Executive Summary: Russia is ramping up its military efforts—despite discussions of a ceasefire—with speculation about a second wave of mobilization. New Cossack battalions and expanded funding suggest a growing paramilitary force, indirectly increasing Russia’s mobilization potential. Several recent developments indicate that Moscow is preparing for... MORE

Executive Summary:  The Kremlin faces a serious shortage of police officers amid rising, increasingly violent crimes that are predicted to only worsen with the return of veterans of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Many Russians are taking things into their own hands as well as... MORE

Executive Summary: The Kremlin remains committed to its policy of confrontation with the West through weakening alliances and financial influence, despite Russia’s ongoing preparations for the potential end of its invasion of Ukraine. Moscow continues to stake its strategy on the expectation that BRICS countries... MORE

Executive Summary: Recent U.S., European, and Ukrainian diplomatic efforts have gained momentum while the Kremlin insists on a ceasefire that aligns entirely with Russian interests. Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to dismiss U.S. threats of imposing tighter financial sanctions and tariffs against Russia, while excitement... MORE

Executive summary: Roscosmos, Russia’s state-owned space corporation, struggles with financial difficulties, inefficiencies, and the loss of Western partnerships despite its preeminent role in Russia’s space and defense sectors.  Russian President Vladimir Putin’s appointment of Dmitry Bakanov as Roscosmos’s Director General is part of Russia’s broader... MORE

Executive Summary: Moscow views Arctic cooperation with the United States as a means of deepening the divide between Washington and Europe. The United States, conversely, views cooperation with the Russian Federation in the Arctic as a means of dividing Moscow and Beijing. The Kremlin seeks... MORE

Executive Summary: Moscow is pursuing the construction of a naval port on Sudan’s Red Sea coast, reflected in the finalization of an agreement between Russia and Sudan in February. The deal appears to be part of the Kremlin's efforts to create new strategic assets in... MORE

Executive Summary: The Russian North is negatively impacted by climate change at a rate that is three times faster than in the south. The thawing permafrost, faltering infrastructure, and isolation of the population centers and military bases in Russia’s North place additional requirements on Moscow... MORE

Executive Summary: The Russian economy appears to be experiencing “reverse industrialization,” shifting from the development of high-technology industries to labor-intensive sectors. This trend is negatively impacting Russia’s industrial output and economic development.  Russia’s industrial growth is uneven, with the military-industrial complex showing the most growth... MORE

Executive Summary: Russia has significantly increased its investment in artificial intelligence (AI), allocating a substantial portion of its state budget toward AI-driven military research. This funding aims to enhance Russia’s technological edge in modern warfare, particularly in AI-enabled military applications. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine... MORE