Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus) / X

Michael Hilliard

1,450 posts

Michael Hilliard

@MikeHilliardAus

Defence Analyst | Host of @TheRedLinePod & @SLonCentralAsia | Director of Defence & Security Analysis @OxusSociety | Curator of the Cen. Asia Military Units Map

Australia / Central Asia

theredlinepodcast.com

Joined September 2019

Michael Hilliard
@MikeHilliardAus
Nov 6, 2024
This is why I prefer watching Central Asian elections. The polls close at 1900, and we have the results by three weeks before.
Michael Hilliard
@MikeHilliardAus
Jan 15, 2023
I am currently in Tashkent, Uzbekistan for a few days. If you ever wondered how the numerous supply shortages are impacting the region, its -22C (-8F) and there is no gas available for the hot water system. 🇺🇿🥶
Michael Hilliard
@MikeHilliardAus
Aug 7, 2022
Replying to @DylanBurns1776
I'm also 90% sure they are using this flag (the victory in Berlin flag), which is for the 150th rifle division? The division was reactivated in 2016, and their commander Oleg Yurevich Mitiaev was reportedly killed by Ukrainian fighters in Mariupol. A bit of a self-own here.
Michael Hilliard
@MikeHilliardAus
Feb 1, 2023
In Tashkent I had the chance to address a class of Uzbek teenagers at a language school. 🇺🇿 Of the 29: 🇬🇧- 28 were learning English (hoping to study abroad) 🇨🇳- 1 was learning Mandarin (hoping to get rich) 🇷🇺- 0 were learning Russian Is the next-gen of Uzbek's ditching Russian?
Michael Hilliard
@MikeHilliardAus
Aug 3, 2023
ATTN: CENTRAL ASIA EXPERTS (🇰🇿🇰🇬🇺🇿 🇹🇯🇹🇲) I'm currently putting a team together for a project analysing and mapping out the military doctrines and structures of the five CA states, and I am looking for a few additional people who specialise in this field? Any suggestions?
Michael Hilliard
@MikeHilliardAus
Jan 27, 2023
The part of Central Asia trips I always dread.....the 35 hours and 4 connecting flights required to get home. 🇦🇫🚗🇹🇯✈️🇺🇿✈️🇲🇾✈️🇮🇩✈️🇦🇺
Michael Hilliard
@MikeHilliardAus
Jun 24, 2023
🇷🇺 1) A lot of people seem to be forgetting that Rostov is 1100km from Moscow, so a "March on the Kremlin" is a pretty tall order. 2) Many commentators also seem to be basing their info on Prigozhins Telegram, which I would usually take with a massive grain of salt.
Michael Hilliard
@MikeHilliardAus
Dec 16, 2023
They are finally letting me nerd out about my favourite subject, the military capabilities of the Central Asian republics. 🇺🇿🇺🇿🇺🇿 The first taste of a much bigger project coming soon.
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Michael Hilliard
@MikeHilliardAus
Jan 18, 2023
In Kokand, #Uzbekistan. In the centre of the city there have been sporadic blackouts all day. Even if #Tashkent is starting to return to some sort of normal today, the outer regions are still deep in crisis. Neighbouring countries are powered by UZ, whilst UZ is in blackout. 🇺🇿
Michael Hilliard
@MikeHilliardAus
Jan 16, 2023
Everyone here in Tashkent seems to be openly talking about the gas shortages, but this appears to be just the tip of the iceberg. Compared to 2019, the bazaars have far fewer goods for sale, the restaurants and bars are emptier, and the queues for fuel stations are way longer.
Michael Hilliard
@MikeHilliardAus
Sep 4, 2022
STAFF MEETING FOR "THE CYBER WAR IN UKRAINE" EP Wade: We need to get someone really familiar with the Ukrainian cyber armies' operations. Michael: Why don't we get the General in charge of UA's Cyber Command, he would know a thing or two? ...and then we did. Releasing today 🇺🇦
Michael Hilliard
@MikeHilliardAus
Mar 13, 2022
Whilst the eyes of the world, and bombs of the Russians are fixated on Ukraine, Azerbaijan seems to be gearing up for a new offensive against Armenia. 🇦🇿🇦🇲 Multiple reports of gas pipelines being attacked, cutting Armenian local supply, and Azeri troops now staging in the South.
Michael Hilliard
@MikeHilliardAus
Jun 24, 2023
In an alternative universe...... Tokayev leads the CSTO to save Moscow in its hour of need. 🇰🇿🇰🇿🇰🇿🇰🇿🇰🇿
Michael Hilliard
@MikeHilliardAus
Dec 21, 2020
Well.. I'm officially engaged 💍💍💕💕