Eastern Europe
Ukraine, Russia, NATO posture, deterrence, and the wider security architecture of Eastern Europe.
235 Dispatches
How Ukraine Lost and Retook Snake Island
The five-month battle for a 0.2 km² rock in the Black Sea cost Russia close to $1 billion, the cruiser Moskva, and control of the northwest Black Sea.
The Brusilov Offensive: Russia's Greatest Victory of the First World War
How General Aleksei Brusilov's 1916 assault shattered the eastern front stalemate, crippled Austria-Hungary, and helped set Russia on the road to revolution.
The Soviet-Ukrainian War: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom, 1917-1921
How a divided Ukraine declared independence amid the collapse of three empires, fought a tangle of overlapping wars, and lost the state but planted a future.
The 2008 Russo-Georgian War: Europe's First War of the 21st Century
How a five-day war over South Ossetia and Abkhazia killed hundreds, displaced nearly 200,000, and set the stage for Russia's later confrontation with Ukraine.
The Winter War: How Finland Held the Line Against Stalin's Red Army
How a vastly outnumbered Finland bled the Soviet invasion of 1939-40 white, the legend of sniper Simo Häyhä, and the war's brutal cost.
The Collapse of the Rules-Based Order: How 2025 Changed the World
An in-depth analysis of how the events of 2025 fractured the US-led unipolar system, ushering in a highly volatile era of multipolar geopolitics.
Ukraine's Corruption Crisis: Operation Midas and the Fight for Survival
Discover how Operation Midas uncovered a $100 million corruption scandal in Ukraine's energy sector and the existential threat it poses to the defensive
Could and Should Ukraine Join NATO?
An in-depth analysis of whether Ukraine can and should join NATO, examining the strategic benefits, escalation risks, and alternative security
The Battles Ahead: Anticipating the World at War in 2026
Explore the geopolitical flashpoints of 2026, from escalating wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East to rising violence in Latin America and Africa.
The Drone Blitz: How Unmanned Systems Are Reshaping the Future of Warfare
Discover how a revolutionary 'drone blitz' strategy, utilizing massive UAV swarms and specialized kill chains, is fundamentally transforming modern
Europe's 2025 Crisis: Geopolitical Humiliation and Continental Inaction
An analysis of Europe's geopolitical paralysis in 2025, exploring its failure to leverage economic power against US tariffs and Russian sabotage campaigns.
Are the Baltic Republics Ready for a Russian Invasion?
An in-depth geopolitical analysis of the Baltic republics' military readiness, strategic vulnerabilities, and total defense doctrines against Russian