Russia’s War in Ukraine
News, analysis, and background on military campaigns, battlefield technology, and global diplomacy, negotiations, and sanctions.

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.

Russia’s Next Opposition Will Not Be Liberal
Army corruption and mass death are breeding new dissent—deep inside Vladimir Putin’s loyal core.

Ukraine Needs More Drones
Tight cooperation with Beijing and Tehran is giving Moscow an edge on the critical weapons.

Putin vs. the Press
You’d have to be fearless or a fanatic to persist in journalism in Russia. These women are both.
Battlefield Strategy

Why the White House Is Considering Tomahawks for Ukraine
The move makes sense for U.S. strategy, but it may cause heartburn for isolationist and Pacific-focused Pentagon leaders.

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.

How Russia Is Escalating the Drone Arms Race
Routine strikes involve smaller, daily launches designed to keep steady pressure on Ukraine.

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.
Wartime Diplomacy

Trump Makes U-Turn on Ukraine Rhetoric
Trump says Ukraine can win back all of its territory.

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.

An Emerging Trump Doctrine?
Success in the Middle East could be a template for a new approach to Russia’s war.

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.
Regional Dynamics

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.

Europe’s Delusions Over What It Means to Deter Russia
Leaders are afraid to tell voters what it will take to defend their continent.

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

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.
Latest Stories

Ukraine Is Still Outgunned by Russia
Even with the approval of new U.S. aid, most of the artillery Ukraine needs won’t get to the front until next year.

Russia Is Committing Cultural Genocide in Ukraine
Historical falsification, youth indoctrination, and the plunder of artifacts reveal the Kremlin’s true objectives.

Russia’s Shadow Fleet Could Create Strange Allies
Both Greenpeace and NATO are working against off-book oil tankers.

Fear and Hoarding on Ukraine’s Eastern Front
Ammo shortages are costing lives and time.

NATO Doesn’t Have Enough Troops
For the first time in decades, NATO has a plan to fight Russia. Now it just needs the forces to do it.

Russia’s Rosatom Fuels Putin’s War Machine
The nuclear company’s expanding corporate empire is an urgent target for sanctions.

Ukraine’s Cheap Drones Are Decimating Russia’s Tanks
But experts say they’re not a long-term solution to a lack of artillery rounds.

How Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Became Putin’s Spiritual Guru
The strange story of a global literary hero who went on to inspire Russia’s war on Ukraine.

NATO Tries to Trump-Proof Ukraine Aid
NATO wants to help Ukraine for the long term. But Kyiv needs help now.

The Steady Hand
Jens Stoltenberg has led NATO through a decade of war, chaos, and Trump. What comes next?

Migrants in Russia Are Terrified as Racism Grows After Deadly Attack
Violence and war are shaping Moscow’s brutal response.

Moscow Terrorist Attack Undercuts Putin’s Strongman Image
Russia’s security services are stretched, distracted, and politicized, experts say.

Can Ukraine Escape the Curse of Nonexistence?
A landmark translation of a Ukrainian novel explores a nation caught between the jaws of empire.

Shifting Conflicts Hit Key Energy Routes
From Russia to Yemen, gas and oil exports have become prime targets.

Russia’s Black Sea Naval Ambitions
Ukraine has busted up most of the Black Sea Fleet. Russia is plotting a comeback.

War-Zone GPS Spoofing Is Threatening Civil Aviation
A surge in spoofing from the Middle East to northern Europe is throwing onboard navigation systems off course.