The Ukraine Diaries: Ukraine Embodies the Values We Were Raised to Believe In
The Ukraine Diaries is a series of personal writings by national security experts who joined The Cipher Brief’s recent visit to Kyiv as part of […] More
Posts Tagged ‘Putin’
Diogenes the Cynic’s Job in Russia just got harder
OPINION — No one should lament the passing of Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin. According to Russian officials, Prigozhin was a passenger on an Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft […] More
Could Prigozhin’s Death be a Step Toward Sudden and Catastrophic Collapse for Putin?
OPINION — Who can be surprised that Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin met his timely end? Many have cited variations of the quote attributed to Ralph Waldo […] More
With Prigozhin Presumed Dead, What Happens to the Wagner Group Now?
CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING — The news was perhaps as unsurprising as it was shocking: Russian officials say that a plane that crashed northwest of Moscow […] More
Putin’s Godfather Role of a Lifetime
In light of the reported death of Wagner Group Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, The Cipher Brief tapped a number of experts for their thoughts on what […] More
Exclusive Interview: A Sobering Battlefield Assessment in Ukraine
ZAPORIZHZHIA, UKRAINE – AUGUST 11: A hole left by missile near a hotel. (Photo by Elena Tita/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) SUBSCRIBER+EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW – […] More
Prigozhin’s Uncertain Fate
EXPERT PERPECTIVE — In the wake of Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin’s 36-hour mutiny and the scant and the confusing smoke signals emanating from the Kremlin […] More
Ukraine is Putin’s Calculated War
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — Russian President Vladimir Putin told a group of reporters recently that while Russia “is ready for any scenario”, the country does not […] More
How We Should be Preparing now for a Russian Collapse in Ukraine
OPINION — The consensus among geopolitical pundits seems to be that the Ukrainian counteroffensive has turned into a slog and that US and NATO policy […] More
What Impact has Prigozhin’s Mutiny really had on Putin?
CIPHER BRIEF EXPERT VIEW — Much debate is now underway about whether Russian president Vladimir Putin will sustain lasting political damage from the June 24 […] More
If The Wagner Group is a Terrorist Organization, Shouldn’t We Say So?
OPINION — The recent bizarre events in Russia have brought increased attention to Yevgeny Prigozhin and his brutal mercenary group, Wagner. While Prigozhin’s future is […] More
Indications and Warnings of Regime Instability in Russia
A Few Things to Look Out For OPINION — The Wagner mutiny in Russia was short-lived, but it was nevertheless a watershed event in post-Soviet […] More
Putin Faces His Most Serious Threat to Power, Even as Wagner Chief Halts March on Moscow
CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING — In a brief address to the nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed not to “allow a civil war,” evoking the Russian […] More
Putin and the Million Dollar Questions for Intelligence Analysts
CIPHER BRIEF EXPERT ANALYSIS – With Ukraine now solidly into its long-awaited counteroffensive, western leaders are looking for signs of what impact the new actions […] More
What We Know About Putin in his Own Words
OPINION — “Generally speaking, nothing can replace the school of war. People return entirely different, and they are ready to lay down their lives for the Fatherland, wherever they may be […] More
The Concerning Link Between Russian Military Collapse and Nuclear War
Former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has suggested that a Russian defeat in Ukraine could lead to nuclear war. Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has […] More
What Churchill and Selassie taught us about Aggression and Ukraine
EXPERT PERPECTIVE/OPINION — On June 30th, 1936, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia addressed the League of Nations in Geneva. His speech was an appeal […] More
The Danger of Losing Focus on Ukraine
During 2023, the West will be confronted by sudden new challenges over Ukraine. Any loss of policy attention, in spite of pressing domestic priorities, could […] More
Defending Ukraine: The World’s Frontline of Freedom
OPINION — Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a video meeting with the Russia Presidential Council for Human Rights and Civil Society, a […] More
What Does the Beginning of the End Look Like in Ukraine?
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — The disastrous Russian invasion of Ukraine is now edging into its tenth month. Is there an endgame in sight? Most of the […] More
Time to Get Tough on Putin’s Dirty Bomb Threat
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — Russia is intent on inflicting massive destruction to break Ukrainian morale, to improve its bargaining position at a future negotiation, and to […] More
Putin May be the Victim of his own Reaping Whirlwind
OPINION — “He who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind, as the saying goes,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin during his multi-hour lecture and press conference on world […] More
How Dirty and Dangerous Will Putin Get in Ukraine?
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE – Russian officials are warning of a nuclear ‘dirty bomb’ threat as Moscow continues attacking energy and civilian targets in Ukraine. It’s the […] More
Putin’s Next Strike may not be Nuclear
OPINION — In a performance worthy of Joseph Goebbels, Vladimir Putin’s announcement of the formal annexation of occupied portions of eastern Ukraine – along with […] More