Ksenia Kirillova
Ksenia Kirillova is an investigative journalist and analyst focused on analyzing Russian society and mechanisms of action of Russian propaganda (including in the US) along with Russian “soft power,” “active measures” and foreign policy.
Ms. Kirillova is the author of several hundred articles, including research on Russian propaganda and soft power for the Atlantic Council, the British Institute for Statecraft (The Integrity Initiative project), Homeland Security Today (US), EU Today, the British-Canadian security project Defense Report, Ukrainian English-language media Kyiv Post and Euromaidan Press, Stop Fake project, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and others.
While living in Russia, she worked as a journalist for the largest Ural media holding Ural Worker (2008-2010) and the Ural branch of Novaya Gazeta (2011-2013)
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Articles by Ksenia Kirillova
Russia Finds a New Way to Survive Defeat
After the humiliating surrender of Kherson, Russian troops have produced no lasting military victories on the battlefield. Even the devastating missile strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are not producing the
Kremlin Analysts Call for Killing of Political Emigrants Abroad
As his war against Ukraine falters, and against the backdrop of Ukrainian forces’ liberation of Kherson, Russian President Vladimir Putin has no other choice than to increase repression at home
Infantilism and Sacrifice: Why Russians Go to War Even When They Disagree With It
The Russian authorities have seriously embraced the ideological indoctrination of children through “patriotic propaganda” to guarantee their unwavering loyalty as adults. Meanwhile, psychologists point out that Russian society embraces numerous
Mobilization and Annexation Will Create More Problems for Moscow
In July 2022, military analysts loyal to the Kremlin noted that Russia lacked the manpower for a massive offensive (Topwar.ru, July 23). At the beginning of September, Russian pro-war experts
Jamestown Analyst Kseniya Kirillova quoted by G-Zero on Putin’s ‘partial mobilization’
Jamestown Foundation Analyst Kseniya Kirillova offered her expert analysis on Putin's "partial mobilization" announcement to G-Zero. "The Kremlin calls it ‘partial’ so as not to cause panic among the population,
Failure in Ukraine Increases Moscow’s Repression and Citizens’ Distrust
Despite unprecedented repression by the Russian authorities against anyone who doubts the necessity of President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, more citizens are finding the courage to speak out. At
Spy Scandal in Albania: Could Russian Intelligence Be Using Bloggers?
On August 20, two Russians and a Ukrainian were arrested in Albania as they tried to enter a defunct military factory in the city of Gramsci. According to Albanian authorities,
New Concept of ‘Russian Sovereignty’ Is Inextricably Linked to the War
Military experts loyal to the Kremlin are increasingly recognizing that Russia does not have the resources to implement President Vladimir Putin’s ambitious geopolitical plans. However, Moscow leadership is seemingly no
Is a Military Coup Expected in Russia?
Pro-Kremlin sociologists record an extremely low level of protest activity in Russia against the background of the Ukrainian war. In particular, the Social Opinion Fund notes that only about 15
A Prolonged War in Ukraine Is Advantageous to Russia
On June 18, Lithuania blocked the transit by rail of sanctioned goods between Kaliningrad Oblast and the rest of Russia , a step that Russian propaganda immediately claimed could be
Governor Versus Propagandist: Is Yekaterinburg Becoming a Center of Regional Resistance in Russia?
The standoff between the main Russian propagandist, Vladimir Solovyev, and the political elite of the Urals region (see EDM, May 17) has taken a new turn. At the beginning of
Not Only War: How the Kremlin Tries to Influence the Policies of Other Countries
Moscow’s attempts to change the policies of other countries in its favor are not limited to military actions in Ukraine. Against the background of the war, the Kremlin is working
Kseniya Kirillova Interviewed by Astna, Concerning the Competence of Russia’s Secret Services
On April 29, 2022, an interview with Kseniya Kirillova concerning the competence of Russia's secret services was published Astna.
Nuclear Escalation and Russian Propaganda: Conjuring a Crisis
While continuing its armed assault on the battlefields of Donbas, the Kremlin is boosting its attacks against Ukraine on the information front as well. Russian propaganda’s continuing dehumanization of Ukraine
Ukrainian Experts: Russian Use of Tactical Nuclear Weapons a Real Possibility
Following the March 29 round of Russian-Ukrainian peace negotiations, held in Istanbul, a cautious optimism crept into the rhetoric of the Russian delegation. However, this was swiftly followed by harshly
Putin Opens a Second Front: The Battle Against ‘Traitors’ Inside Russia
Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, conceived as a “blitzkrieg,” has gone on already for a month, inflicting colossal damage to Ukraine and making life in Russia substantially worse. Nevertheless, pro-government
Putin Is Losing the War, but Russians Have Stockholm Syndrome
After two weeks of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the majority of Russian society apparently still supports the aggression. Pro-government opinion poll organizations cheerfully report 71 percent backing for the
Majority of Russians Not Against War Now, but This Will Change
From the beginning of President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, anti-war actions have swept through all the major cities of Russia. Protests break out practically every day and, according
The Kyiv Independent Quotes Jamestown Analyst Kseniya Kirillova
On February 28, The Kyiv Independent quoted Jamestown analyst Kseniya Kirillova in an article concerning the effects of sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Russian Propagandists Justify Aggressive Policies as a Battle Against the ‘Western Yoke’
The Kremlin’s official recognition of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics” (DPR, LPR) on Monday, February 22, further aggravated the confrontation between Russia and the West. As if preparing
Kremlin Refocuses Its Propaganda in Preparation for War
While Russia continues to build up its military forces on the Ukrainian border (see EDM, December 13, 2021 and January 20, 2022), the Kremlin has also stepped up the war
Russian Ideologists Call for External Expansion: What Can Ukraine Expect?
Kyiv’s western allies continue to express concern over the buildup of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine (see EDM, November 8, 29). US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said
Increased Social Tensions in Russia Spill Over Into Shootings and Inter-Ethnic Conflicts
Beginning in the fall of 2018, sociologists saw a sharp rise in social tensions in Russia, driven by price increases, unemployment and an economic crisis (Deutsche Welle—Russian service, September 6,
Russian Authorities Seek Total Control Over Internet
The final months ahead of the elections to the Russian State Duma (lower chamber of parliament) were marked by a total cleansing of the political field (see EDM, September 13).
Russian Communists Try to Control Popular Discontent
In the run-up to September’s legislative elections to the State Duma (lower chamber of the Russian parliament), the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) has been notably active. Traditionally,
Russian Media Misrepresents US Anti-Terrorism Strategy to Justify Repressions in Russia
Russian propaganda has been actively discussing the United States’ National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism, released by the White House on June 15. Russian outlets claim that now “anyone in
Analyst Kseniya Kirillova in The Daily Beast about FBI Investigating Russian Diaspora
On June 7, The Daily Beast published an article about the Russian diaspora being under investigation by the FBI. The article included commentary by Jamestown analyst Kseniya Kirillova. According to
Russian Propaganda Focuses on Kazan School Shooting Tragedy
On May 11, news emerged of a terrible tragedy in Kazan, the capital of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan—19-year-old Ilnaz Galyaviyev brought a weapon to the school he had graduated
Russian Influence in Montenegro Could Create a Threat for NATO’s Information Security
A scandal erupted in Montenegro at the end of March: the head of the Balkan country’s National Security Agency (ANB), Dejan Vukšić, was charged with revealing secret information during a
Poverty and Passivity: Are New Protests Expected in the Russian Regions?
On January 2, Russian media quietly reported that, “in Khabarovsk [Russian Far East], unsanctioned actions in support of former Governor Sergei Furgal came to an end” (RIA Novosti, January 2).
Russian Authorities Redouble Pressure to Preserve Crimeans’ Loyalty
Moscow and most Russian regions saw a series of huge rallies at the end of January and early February, in which protesters demanded the immediate release of Russian dissident and
Behind the Rumors of Putin’s Illness: Distraction or Signal of Looming Changes at the Top?
This past month saw a new surge in “leaks” and speculation about the state of President Vladimir Putin’s health along with suggestions in the press that he might, therefore, be
Ukraine’s Geopolitical Successes Become Russian Defeats
In the first half of October, the Ukrainian leadership concluded a series of important international agreements, with significance not only for Kyiv itself but also for buttressing regional security more
Can Turmoil in Belarus and Karabakh Inspire a New Patriotic Surge in Russia?
Protests in Belarus and the fighting in Karabakh have upended relations between the Russian authorities and the leaders of Minsk and Yerevan. In the past, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and
Ukrainian Reverberations of the Wagner Arrests in Belarus: Russian Disinformation?
A scandal surrounding the alleged “betrayal” by a high-ranking official of the presidential administration is rapidly gaining momentum in Ukraine. The situation curiously concerns the detention of 33 mercenaries from
Protests in Khabarovsk: Causes and Directions
Demonstrations in Khabarovsk Krai, prompted by the July 9 arrest of regional governor Sergei Furgal, have become among the largest and longest of recent protest actions inside the Russian Federation,
Latent Russian Dissatisfaction: On the Explicit and Hidden Implications of Putin’s Constitutional Reform
The newly approved amendments to the Russian constitution went into force on July 4. The night before, President Vladimir Putin signed the relevant executive order. According to official data, in
Moscow Pressures Ukrainian Authorities by Stepping Up Passportization Efforts
On June 9, Russian parliamentarian Viktor Vodolatskiy declared that this year, 600,000–800,000 inhabitants of the unrecognized “republics” on the occupied territory of Ukrainian Donbas will receive Russian citizenship (TASS, June
Russian Influence Grows in Central Asia
The Russian Federation is strengthening its economic integration with several Central Asian states. At the beginning of April, the authorities of Uzbekistan and Russia agreed to set up an economic
Russian Population Does Not Trust the Authorities but Still Believes the Propaganda
The coronavirus pandemic has exposed a growing public mistrust toward the Russian authorities. But at the same time, most Russians still believe state-promoted anti-Western conspiracy theories. The situation around the
Russia Tries to Capitalize on the Coronavirus Pandemic
While the whole world copes with the crisis caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic responsible for COVID-19, Moscow has been attempting to take advantage of the situation. Under the pretext
Russia Pushes to Drastically Expand Its Influence Over Ukraine, Rest of Post-Soviet Space
In recent months, the Kremlin dramatically stepped up efforts to push its interests and political agenda across the post-Soviet space as part of various “negotiations” and “conflict resolution procedures.” A
Russia Faces New Demands and Conditions From Bulgaria
Tensions between Russia and Bulgaria looked on the verge of resolution at the end of last month. But trust between the two countries has since declined. In late January, Bulgaria
Is a ‘Soviet Revanche’ Possible in Russia?
At the end of last year, the conference “Russia-2024: Left Turn or National Disaster?” was held in Moscow. One of its organizers, a Russian opposition politician known for his radical-left
Serbia’s Espionage Scandal May Point to Moscow’s Growing Mistrust of Serbian Leadership
An espionage scandal has erupted in Serbia over the possible recruitment of a senior Serbian official by Russian special services. A video posted online by someone using the YouTube handle