Editorial paper at Robert Lansing Institute

Exhaustion Versus Innovation: Russia’s Economic Constraints and the Future of the War in Ukraine

Recent statements by U.S. representatives at the United Nations signal a notable shift in Washington's messaging toward Moscow. Rather than focusing exclusively on military developments, U.S. officials increasingly emphasize the…

June 23, 2026Russia, Ukraine

Governance ideology

Weakening the Patriarch: Health Rumors, Episcopal Reshuffles, and the Battle for the Russian Orthodox Church After Kirill

Patriarch Kirill (Vladimir Gundyayev), the 79-year-old head of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), remains one of the most influential pillars of the Russian political system. However, recent reports regarding possible cognitive decline,…

June 22, 2026

Energy Geoeconomics National Security

Russia’s Shadow Fleet: The Kremlin’s Maritime Lifeline and Europe’s Emerging Security Challenge

German and French lawmakers have drafted a joint resolution calling for more concrete measures against Russia's "shadow fleet." The document is expected to be adopted on June 22 during a…

June 22, 2026Russia, shadow fleet

Intelligence ops

From Cyber Espionage to Financial Destabilization: Russia’s Data Warfare Campaign Against Moldova

The Intelligence and Security Service (SIS) of the Republic of Moldova has officially accused Russian intelligence services of coordinating the large-scale collection of Moldovan citizens' personal data for use in…

June 19, 2026Cyberattacks, FSB, Moldova, Russia

Intelligence ops

The Smetanin Network: Russian and Belarusian Logistics Influence Inside the EU

Poland hosts a network of logistics companies that are effectively controlled by Russian and Belarusian owners who continue to circumvent European Union sanctions imposed on Russia. The central figure in…

June 18, 2026Belarus, Poland, Russia

Geopolitics Governance

Bardella’s Repositioning and the Erosion of Russia’s Influence in the European Far Right

The statements by Jordan Bardella, leader of France’s National Rally (Rassemblement National) and one of the leading contenders in the next presidential election, reflect a broader transformation underway within Europe’s…

June 17, 2026France, Russia

Geopolitics

The Murder of Semyon Skrepetsky in Poland: A Russian Signal to Lukashenko and an Attempt to Prevent Belarus’s Westward Maneuver

The murder of Russian opposition artist Semyon Skrepetsky in the Polish city of Biała Podlaska, near the Belarusian border, should be viewed not merely as a criminal act but also as…

June 16, 2026Belarus, Lukashenko, Russia

Terrorism War crimes

Russian strike on a UNESCO World Heritage Site

During the night of June 14–15, 2026, the Russian Armed Forces launched a massive combined strike against Ukraine using attack UAVs and air- and ground-launched missiles. The primary target of…

June 15, 2026Russia, Ukraine

Governance

“The Third-Term Question: Constitutional Reform, Political Stability, and Democratic Risks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is entering a potentially destabilizing political phase as debate intensifies over constitutional reform that could enable President Félix Tshisekedi to seek a third…

June 12, 2026DRC

Governance influence ops

From “Three Ukraines” to “Two Germanys”: Russian Influence Narratives and the Exploitation of Regional Identities in Europe

The statement by the leader of the Thuringia branch of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), Björn Höcke, claiming a supposed mental and cultural “difference” between East and West Germans has…

June 12, 2026AfD, Germany, Russia

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