War

Is There Life in the Desert? Russian Civil Society After the Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine

By the end of 2021, all leading independent NGOs and individual human rights activists had been completely suppressed, and all issues deemed inconvenient for the Kremlin had been removed from the agenda of those still operating. This report focuses on the state of Russian civil society at the outset of Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, as well as on how it was affected by the war and what are the prospects for its development in the future.

Read more
Image for Is There Life in the Desert? Russian Civil Society After the Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine Image for Is There Life in the Desert? Russian Civil Society After the Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine

Children of War: The Ukrainian Case

The war in Ukraine has imposed considerable physical, mental, and emotional damage on children. It is critical to provide mental health and psychosocial support (MPHSS), as well as to reinforce psychological and social infrastructure—in Ukraine and countries hosting refugees—to help them cope with the immediate trauma of war and promote resilience for future reconstruction efforts.

Read more
Image for Children of War: The Ukrainian Case Image for Children of War: The Ukrainian Case

Building European Security Against Russia – A View From Estonia

With Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, major conventional war returned to Europe in a manner unseen since the two world wars and the end of the Cold War—three occasions during the 20th century when the borders, norms, institutions, and balance of power ordering interstate relations on the continent and beyond experienced an unparalleled upheaval.

Read more
Image for Building European Security Against Russia – A View From Estonia Image for Building European Security Against Russia – A View From Estonia

Civil Defence in Ukraine: Preliminary Lessons From the First Months of War

With the Ukrainian Armed Forces reporting the good news almost daily, and the frontline constantly moving in Ukraine’s favour, many experts are now wondering when and speculating about how the war will end. However, as the war continues and Russia targets civilian infrastructure across Ukraine, civil defence remains of outmost importance. Ukraine’s experience from the first months of this war offers some important lessons that must be considered by civil defence planners everywhere, but especially in the countries exposed to the threat of Russia’ military aggression.

Read more
Image for Civil Defence in Ukraine: Preliminary Lessons From the First Months of War Image for Civil Defence in Ukraine: Preliminary Lessons From the First Months of War

Russia’s Legal Arguments to Justify Its Aggression and Conduct in Ukraine

Russia’s wannabe triumphant ‘special military operation’ that aspired to take Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv in three days will soon mark its nine-months anniversary. While the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to fight the enemy on the battlefield, judicial warriors must help Ukraine hold the legal defence against Russia’s illegal assault and bring its perpetrators to account.

Read more
Image for Russia’s Legal Arguments to Justify Its Aggression and Conduct in Ukraine Image for Russia’s Legal Arguments to Justify Its Aggression and Conduct in Ukraine

Putin and Assad, Partners in Crime: Why Russian Forces Steal Wheat From Ukraine

On 29 October, Russia withdrew from Black Sea Grain Initiative, only to announce it was re-joining the deal to ship the much-needed agricultural produce from war-stricken Ukraine to the Global South on the verge of starvation a few days later. Are these machinations, coupled with the systematic theft of wheat and its subsequent delivery to the Assad regime, parts of the same Russian puzzle and the same struggle for the multipolar world order? This paper explains the intricacies and significance of bread in the Syrian Civil War, as well as connects them to the Russian geopolitical strategy, goals, and state doctrines.

Read more
Image for Putin and Assad, Partners in Crime: Why Russian Forces Steal Wheat From Ukraine Image for Putin and Assad, Partners in Crime: Why Russian Forces Steal Wheat From Ukraine

Russia’s Federal Subjects at War: Background and Implications

Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine is a collective enterprise involving all levels of power in Putin’s regime. From high-level officials planning at the top, to bureaucrats implementing policies at the bottom, collaboration along the hierarchy has enabled this disastrous war. One essential link in this chain are Russia’s governors. Russia’s eighty-three federal states are diverse in their administrative status, and in their cultural and economic profile, but their leaders are all part of a system that is meant to facilitate the federalisation of the Kremlin’s policies. The war is no different. What has been their role in the war? How have they facilitated Russia’s Ukraine invasion? This report describes and analyses the ways Russian governors have contributed to the war, drawing implications for policymakers.

Read more
Image for Russia’s Federal Subjects at War: Background and Implications Image for Russia’s Federal Subjects at War: Background and Implications

A War of the Final Soviet Generation: Russia’s Demography, Society, and Aggression Against Ukraine

What is the attitude of Russian society towards the war? If it supports the war, why? These questions started swirling immediately after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Since then, at least several major opinion polls have been conducted to find answers. However, many experts doubt the validity of those surveys, since the atmosphere of total censorship, repression, and fear strongly affects the sincerity of respondents.

Read more
Image for A War of the Final Soviet Generation: Russia’s Demography, Society, and Aggression Against Ukraine Image for A War of the Final Soviet Generation: Russia’s Demography, Society, and Aggression Against Ukraine