Executive Summary:  New corruption schemes are being developed to power Russia’s war machine and incentivize Russian citizens to fight in Ukraine through monetary support and the elimination of criminal liability. A powerful money-laundering network connected to military-patriotic organizations is conducting collections “for the needs of... MORE

Executive Summary: Moscow is using the Muslim Spiritual Directorates (MSDs) for the primary purpose for which they were established during World War II: to mobilize Muslims in Russia against a foreign enemy. The MSDs’ tasks include boosting the recruitment of young Muslims, limiting internal clashes... MORE

Executive Summary: Tbilisi’s ruling Georgian Dream party stated the possibility of returning the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as part of their campaign for the parliamentary elections. Moscow has not expressed support for reintegrating the Russian controlled regions into Georgia but alternatively for... MORE

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

Executive Summary: Over the past months, Russia’s “Africa Corps,” which is mostly made up of former Wagnerites, in Africa’s Sahel states have faced numerous blows from jihadist groups. These defeats have begun to raise questions about the future of Russian military forces in the region... MORE

Executive Summary: Pakistan and Russia are discussing a potential liquefied natural gas pipeline (LNG) to deliver Russian LNG to Pakistan, opening another market for Russia’s sanctions-bound energy industry. Another project that Pakistan is working on is the Iran-Pakistan (IP) pipeline, which has faced numerous obstacles... MORE

Executive Summary: China and Russia have agreed to form a strategic partnership in the Arctic for economic development, exploitation of mineral resources, increased use of the Northern Sea Route, and military cooperation against the West. In response to the signing of this strategic partnership, Canada... MORE

Executive Summary: The first anniversary of the war in Gaza has revealed the near-total disappearance of Russia’s influence in the Middle East, as it has not been able to partner with those averse to US positions. Moscow hopes to exploit the shift in international attention... MORE

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

Executive Summary: Moscow released the draft proposal for Russia’s federal budget for 2025 and 2026–2027, which shows that the national defense budget will increase significantly from previous years, especially in comparison to the period before its war against Ukraine. For 2023 and 2024, Russia’s military... MORE