Russia’s War in Ukraine

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

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
Russian flags fly above the graves of Russian soldiers
Russian flags fly above the graves of Russian soldiers

Russia’s Next Opposition Will Not Be Liberal

Army corruption and mass death are breeding new dissent—deep inside Vladimir Putin’s loyal core.

Analysis
Alexey Kovalev
A man holds a drone in Ukraine.
A man holds a drone in Ukraine.

Ukraine Needs More Drones

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

Analysis
Sam Skove
A woman in a red face mask and a coat over a red hoodie stands on a sidewalk, holding a laptop and speaking on her phone. Cars drive past behind her, with a suitcase and an international airport visible in the background.
A woman in a red face mask and a coat over a red hoodie stands on a sidewalk, holding a laptop and speaking on her phone. Cars drive past behind her, with a suitcase and an international airport visible in the background.

Putin vs. the Press

You’d have to be fearless or a fanatic to persist in journalism in Russia. These women are both.

Review
Anastasia Edel
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
Donald Trump leaves UNGA following his speech
Donald Trump leaves UNGA following his speech

Europe Is on Its Own With Russia Now

Donald Trump’s latest U-turn on Ukraine doesn’t change the naked truth for Europe.

Analysis
Christian Caryl

Battlefield Strategy

A Tomahawk missile launches from a boat
A Tomahawk missile launches from a boat

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.

Analysis
Sam Skove
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
Macron, Starmer, and Merz talk at a summit in Tirana, Albania
Macron, Starmer, and Merz talk at a summit in Tirana, Albania

Europe’s Delusions Over What It Means to Deter Russia

Leaders are afraid to tell voters what it will take to defend their continent. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Franz-Stefan Gady
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 man seen from behind stands on grass with his arms outstretched to the sky. Above his head on a blue sky is a hovering drone.
A man seen from behind stands on grass with his arms outstretched to the sky. Above his head on a blue sky is a hovering drone.

Technology Alone Won’t Break the Stalemate in Ukraine

Kyiv’s Western backers need to grasp that drones are no substitute for a capable fighting force.

Argument
Gavin Wilde
Members of Ukraine’s 72nd Brigade anti-air unit use binoculars to search for Russian drones near Marinka, Ukraine, on Feb. 23.
Members of Ukraine’s 72nd Brigade anti-air unit use binoculars to search for Russian drones near Marinka, Ukraine, on Feb. 23.

Russia Is Betting on Battlefield Gains

As Ukrainian forces brace for a new Russian offensive, Kyiv urgently needs supplemental military aid and ammunition.

Argument
Doug Klain
A helicopter crew member of the Ukrainian Army carries a box of ammunition in each hand as he crosses a dirt path beneath a blue sky. There are patches of snow on the ground. Another solider is visible unloading more boxes from the back of a pickup truck in the background, and piles of empty, used shells are visible in the foreground.
A helicopter crew member of the Ukrainian Army carries a box of ammunition in each hand as he crosses a dirt path beneath a blue sky. There are patches of snow on the ground. Another solider is visible unloading more boxes from the back of a pickup truck in the background, and piles of empty, used shells are visible in the foreground.

The U.S. Military Is Running Short on Ammunition—and So Is Ukraine

If Congress fails to pass a national security supplemental funding bill, Ukraine will be getting fewer bullets.

Report
Jack Detsch
Theodoros II, the Eastern Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria and Africa, lifts a palm branch as he speaks into a microphone while delivering a sermon in Cairo. He is dressed in elaborate red-and-gold robes and a stole, and a crowd of people and other priests are visible through an ornate wood-carved doorway behind him.
Theodoros II, the Eastern Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria and Africa, lifts a palm branch as he speaks into a microphone while delivering a sermon in Cairo. He is dressed in elaborate red-and-gold robes and a stole, and a crowd of people and other priests are visible through an ornate wood-carved doorway behind him.

Russia is Waging Spiritual War in Africa

The Patriarchate of Moscow is trying to steal Orthodox believers to weaken Ukraine.

Analysis
Elisabeth Braw
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 24, 2017.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 24, 2017.

Claims That Sanctions Hurt Europe More Than Russia Are Wrong

A false narrative is being peddled by the Kremlin and its Western friends.

Analysis
Agathe Demarais
A drawn illustration of a Russian soldier's hand using the "X" logo as a puppeteer.
A drawn illustration of a Russian soldier's hand using the "X" logo as a puppeteer.

The West Is Still Oblivious to Russia’s Information War

Paralyzed by free speech concerns, Western governments are loath to act. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Ian Garner
A woman bundled in a shin-length winter coat, hat, and gloves pushes a stroller past the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. The ground is covered with snow, and the large gray complex of buildings looms against a cloudy sky.
A woman bundled in a shin-length winter coat, hat, and gloves pushes a stroller past the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. The ground is covered with snow, and the large gray complex of buildings looms against a cloudy sky.

State Department Beefs Up U.S. Diplomatic Presence in Kyiv

Lawmakers still think the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv is too small, and diplomats can’t get close enough to the front lines.

Report
Jack Detsch, Robbie Gramer
A screengrab shows the Cyrillic type of Ukraine's eRecovery app on a cell phone. An illustration on the site shows a glowing sun with clouds around it.
A screengrab shows the Cyrillic type of Ukraine's eRecovery app on a cell phone. An illustration on the site shows a glowing sun with clouds around it.

Ukrainians Are Using an App to Return Home

The land war may be conventional, but Kyiv’s approach to reconstruction is anything but.

Analysis
Yuliya Panfil, Allison Price
The Central Bank of Russia in Moscow.
The Central Bank of Russia in Moscow.

Europe Edges Closer to ‘Plan B’ for Using Frozen Russian Money

Leery of seizing all of Russia’s state assets, Europe may opt for a next-best approach that could still provide Ukraine billions of euros a year.

Analysis
Keith Johnson
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses the media next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a joint press conference with the leaders of Canada, Italy, and Belgium after their meeting in Kyiv on Feb. 24.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses the media next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a joint press conference with the leaders of Canada, Italy, and Belgium after their meeting in Kyiv on Feb. 24.

The West Can No Longer Hesitate on Ukraine

Allies must provide Kyiv with what it needs to win the war and secure the peace: arms supplies and a path to NATO membership.

Argument
Alexander Vershbow
An Orthodox Christian priest wearing gold robes waves an incense burner as he speaks to a small audience gathered at a funeral. Three caskets covered in velvet fabric and flowers sit on stands in the snow-spotted yard behind the ruins of the house where the deceased died while the funeral attendees, mostly wearing black coats, hold prayer candles.
An Orthodox Christian priest wearing gold robes waves an incense burner as he speaks to a small audience gathered at a funeral. Three caskets covered in velvet fabric and flowers sit on stands in the snow-spotted yard behind the ruins of the house where the deceased died while the funeral attendees, mostly wearing black coats, hold prayer candles.

Ukrainians Are Resilient—But They Still Need Washington

In Kyiv, all eyes are on the U.S. congressional fight over aid.

Argument
Richard Fontaine
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz huddle at the annual NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, 2023.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz huddle at the annual NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, 2023.

Making Sense of Macron’s Hint at Troops in Ukraine

Keeping all options open could serve deterrence—but does nothing to help Ukraine now.

Analysis
Daniel B. Baer, Sophia Besch
Ukrainian soldiers stand facing a wall with a sculpture of a Ukrainian flag and a handwritten spray-painted inscription that reads: “Bakhmut is Ukraine” in Ukrainian.
Ukrainian soldiers stand facing a wall with a sculpture of a Ukrainian flag and a handwritten spray-painted inscription that reads: “Bakhmut is Ukraine” in Ukrainian.

Ukrainian Civilians Are Pioneering the Art of Resistance

Nonviolent tools are undercutting the Russian occupation.

Analysis
Nicholas Krohley
A collage photo illustration with Putin behind a blue background, the NATO logo like a crosshair overlay, with soldiers and warplanes in the foreground.
A collage photo illustration with Putin behind a blue background, the NATO logo like a crosshair overlay, with soldiers and warplanes in the foreground.

NATO’s Military Has a New Nerve Center

The alliance has transformed its once sleepy headquarters into a war command focused on Russia.

Feature
Jack Detsch
A British soldier takes part in a NATO exercise near the Estonian-Latvian border in Voru, Estonia, on May 25, 2022.
A British soldier takes part in a NATO exercise near the Estonian-Latvian border in Voru, Estonia, on May 25, 2022.

NATO’s Confusion Over the Russia Threat

Scenarios and timelines for Moscow’s possible war goals in Europe are a veritable Tetris game of alliance planning.

Analysis
Franz-Stefan Gady
A flower is seen in a broken window in a Ukraine building riddled with bullet holes.
A flower is seen in a broken window in a Ukraine building riddled with bullet holes.

A Tale of Haunted Love Captures Wartime Ukraine

“Daybreak” is a nightmarish romance about the horrors of war.

Review
Natalia Antonova
Load More Stories
Loading graphics