Russia’s Icebreakers, North Sea Route, and Invasion of Ukraine
Even before Soviet times, Russian icebreakers were considered one of the country’s main strengths in the Arctic. As Vice Admiral Stepan Makarov put it over a century ago in 1897,…
The Nuclear Weapons Factor on Interstate Politics in the Russia-Ukraine War
“No matter who tries to stand in our way, or all the more so, create threats for our country and our people, they must know that Russia will respond immediately,…
Russia’s War and Belarus’s Ravaged Sovereignty
For more than two years, Belarus has been stuck in a political crisis. Ever since the fraudulent presidential election and anti-government protests in August 2020, the root cause is that…
How Conservative Are Russians? Findings from the 2021 LegitRuss Survey
Beginning in 2011-12, the Kremlin and the media it controls embarked on what analysts have widely called “the Conservative Turn.” With support slipping and the largest protests of the Putin…
Striking Back at the Empire: Ukrainians Converge on Values and National Belonging
Defying months of unprovoked, brutal, deeply traumatizing Russian military invasion, the Ukrainian society has not only mobilized for defense but has struck back with surging support for its popularly elected…
Georgia’s Crossroad after Crossroad: Paths of Risk and Resilience
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the security of the Black Sea region changed forever. Like Ukraine and Moldova, Georgia has long been considered a primary target of Russia’s…
The Russian Economic Conundrum: A New Global Stress Test and Reboot of Globalization
Russia’s unjustified assault on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, drove a final stake into the heart of the post-Cold War period, dramatically shifted global politics and economics, and marked a…
Russia’s 2022 Anti-War Exodus: The Attitudes and Expectations of Russian Migrants
Hundreds of thousands of Russians fled their homeland after their government launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. It has been the largest brain drain from Russia since…
Imperializing Russia: Empire by Default or Design?
President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine is both a strategic conflict with the West to reshape the post-Cold War European order and an identity project for Russia. While the strategic…
Racializing Central Asia during the Russian-Ukrainian War: Migration Flows and Ethnic Hierarchies
This memo looks at three patterns of mobility into and out of Central Asia in the current period affected both by the war in Ukraine and historical structures of colonialism…
Russia’s Cyberwar Against Ukraine: A De-Modernized Regime Against a Networked Society
Russia’s war against Ukraine has increased the intensity of Russian cyber operations compared to 2014-2021. However, this increase has not (yet) inflicted significant damage on Ukrainian infrastructure. Analytical reports published…
Russia’s War on Ukrainian Farms
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, Ukrainian farms have been under siege. This memo documents the damage inflicted on Ukrainian agricultural assets and production and draws…