US Techno-Authoritarian Interest in Ivan Katchanovski's Work on Ukraine

Three Links on Elon Musk, David Sacks and Curtis Yarvin

There is currently a discussion about the very high number of tweets and retweets on X as well of accesses to Springer Nature’s page on Ivan Katchanovski’s open-access book The Russia-Ukraine War and its Origins. See on this discussion, among others:

• On Ukrainska Pravda:

  “An Elon Musk-supported apology for Russia’s war on Ukraine” at https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/articles/2026/04/28/8032087/ (without a paywall: https://www.rightsinrussia.org/public-statements/ ),

• On Substack:

The Scholars' Attack on Ivan Katchanovski

• On Facebook:

  https://www.facebook.com/drmarples/posts/pfbid027BK9KHWbY4hHybaFL9FyoUXKr698dv1wRyYoitvVn6aSKywbxUGUZURtL9Ym2zrol

  https://www.facebook.com/john.vsetecka/posts/pfbid0FdZNCHR4REHZAn7UZrJXwC4ewpuZNSBYwijTMavfW4cqPjh7UgMY3TW4nWqyXdTDl

In connection with this debate, the neo-reactionary movement of techno-authoritarianism (also “technofascism,” “Dark Englightenment” etc.) is of relevance. See on this movement, for instance:

• “Anti-democratic ‘Dark Enlightenment’ ideas have spread from Silicon Valley to Washington” at https://cascadeinstitute.org/dark-enlightenment/

• “The Rise of Techno-Authoritarianism and its Impact on US Foreign Policy” at https://zwischenraeume.co.at/wp-content/uploads/ZWISCHENRAEUME_POLICY-BRIEF_The-Rise-of-Techno-Authoritarianism-and-its-Impact-on-US-Foreign-Policy.pdf

• “Fear of mimesis: Technofascism and intelligence in Silicon Valley” at https://summit.sfu.ca/item/39969

• “Worse than Fascism: Eight Points on Techno-Oligarchy” at

  Worse than Fascism

One can document so far the interest or/and support of three prominent American representatives of techno-authoritarianism - Elon Musk, David Sacks, and Curtis Yarvin (Mencius Moldbug) - for the work of Ivan Katchanovski.

1. As already documented on Ukrainska Pravda, Katchanovski has himself on X pointed out the support by Elon Musk and David Sacks for his book’s open-access publication:

Ivan Katchanovski@I_Katchanovski

It's revealing that Routledge choose to censor my "From the Maidan to the Russia-Ukraine War" book, which is endorsed by 2 peer-reviewers & 4 leading American, British & Ukrainian experts & whose open-access crowdfunding supported Elon Musk, David Sacks, several leading American

Ivan Katchanovski @I_Katchanovski

Orwellian: Routledge refuses to publish my open access book "From the Maidan to the Russia-Ukraine War" which is under contract. They express “concern” with my analysis of the West blocking the peace deal, @elonmusk involvement in promoting my GoFundMe https://t.co/tOto31EGOb

7:46 AM · Dec 6, 2024 · 6.86K Views

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6 Replies · 40 Reposts · 130 Likes

2. As mentioned in Ukrainska Pravda, David Sacks has donated USD5000 to Katchanovski’s GoFundMe campaign for this book and has announced about his donation on X:

   

   David Sacks@DavidSacks

   I just made a large donation in the name of @RadioFreeTom. Maybe he can learn something about the Ukraine War from a real expert.

   

   Ivan Katchanovski @I_Katchanovski

   I am crowdfunding to publish my book, entitled “From the Maidan to the Russia-Ukraine War,” as open access book: https://t.co/CdIytfpKKX This book is already accepted for publication by a major Western academic press following very positive peer reviews. It is scheduled for

   7:43 AM · Dec 29, 2023 · 716K Views

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   225 Replies · 74 Reposts · 971 Likes

3. In reaction to the public discussion of the collective statement in Ukrainska Pravda, Curtis Yarvin has indicated some knowledge of and apparent support for Katchanovski’s work:

   

   Curtis Yarvin@curtis_yarvin

   Hey guys, American here, I know nothing and can’t even read Cyrillic. I read your open letter and it had zero information—just a spittle-flecked, Soviet style denunciation. Does anyone want to explain how and why Katchanovski is wrong about the snipers? Or just cosplay the 1930s

   

   Vincent Artman @geogvma

   All the exact people you’d expect are coming out of the woodwork. Take note! https://t.co/TMt7ARoKqp

   1:10 AM · May 1, 2026 · 37.7K Views

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   51 Replies · 9 Reposts · 140 Likes

If you have more information on these or similar incidences, I shall be grateful for letting me know. Perhaps, some additional information about the known or anonymous co-funders of Katchanovski’s book can be found somehow. See: https://www.gofundme.com/f/openaccess-book-russiaukraine-war-its-origin?modal=donations&tab=all

PS: If you are in the field of East European studies and wish to sign the above-quoted collective statement, send your signature – following the statement’s signatures’ structure (degree with institution at which obtained, position with discipline, main institution, country) – until 31 May 2026 to signaturescollection71@gmail.com.