
Latest Articles about Europe's East

Ukraine’s Victory Plan: Last Chance for West to Reverse Trajectory of Defeat
Executive Summary: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has unveiled his Victory Plan to stave off incremental defeat under Russian assault. The plan calls for offsetting the war’s imbalance with a surge of Western military assistance. Some major parts of the plan are in classified annexes to... MORE

Moscow Forced to Fill Ranks With Older Men
Executive Summary: Moscow is now increasing the age limit for military service to fill the depleted ranks of its forces in Ukraine. This is a reflection of the manpower difficulties Russia faces in its long war. Visitors to the front, officials involved in meeting the... MORE

Ukrainian Drone War Shakes Up Russian Society
Executive Summary: Russia’s war against Ukraine has turned into the first major full-scale drone war, and Ukraine is dominating this aspect of the conflict through its innovation and leadership in drone production. Moscow is lagging behind in the drone war, relying on outdated Iranian drones... MORE

Russia Occupies Zaporizhzhia Oblast the Cossack Way
Executive Summary: Moscow and the All-Russia Cossack Society completed the documentation necessary to create full-fledged Russian Cossack societies in Ukraine's occupied Zaporizhzhia oblast. The Kremlin may use Russian Cossack organizations in Ukraine as a pretext to mobilize men while simultaneously providing a new legitimation for... MORE

Ukraine Leads World in Drone Innovation and Production
Executive Summary: Russia’s war in Ukraine has become the world’s first drone, digital, and cyber war, and resilience, innovation, adaptation, and quick learning has allowed Ukraine to keep one step ahead of Russia. Ukraine is fighting a people’s war, and its military-industrial complex has significantly... MORE

Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan Attempts to Redefine Victory and Defeat
Executive Summary: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a “victory plan” to the Joe Biden administration and two US presidential candidates. The plan envisages arming Ukraine adequately for negotiating “peace through strength” with Moscow as well as strengthening economic sanctions on Russia. The military situation, damaged... MORE

Belarus Offers Reset of Bilateral Relations to Lithuania
Executive Summary: Belarusian Foreign Affairs Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov published an op-ed outlining Minsk’s assessment of the current and prospective bilateral relations between Belarus and Lithuania, signaling a desire from Minsk to further engage with Vilnius in the future. In Vilnius, Ryzhenkov’s suggestions were received coldly,... MORE

Russia Updates Nuclear Doctrine, Lowering Threshold for Use of Nuclear Weapons (Part 1)
Executive Summary: The Kremlin announced updates to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons by expanding the list of conditions that would justify such a measure. These updates are intended to serve as a warning to the West and legitimize... MORE

Moscow Uses Cossacks’ Cultural Significance as Part of New War Narrative
Executive Summary: Russia is more openly highlighting the significant role Cossacks are taking in its war against Ukraine and within Russian society through the media and promoting cultural and militaristic Cossack events and organizations. The Kremlin’s transition to promoting the Cossack narrative versus its previous... MORE

Russian Attacks on Ukrainian Grain Shipments in Black Sea Hold Broad Implications Amid War
Executive Summary: On September 12, a Russian Kh-22 cruise missile hit the unarmed civilian bulk carrier Aya bringing grain to Egypt, another example of a Russian attack where civilian vessels suffered collateral damage. The consequences of Russian missiles damaging civilian vessels, especially vessels exporting grain... MORE