Ukraine

Russia

Military & Security

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Russian troops attacked two locations in Ukraine's Kharkiv region and gained a foothold in a number of Ukrainian settlements along the Russia-Ukraine border, Reuters reported on May 10.

Ukraine, Russia: Russia Opens New Front With Attacks in Kharkiv Region

Energy

A Ukrainian drone attacked an oil refinery in Russia's republic of Bashkortostan, which is located around 1,500 kilometers (about 932 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border, The Moscow Times reported on May 9. 

Ukraine, Russia: Ukraine Attacks Russian Refinery in Bashkortostan in Farthest Strike Yet

Belgium

Economics

The European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union's lending arm, announced changes to its lending criteria to allow for more direct investment into the defense sector, Euractiv reported May 9.

EU, Ukraine: EIB to Expand Financing on Defense, EU to Use Profits From Russian Funds for Ukraine

Russia's Defense Ministry announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had authorized exercises in order to increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to carry out combat missions, AP reported May 6.

Russia, Ukraine: Russia To Conduct Non-Strategic Nuclear Exercises in Response to Western Statements

United States

Iran

Israel

China

Taiwan

Politics

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

U.S. President Joe Biden signed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine and Israel that passed through the Senate in a 79-18 vote with allocations to replenish Israel's missile defense systems and augment humanitarian support to Gaza, The New York Times reported on April 24.

U.S.: Washington Approves Aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and Expands Sanctions on Iran

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill including approximately $60 billion in support for Ukraine by a vote of 311-112, Reuters reported on April 20.

Ukraine, U.S.: House Passes $60B Ukraine Support Package

Ukraine's top commander Oleksandr Syrsky said that the situation in the East had worsened in recent days as Russia had stepped up efforts to gain ground to the west of occupied Bakhmut in an attempt to capture Chasiv Yar, Reuters reported April 15. 

Ukraine, Russia: Russian Forces Step Up Attacks Around Chasiv Yar 

In a mass airstrike, Russia destroyed the largest power-generating plant in Ukraine’s Kyiv region, energy generation and distribution infrastructure in multiple regions across Ukraine, and two of Ukraine's underground gas storage facilities, The Kyiv Independent reported on April 11. 

Ukraine, Russia: Russia Hits Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure in Mass Airstrike

Assessments

Europe

First-year cadets of the Military Institute of the Taras Shevchenko National University take their oaths on Sept. 8, 2023, in Kyiv, Ukraine.

While the law will bolster Kyiv's ability to continue resisting Russia's invasion, it carries political risks and will not let Ukraine deal a decisive blow against Russia.

What Ukraine's Mobilization Law Will Mean for the War With Russia

Snapshots

Afghanistan

Emergency services vehicles are seen outside the burning Crocus City Hall concert hall following a shooting incident in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow, Russia, on March 22, 2024. 

While the attack was likely conducted by Islamist extremists or North Caucasian groups, the Kremlin will nonetheless use the mass casualty incident to further villainize Ukraine and the West, and expand its war efforts against Kyiv.

What To Make of the Deadly Terrorist Attack in Moscow

Media

Podcasts

How does Ukraine's approach to mobilization affect its outlook against Russia?

Essential Geopolitics: Ukraine's Mobilization Dilemma

The Vizgard FortifAI software-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) engine for surveillance monitoring is displayed during the DroneX expo in London, the United Kingdom, on Sept. 26, 2023.

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

The development of autonomous military AI systems will primarily be driven by global powers testing such systems in warzones around the world, which will initially reduce the technology's application for smaller, less-resourced countries.

The Drivers and Constraints to the Proliferation of Autonomous Military AI Systems

Columns

On Geopolitics

Ukrainian anti-aircraft gunners fire in the direction of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region on Feb. 20, 2024. 

Social Issues

The second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Putin's upcoming address to the nation offer an ideal occasion to again consider how Russia has and will continue to change as a result of the war.

The Ukraine War's Impact on Russia, Two Years On

Ukrainian servicemen fire with a 105mm howitzer toward Russian positions near the city of Bakhmut on March 8, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine faces immense challenges in 2024 and 2025 that only increased Western support and a new strategy that brings the war inside Russia would be capable of overcoming. 

Bracing for a Protracted War in Ukraine: Ukraine's Challenge in 2024 and Beyond

Ukraine's military chief Valery Zaluzhny is seen on Aug. 24, 2023, in Kyiv, Ukraine. 

The commander-in-chief's dismissal would risk undermining national unity while doing little to aid Kyiv's war effort, and appears largely driven by difficult questions over further mobilization measures.

What To Make of Zelensky's Alleged Plan To Remove Ukraine's Top General

Egypt

Palestinian Territories

Qatar

Hungary

An Air China aircraft takes off at Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport in Sydney, Australia.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: China Braces for Lunar New Year Travel, EU Discusses Funding for Ukraine

How will the U.S. presidential election affect the trajectory of the conflict?

Essential Geopolitics: The Russia-Ukraine War in 2024

A Ukrainian flag flies near the Great Lavra Bell Tower of the Motherland Monument in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Nov. 22, 2023.

Even if Kyiv makes significant progress on the U.S. and Europe's requested structural reforms, those opposed to supporting Ukraine in the West are unlikely to change their positions.

The Risks and Opportunities of Ukraine's Anti-Corruption and Reform Agenda

Guatemala

Yemen

United Kingdom

Houthis during the capture of an Israel-linked cargo vessel in November 2023 at an unnamed location in the Red Sea.

The Weekly Rundown: The Possible Houthi Reply to U.S.-U.K. Strikes, Taiwan's General Elections

Germany

France

Italy

A view of the Russian Central Bank headquarters is seen in downtown Moscow on May 26, 2022.

To unlock more money for Kyiv, the U.S. and Europe may confiscate Russian government assets stashed in Western nations, which would escalate the greater economic tit-for-tat between Moscow and the West.

Ukraine's Western Allies Mull Seizing Frozen Russian Assets

<p>Ukraine is the quintessential borderland state. The country borders three former Soviet states (Russia, Belarus and Moldova) and four countries in the European Union (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania). Ukraine also has a coastline along the Black Sea to the south. Ukraine sits on the Northern European Plain, the area that has historically served as an invasion superhighway going east and west. Beyond its strategic location, Ukraine&#39;s geography has only facilitated such invasions. The country consists of flat and fertile plains, with the exception of the Carpathian Mountain range that arches into the far west of the country. But even these mountains can be penetrated and have not posed a significant barrier to invasion. Given such lack of barriers, Ukraine&#39;s wide-open geography is inextricably linked to that of Russia. Ukraine&#39;s agricultural and industrial belts have traditionally been integrated with Russia&#39;s, and Ukraine serves as the primary transit state for Russian energy exports to Europe. Due to its location and abundance of agricultural and mineral resources, Ukraine has been contested between regional powers for centuries. This competition is currently playing out in an extreme form today, with a Western-backed government confronting a Russian-backed uprising in eastern Ukraine. Further complicating the situation is the fact that Ukraine has several population and political cores, including Lviv in the west, Kiev in the center and the eastern cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. These different cores make administering Ukraine difficult. The current crisis in Ukraine is therefore merely the latest iteration of the country&#39;s internal divisions and the long-standing East-West conflict over the country. Maintaining sovereignty and unity in the face of this competition is Ukraine&#39;s primary geographic challenge.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

Ukraine, Russia: Russia Opens New Front With Attacks in Kharkiv Region

Ukraine, Russia: Ukraine Attacks Russian Refinery in Bashkortostan in Farthest Strike Yet

EU, Ukraine: EIB to Expand Financing on Defense, EU to Use Profits From Russian Funds for Ukraine

Russia, Ukraine: Russia To Conduct Non-Strategic Nuclear Exercises in Response to Western Statements

U.S.: Washington Approves Aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and Expands Sanctions on Iran

Ukraine, U.S.: House Passes $60B Ukraine Support Package

Ukraine, Russia: Russian Forces Step Up Attacks Around Chasiv Yar

Ukraine, Russia: Russia Hits Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure in Mass Airstrike

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