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Key topics: * The frontline was fluid over the last two weeks, with Russia making gains in Sumy and Kharkiv and encircling Dobropole, while Ukraine advanced near Lyman and south of Pokrovskoe. Russia ended with a net territorial gain of roughly 170 square kilometers amid reported manpower sho...

Essential CIS Politics: September 16 - October 1, 2026

CIS POLITICS · Report · 01 Oct 2026

Key topics: -Ukraine retakes Lyman after months of attacks and blunts the northern threat to Slavyansk, while Russia tightens the ring around Dobropole, nibbles at the Kharkov and Sumy pockets, encircles Terovatoe, and opens a winter campaign against power plants, heating systems and the lines...

Essential CIS Politics: September 2 - 15, 2026

CIS POLITICS · Report · 15 Sep 2026

Key topics: -Russia makes steady progress in Ukraine, although a Ukrainian counterattack retakes half of Lyman. -Russia prepares to return the nuclear-powered cruiser Admiral Nakhimov to service after repairs that began in the late 1990s. -US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent meets Russia...

Essential CIS Politics: August 19 - September 1, 2026

CIS POLITICS · Report · 01 Sep 2026

Key stories: * Russia advanced about 200 square kilometers overall, but a Ukrainian counterattack near Slavyansk rolled back the northern flank. * Ukraine steps up forced mobilization: the Army still needs at least 30,000 recruits a month. * Ukrainian drones set fire to Ozon warehous...

Essential CIS Politics: August 4 - 18, 2026

CIS POLITICS · Report · 18 Aug 2026

Major headlines: Ukraine war overview: Russian forces made limited advances amid intensified fighting near Mala Tokmachka, Orikhiv and the fortress-belt cities, while both sides conducted long-range strikes on rear and civilian targets. Peace negotiations overview: Ukraine submitted proposa...

Essential CIS Politics: July 17 - August 3, 2026

CIS POLITICS · Report · 03 Aug 2026

Key stories * Ukraine War overview: Russia advanced over 700 square kilometers in July, one of its most successful months since April 2022, getting close to the last of the cities of Ukraine’s fearsome Fortress Belt in Donetsk. Both sides intensified infrastructure strikes; Ukraine targeted R...

Essential CIS Politics: July 1-16, 2026

CIS POLITICS · Report · 16 Jul 2026

Key headlines: * Ukraine War update: Russian President Vladimir Putin declared full control of Luhansk Oblast and claimed major advances, although verified data showed Russia had gained about 2,000 square kilometers since January. Ukrainian drone strikes hit over 100 Russian vessels in the Se...

Essential CIS Politics: June 15-30, 2026

CIS POLITICS · Report · 01 Jul 2026

Major headlines: Ukraine war update: Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries caused fuel shortages, queues, and rationing across Russia. Putin acknowledged the issue on June 30 while officials negotiated imports; military diesel supplies are prioritized over civilian shortages. Front update: ...

The impact of the Iran and Ukraine Wars on the CIS - Slide presentation and webinar replay

CIS POLITICS · Presentation · 24 Jun 2026

How have countries in the CIS region reacted to the Iran War? Why has Russia's support for Iran been so limited? Will Kazakhstan adopt a more active role in the region as a middle power? Is Armenia's pivot towards the US accelerating due to the war in Iran? How is Azerbaijan managing the Iranian ...

Upcoming Webinar - The impact of the Iran and Ukraine Wars on the CIS

CIS POLITICS · Report · 22 Jun 2026

Date: 23 Jun 2026 | Time: 10:00 AM EDT How have countries in the CIS region reacted to the Iran War? Why has Russia's support for Iran been so limited? Will Kazakhstan adopt a more active role in the region as a middle power? Is Armenia's pivot towards the US accelerating due to the war in Ira...

Essential CIS Politics: June 1-15, 2026

CIS POLITICS · Report · 15 Jun 2026

Major headlines: - Armenia parliamentary elections (June 7, 2026): Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party won Armenia’s parliamentary elections with 49.8% of the vote, securing a working majority but missing a constitutional majority. The main opposition gained seats amid Weste...

Essential CIS Politics: May 16 - June 1, 2026

CIS POLITICS · Report · 01 Jun 2026

Major headlines: - The EU continues to inch closer to diplomatic engagement with Russia, publicly discussing appointing a special envoy to this end. - Formal peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine remain seemingly stalled, with no publicly announced negotiations held. Russi...

Essential CIS Politics: May 2-15, 2026

CIS POLITICS · Report · 15 May 2026

Main headlines: - There were no Russia-Ukraine talks, although Putin, Zelensky and Western countries have all made positive statements about peace. - Trump takes credit for a shaky Victory Day ceasefire; Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners, corpses and strikes. - Ukrainian ...

Essential CIS Politics: April 16 - May 1, 2026

CIS POLITICS · Report · 01 May 2026

- The 20th package of EU sanctions on Russia imposes secondary sanctions on Kyrgyzstan. - Russia pledges to continue support for Mali despite recent military setbacks. - Kazakhstan denies rumors it will quit OPEC+. - Ukraine plans mass migration program after the war to address labor short...

Bulgaria after the elections, Atlanticist but sovereign—the Western/Russian perspective

CIS POLITICS · Report · 23 Apr 2026

After the landslide victory of Hungary's opposition in a historic election earlier this month, the question many analysts were asking in Brussels was: Who will be Russia's next Orban in the EU?" Just one week later, on April 19, former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev (2017-26) led Progressive Bul...