Russia’s War in Ukraine

News, analysis, and background on military campaigns, battlefield technology, and global diplomacy, negotiations, and sanctions.

Putin, in a black suit and purple tie, holds a champagne flute.
Putin, in a black suit and purple tie, holds a champagne flute.

Trump’s Russia Sanctions Are Really Putting the Hurt On

He was late to the show, but he brought a big stick.

Analysis
Keith Johnson
The first batch of the Ukrainian-made drone missile "Peklo" is shown before its delivery to the Ukrainian military in Kyiv on Dec. 6, 2024.
The first batch of the Ukrainian-made drone missile "Peklo" is shown before its delivery to the Ukrainian military in Kyiv on Dec. 6, 2024.

A Complacent Pentagon Needs to Learn From Ukraine

The Europeans are deeply engaged with Kyiv on defense technology, but Washington is lagging behind.

Analysis
Christian Caryl
A Patriot air defense system protects an airport used for weapons deliveries to Ukraine in Jasionka, Poland, on March 6.
A Patriot air defense system protects an airport used for weapons deliveries to Ukraine in Jasionka, Poland, on March 6.

How to Get More U.S. Weapons to Ukraine

Opening Europe’s 150 billion euro defense fund to U.S. companies could seal the deal. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Bart M. J. Szewczyk
A blond woman in a black suit sits behind a sign with her last name on it. The EU flag is seen behind her.
A blond woman in a black suit sits behind a sign with her last name on it. The EU flag is seen behind her.

Ukraine’s New U.S. Ambassador Previews Her Pragmatic Approach to Washington

“I am Ukrainian, right? I’m not a Democrat or Republican.”

Interview
Sam Skove
Putin gives an interview
Putin gives an interview

From Moldova to Africa, Russia’s Power Is Waning

The defeat of Moscow-friendly parties in the Moldovan election is just the latest of many setbacks.

Analysis
Adrian Karatnycky, Alexander J. Motyl
Maria Semyonova, wife of a Russian soldier, poses in front of a recruitment poster in Moscow on December 17, 2023.
Maria Semyonova, wife of a Russian soldier, poses in front of a recruitment poster in Moscow on December 17, 2023.

How to Fight Putin on the Information Battlefield

The West can’t fully adopt Russia’s methods—but it should study them. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Peter Pomerantsev, Sviatoslav Hnizdovskyi

Battlefield Strategy

A fiery orange and black explosion behind a gray razor wire fence.
A fiery orange and black explosion behind a gray razor wire fence.

Ukraine Is Hitting Russia Where It Hurts: Its Oil Refineries

Kyiv’s two-year offensive against Russian oil facilities has intensified, eating away at Moscow’s energy revenues.

Analysis
Keith Johnson
Soldiers of the 115th Mechanized Brigade in a house where they are staying when not on the front lines near Lyman, Ukraine.
Soldiers of the 115th Mechanized Brigade in a house where they are staying when not on the front lines near Lyman, Ukraine.

The Mood on the Front Line, Three Years On

Ukrainian troops watch with anxiety as the United States moves closer to talks with Russia over the war.

Dispatch
Fabrice Deprez
Drones fly above grass in an open field dotted with trees and small sheds.
Drones fly above grass in an open field dotted with trees and small sheds.

How Russia Is Escalating the Drone Arms Race

Routine strikes involve smaller, daily launches designed to keep steady pressure on Ukraine. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Yasir Atalan
The oil tanker Eagle S is seen anchored near the Kilpilahti port in Porvoo, on the Gulf of Finland, on Jan. 7.
The oil tanker Eagle S is seen anchored near the Kilpilahti port in Porvoo, on the Gulf of Finland, on Jan. 7.

The ‘Paper Tiger’ Still Has Its Shadow Fleet

Trump says Russia is in economic trouble—but there’s a loophole in the West’s sanctions.

Argument
Petras Katinas

Wartime Diplomacy

From left, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
From left, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

Trump Makes U-Turn on Ukraine Rhetoric

Trump says Ukraine can win back all of its territory.

Report
Sam Skove
A Finnish defender is seen near the front during the Finnish-Soviet Winter War in early 1940.
A Finnish defender is seen near the front during the Finnish-Soviet Winter War in early 1940.

The Ghost of Finlandization Is Haunting the Ukraine Debate

A 1944 armistice that traded land for peace is a poor precedent for ending Russia’s war. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Kristi Raik
U.S. President Donald Trump announces U.S. strikes on Iran with Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth standing alongside, at the White House in Washington on June 21.
U.S. President Donald Trump announces U.S. strikes on Iran with Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth standing alongside, at the White House in Washington on June 21.

An Emerging Trump Doctrine?

Success in the Middle East could be a template for a new approach to Russia’s war.

Argument
Adrian Karatnycky
Workers construct an outdoor ice skating rink in Red Square in downtown Moscow on Nov. 9, 2021.
Workers construct an outdoor ice skating rink in Red Square in downtown Moscow on Nov. 9, 2021.

What the Next Round of Sanctions Against Russia Should Look Like

Moscow has successfully restructured its economy on an impressive war footing, but there are weaknesses under the hood. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Nicholas Fenton, Maria Snegovaya

Regional Dynamics

U.S. Marines take part in the international military exercise Cold Response 22 near Sandstrand in northern Norway on March 21, 2022.
U.S. Marines take part in the international military exercise Cold Response 22 near Sandstrand in northern Norway on March 21, 2022.

A Russia-NATO War Would Look Nothing Like Ukraine

Moscow will seek to avoid a full-on war and focus on breaking the bloc’s resolve. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Fabian Hoffmann
Ukrainian soldiers hold the Ukrainian and Lithuanian flags over the coffin of Tomas Valentelis, a Lithuanian volunteer in the Ukrainian army who was killed in battle in Ukraine, at a funeral ceremony in Kyiv on April 16.
Ukrainian soldiers hold the Ukrainian and Lithuanian flags over the coffin of Tomas Valentelis, a Lithuanian volunteer in the Ukrainian army who was killed in battle in Ukraine, at a funeral ceremony in Kyiv on April 16.

To Deter Russia, Europe Needs Ukraine

A Ukraine-Baltics defense pact would bring Kyiv into Europe’s security architecture.

Argument
Fredrik Wesslau
The oil tanker Eagle S next to Finnish border guard ship Uisko and tugboat Ukko in the Gulf of Finland on December 28, 2024.
The oil tanker Eagle S next to Finnish border guard ship Uisko and tugboat Ukko in the Gulf of Finland on December 28, 2024.

Anchors Away

Finland’s failure to convict Russian crew clears the way for more cable-cutting attacks.

Argument
Elisabeth Braw
A photo of two white tanks near a yellow crane. A blue-and-white tanker carrying liquified natural gas is docked nearby in snow and sea ice. White smoke billows out of its smokestack.
A photo of two white tanks near a yellow crane. A blue-and-white tanker carrying liquified natural gas is docked nearby in snow and sea ice. White smoke billows out of its smokestack.

The China-Russia Axis Is Getting Firmer, and It’s Built on Gas

Moscow pivoted to the east a decade ago, but it is now besmitten—or captive.

Analysis
Keith Johnson

Latest Stories

A Ukrainian soldier wearing a camouflage military uniform is seen from behind as they walk down a cracked paved road surrounded by grassy fields and open sky. The soldier is holding a rifle and casts a long shadow.
A Ukrainian soldier wearing a camouflage military uniform is seen from behind as they walk down a cracked paved road surrounded by grassy fields and open sky. The soldier is holding a rifle and casts a long shadow.

Negotiating With Russia Is Still a Bad Idea

The rationale for forcing Ukraine to stop fighting keeps changing with the facts on the ground.

Argument
Raphael S. Cohen, Gian Gentile
A woman walks past a building damaged in a drone attack in Moscow on Aug. 23.
A woman walks past a building damaged in a drone attack in Moscow on Aug. 23.

Are Ukraine’s Airstrikes in Russia Effective?

The attacks hinder Russian warfighting, but Ukrainian leaders probably seek a more strategic impact.

Analysis
Daniel Byman
A Ukrainian service member casts his ballot at a polling station during Ukraine's parliamentary election in Kyiv on July 21, 2019.
A Ukrainian service member casts his ballot at a polling station during Ukraine's parliamentary election in Kyiv on July 21, 2019.

Ukraine Is Already Working on Its Next Election

The challenges of holding a vote in wartime are both small and big—and often unexpected.

Report
Fabrice Deprez
Pedestrians walk past an wall painting depicting a map of Crimean peninsula bearing the colours of Russia's national flag in Moscow, on March 31, 2014.
Pedestrians walk past an wall painting depicting a map of Crimean peninsula bearing the colours of Russia's national flag in Moscow, on March 31, 2014.

Russia’s Crimean Red Line Has Been Erased

Claims about the territory’s spiritual status have been revealed to be fiction.

Analysis
Casey Michel
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walks with U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as he arrives for a meeting with U.S. representatives at the Capitol in Washington.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walks with U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as he arrives for a meeting with U.S. representatives at the Capitol in Washington.

U.S. Budget Deal Has Europe Questioning American Resolve on Ukraine

If U.S. military aid falls short, more Ukrainians will die, officials in Kyiv say.

Report
Jack Detsch, Robbie Gramer
Mustafa Nayyem, head of the Ukrainian State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development, speaks at an event before the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London.
Mustafa Nayyem, head of the Ukrainian State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development, speaks at an event before the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London.

‘We Don’t Want to Lose Our Second Motherland’

Mustafa Nayyem fights to rebuild Ukraine.

Profile
Luke Johnson
Three tanks lined side-by-side in a row parade down a broad paved boulevard. Soldiers in green uniforms and helmets stand on the tanks and salute. Behind them is a large building fronted with columns, North Korean flags, and a portrait of Kim Il Sung.
Three tanks lined side-by-side in a row parade down a broad paved boulevard. Soldiers in green uniforms and helmets stand on the tanks and salute. Behind them is a large building fronted with columns, North Korean flags, and a portrait of Kim Il Sung.

North Korea’s Shell Game Is Not a Game-Changer, Pentagon Says

Moscow’s deal with Pyongyang for more artillery rounds will fill Russian gaps—but likely not turn the tables in Ukraine.

Report
Jack Detsch
A girl touches a photograph of her relative on the Memory Wall of Fallen Defenders of Ukraine in the Russian-Ukrainian war in Kyiv.
A girl touches a photograph of her relative on the Memory Wall of Fallen Defenders of Ukraine in the Russian-Ukrainian war in Kyiv.

What Does Victory Look Like in Ukraine?

Ukrainians differ on what would keep their nation safe from Russia.

Argument
Kathleen J. McInnis
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov arrives to give a statement at Ramstein Air Base in Germany after a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on Sept. 19.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov arrives to give a statement at Ramstein Air Base in Germany after a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on Sept. 19.

Meet Ukraine’s New Defense Boss

He’s not the same as the old boss.

Situation Report
Jack Detsch, Amy Mackinnon
Two camel-colored Abrams tanks move across a sandy landscape beneath a cloudy sky.
Two camel-colored Abrams tanks move across a sandy landscape beneath a cloudy sky.

Ukraine Is Getting Its Abrams—but Not What It Really Wants

U.S. military support for Kyiv continues, but political resistance means no long-range fire.

Dispatch
Jack Detsch
Elon Musk departs following a meeting in the office of U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 13. STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
Elon Musk departs following a meeting in the office of U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 13. STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

Musk’s Starlink Shutdown Raises Eyebrows

No one man should have all that power, U.S. lawmakers say.

Situation Report
Jack Detsch
Sevastopol Gov. Mikhail Razvozhaev speaks on a mobile phone as smoke and flames rise behind him from the burning Sevastopol Shipyard in Russian-annexed Crimea at night after an attack by Ukraine. Also seen are fire-fighhting vehicles.
Sevastopol Gov. Mikhail Razvozhaev speaks on a mobile phone as smoke and flames rise behind him from the burning Sevastopol Shipyard in Russian-annexed Crimea at night after an attack by Ukraine. Also seen are fire-fighhting vehicles.

Russia’s Home Port in Occupied Crimea Is Under Fire

“If you’re on a Russian naval ship, you’re not safe anywhere in the Black Sea,” said one retired U.S. admiral.

Report
Jack Detsch
Military personnel wearing protective suits remove a police car and other vehicles from a public car park as they continue investigations into the poisoning of Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England.
Military personnel wearing protective suits remove a police car and other vehicles from a public car park as they continue investigations into the poisoning of Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England.

Russia’s Would-Be Assassins Still Stalk Europe’s Streets

Moscow’s regular spies have been expelled. Their kill squads are still active.

Report
Amy Mackinnon
A sign in the shape of the map of Ukraine in the blue and yellow colors of the flag with the inscription "Heroes do not die" in Cyrillic rests on the grave of a fallen soldier at Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine. A cross made of sticks and greenery and lanterns frame the scene.
A sign in the shape of the map of Ukraine in the blue and yellow colors of the flag with the inscription "Heroes do not die" in Cyrillic rests on the grave of a fallen soldier at Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine. A cross made of sticks and greenery and lanterns frame the scene.

The Washington Whiz Kids Mapping the War in Ukraine

How the Institute For the Study of War became the media’s go-to source for tracking the Russian invasion.

Report
Amy Mackinnon
Bouquets of red roses surround a framed portrait of Wagner group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. The items are placed atop Prigozhin's grave.
Bouquets of red roses surround a framed portrait of Wagner group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. The items are placed atop Prigozhin's grave.

Prigozhin’s Assassination Was Business, Not Revenge

The Wagner chief broke the deal struck with Putin for his survival.

Argument
Dmitri Alperovitch
A man suspected to be a Russian collaborator is seen facing away through a slightly open doorway with his hands cuffed behind his back during an operation in Ukraine. He is inside a home with ornate wallpaper and wall hangings, including a calendar with a pinup girl and a framed image of Jesus.
A man suspected to be a Russian collaborator is seen facing away through a slightly open doorway with his hands cuffed behind his back during an operation in Ukraine. He is inside a home with ornate wallpaper and wall hangings, including a calendar with a pinup girl and a framed image of Jesus.

Ukraine’s Long and Sordid History of Treason

For money or out of conviction, some Ukrainians are helping Russia kill their compatriots.

Analysis
Adrian Karatnycky
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