killed late last year near Bakhmut. His father wrote to me, lamenting that his heroism has gone unnoticed "like that of thousands of our heroes who remain unknown."
2
7
47
@marson_jr
James Marson
4 years
Borders are back in Europe, which had spent years erasing them. My look at the German-Polish border, where two towns linked by a bridge over the Oder had melded together, but are now separated again.
1
31
41
@marson_jr
James Marson
10 years
Priests standing between police and protesters #euromaidan http://t.co/xNZlGUrqIP
Tweet media one
7
123
39
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Russia’s foreign intel chief says Ukraine's preparations for war are in full swing. Jihadist militants have been shipped in, he says, along with "rapid-deployment propaganda forces’ of Western media. Is this Russia seeking a pretext for an invasion?
14
29
42
@marson_jr
James Marson
9 years
Ivan the Terrible wasn't so terrible, he just needed better PR, claims exhibition in Russia http://t.co/ihP2k8C3ks via @WSJ
9
55
37
@marson_jr
James Marson
3 years
Trappist breweries in Belgium are running short on supplies ... of monks. I wrote about brewer-monks wrestling with capitalism, modernity, and aging ranks. via @WSJ
4
16
42
@marson_jr
James Marson
6 years
Moscow taxi driver: "I saw on TV that kids in kindergarten in Europe are refered to as 'it' rather than 'he' or 'she,' and parents can't do anything about it. Is that true?" Me: "No."
2
16
39
@marson_jr
James Marson
4 years
In Belgium, nothing says solidarity like seven national/regional leaders announcing the same new lockdown measures one after another
Tweet media one
4
7
41
@marson_jr
James Marson
9 years
Russian state TV squishes the graph, making the ruble plunge look less dramatic http://t.co/aaMrFxl2JG
Tweet media one
18
107
26
@marson_jr
James Marson
8 years
Chimp in Russian zoo dies. He used to work in a Moscow casino, where he became a drinker and smoker, reports Interfax.
4
37
30
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
Mariupol native Darya Peshkova and her family fled the besieged city. What followed was "a lifetime in one journey," including a standoff with Russian gunmen, a drive through a recent battlefield, and a dash through a disputed village.
0
18
36
@marson_jr
James Marson
9 years
Autumn in Donetsk. No sound of artillery. Familiar smell of steel factory is back.
Tweet media one
6
25
34
@marson_jr
James Marson
9 years
Poroshenko says six were killed in the Debaltseve pull out. A medic I am talking to said he saw three trucks blown up with dozens in them.
10
150
28
@marson_jr
James Marson
10 years
"They deceived everyone." A #Ukraine town picks itself up from rebel occupation http://t.co/AZ3GTqoG3S via @WSJ
4
62
35
@marson_jr
James Marson
9 years
Ukraine soldier told me he found Russian passport on dead militant in Debalts. Messaged relatives on VK. Profile page quickly disappeared.
7
87
31
@marson_jr
James Marson
2 years
NATO SecGen Stoltenberg arrives at Camp Adazi. Greeted by Latvian defense minister @Pabriks
Tweet media one
1
5
30
@marson_jr
James Marson
10 years
Near village of Vasilievka near Kramatorsk, several dozen people block #ukraine armored vehicles http://t.co/d06HyFQYat
Tweet media one
10
103
32
@marson_jr
James Marson
8 years
Russian food officials heading to Turkey to check vegetables, says Ifax. Who wants to bet all those deadly bacteria just disappeared?
4
43
29