In The News

Dmitry Gorenburg says, “Those strikes are likely aimed at destabilizing Moscow’s control of the Black Sea outcropping near the Danube River delta.”

Samuel Bendett says, “Despite its one and a half hour length the Victory Day Parade seemed very short, there was no aerial section in Moscow.”

Michael Kofman says, “The challenge is to convince people that the Russians are not “four feet tall.”

Samuel Bendett says, Despite DJI’s opposition to military uses of its products, the drones have been weaponized during the war. “I don't think people have expected commercial DJI drones to be used at such scale,”

Samuel Bendett says, “We knew that the Russian military has been practicing and using unmanned aerial vehicles in the sky to provide intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance capabilities, to adjust fires, to provide target acquisition.”

Michael Kofman says, “The Russian military that Shoigu and Gerasimov built can generate a certain amount of military strength on short notice but ultimately needs a mobilization to obtain additional manpower to fight a major war.”

Michael Kofman says, “That even a retrenchment to focus on the Donbas could still leave Russia with "sufficient presence to fix Ukrainian forces around Kyiv."

Michael Kofman says, “Both sides are using artillery to deny the other side the ability to maneuver, and they're pairing it with drone-based intelligence."

Michael Kofman says, “The Russian military had long debated whether to retire the Moskva, it was an aging Soviet cruiser in dire need of modernization."

Russia Studies Program Director Michael Kofman comments on Ukrainian forces’ strike against the Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet.

Michael Kofman says, “Russian forces appear to be taking final positions for a possible attack. If so, they could be able to do it within a matter of days,”

Michael Kofman says, “It is significant. It allows a host of policies from general mobilization to stoploss of conscripts. Declaring a state of war carries political risks, but also changes force availability for the Russian war effort."

Russia Studies Program Director Michael Kofman comments on Ukrainian forces’ strike against the Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet.

Samuel Bendett says, “What we are witnessing with Russian tanks is a design flaw

Michael Kofman says, “Artillery has been much more decisive in this war than given credit Ukraine needs not only ammunition for existing systems, but also to begin adopting Western artillery systems for which ammo and parts are more available.”

Michael Kofman says, “Moscow is “putting together a sizable force, most likely maintaining contact with U.S. naval forces” in the Mediterranean.”