War

In the weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, the head of St. Petersburg’s prisons delivered a direct message to an elite unit of guards tasked with overseeing the influx of prisoners from the war: “Be cruel, don’t pity them.” Maj. Gen. Igor Potapenko had gathered his service’s special forces at the regional headquarters to tell them

Just over a year ago, I made a statement regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine . . . that taking a public position on that attack and the resulting war was a “no-win scenario” for a political or policy analyst. Putting my opinions out there would only ignite passionate flamewars by those who are equally

That is a difficult question to answer. It would probably be simpler if Putin himself was not so personally difficult to read. He has a history of blustery rhetoric. But he simultaneously has been really difficult to read in his post-KGB career as Russian president. Many have watched closely his reactions to what certainly must

A number of pincers are poised to envelop increasingly damaged Ukrainian cities. The initial euphoria that Vladimir Putin’s surprise shock-and-awe assault failed may be waning, even as Ukraine inflicts historic damage on the Russian army. Even after three weeks, Russia has failed to grab key infrastructure and decapitate the Ukrainian leadership, as it did in