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.
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.
Putin vs. the Press
You’d have to be fearless or a fanatic to persist in journalism in Russia. These women are both.
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.
Europe Is on Its Own With Russia Now
Donald Trump’s latest U-turn on Ukraine doesn’t change the naked truth for Europe.
Battlefield Strategy
Why Don’t Russian Soldiers Revolt?
Astonishing death rates and brutal abuse have not kept troops from following orders.
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
New Missiles Won’t Change Ukraine’s Broken War Math
The incoming Trump administration needs to learn from Biden’s mistakes.
The Russia-Ukraine War in 2030
Let’s imagine a future much like the past—with Moscow and Kyiv irreconcilable but agreeing to manage their war.
Ukraine Is Now a Proxy War for Asian Powers
Growing East Asian involvement shows that Putin’s war has already gone global.
Russia’s War Economy Is Hitting Its Limits
Key weapons are running out as Moscow tries to mobilize ever more labor and resources.
In Defense of Sanctions
The European Union’s top diplomat makes the case for sanctions to protect global peace.
Why Ukraine Is Ready to Gamble on Trump
Kyiv has been increasingly frustrated with the outgoing Biden team, and a Kamala Harris victory would have posed its own challenges.
Before Trump Returns, Congress Should Buy Weapons for Ukraine
An arms procurement fund would secure Ukraine’s ability to fight while helping American workers.
North Korea Joining Russia’s War Is a Sign of Weakness
Instead of leveraging Moscow’s faltering prospects by upping aid to Ukraine, Western leaders are paralyzed by fright.
Ukraine Walks a Tightrope on the U.S. Election
Dependent on American support for the war, Kyiv is trying to avoid getting caught in the politics of it all.
A Western Victory Plan for Ukraine
Lofty rhetoric can’t hide the lack of serious thinking about what a credible victory would entail.
Why North Korea’s Deployment of Troops to Russia Really Matters
Questions abound about the combat quality of Pyongyang’s troops, but they could bail out Moscow and end up alarming Seoul.
Russia’s Virtual Reality Is Where Conservatives Can Find Their Dreams
The Kremlin has devised a very 21st-century way to gather fellow travelers.
Ukraine Faces a Double Threat if Russia Takes Pokrovsk
The eastern city is a key military hub, but it’s also critical to Ukraine’s steel industry.
What a New Book’s Explosive Revelations Tell Us About Biden, Trump, and Putin
Bob Woodward’s “War” suggests Biden may have stopped a nuclear war even as Trump was secretly talking to Russia’s president.
Inside Kursk, Ukrainians Hope for a Path to Victory
Kyiv wants to hold land to trade with Moscow in any future peace deal.
North Korean Shells Fuel Russia’s War—and Kim’s Ambitions
Pyongyang’s decrepit artillery rounds have kept Russia in the fight, and they might be the currency of even greater threats in Asia.