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As the world watches the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfold, UkraineAlert delivers the best Atlantic Council expert insight and analysis on Ukraine twice a week directly to your inbox.

editor’s picks

Latest analysis

UkraineAlert

Oct 10, 2021

Europe’s energy crisis highlights dangers of reliance on Russia

By Aura Sabadus

Russia stands accused of exploiting the current gas crisis in Europe as part of Kremlin efforts to strengthen Moscow’s position in EU energy markets and push through certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

European Union
Geopolitics & Energy Security

UkraineAlert

Oct 7, 2021

Southern Ukraine’s Bessarabia is poised for a regional revival

By Andrew D’Anieri

Rural Bessarabia in southwestern Ukraine is physically isolated from the rest of the country and has often been overlooked in national politics but is now undergoing an exciting regional revival.

Economy & Business
Infrastructure Protection

UkraineAlert

Oct 7, 2021

Ukraine seeks peace with the past

By Olesya Khromeychuk

Since becoming independent in 1991, Ukraine had been locked in relentless memory wars. Three decades on, the country may now be moving towards a new era marked by more meaningful commemoration of the troubled past.

Disinformation
Resilience & Society

UkraineAlert

Oct 7, 2021

The EU must stop serving as a playground for corrupt Ukrainian oligarchs and officials

By Daria Kaleniuk

If the EU is serious about helping Ukraine achieve a decisive break with the institutional corruption of the post-Soviet era, it must also stop serving as a playground for corrupt Ukrainian oligarchs and officials.

Corruption
Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Oct 5, 2021

Saakashvili arrest overshadows Georgian ruling party’s election win

By Peter Dickinson

Georgia’s ruling party Georgian Dream secured victory in October 2 local elections but the imprisonment of returning ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili leaves little realistic chance of an end to political tensions.

Elections
The Caucasus

UkraineAlert

Oct 4, 2021

Time to rethink Ukraine’s fight against corruption

By Bohdan Vitvitsky

The ongoing struggle against corruption in Ukraine would benefit from greater coordination among the country’s international partners and a longer term strategy, argues Bohdan Vitvitsky.

Corruption
Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Oct 1, 2021

Europe is under attack from Putin’s energy weapon

By Sergiy Makogon

Moscow’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline has yet to enter service but Russian President Vladimir Putin is already being accused of weaponizing energy supplies and attempting to blackmail Europe with high gas prices.

European Union
Geopolitics & Energy Security

UkraineAlert

Sep 30, 2021

Europe’s new Russia policy must focus on human rights

By Dave Elseroad, Nora Wehofsits

As the European Union looks to review and update its Russia policy, it is vital EU leaders focus on the growing human rights crisis that is threatening to spill over from Russia itself and undo the EU’s own post-1991 progress.

Civil Society
European Union

UkraineAlert

Sep 29, 2021

How Ukraine can become a global IT powerhouse

By Yegor Chernev

Ukraine already boasts one of the region’s most dynamic IT industries but further work is required to improve the business climate in order to make the most of the country’s considerable tech sector potential.

Digital Currencies
Digital Policy

BelarusAlert

Sep 29, 2021

Lukashenka vs. Ukraine

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has accused NATO of establishing military bases in Ukraine and has vowed to respond together with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Belarus
Conflict

spotlight

The views expressed in UkraineAlert are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Atlantic Council, its staff, or its supporters.

The Eurasia Center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values, and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia, and Central Asia in the East.

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Content

UkraineAlert

Jun 22, 2020

What could the prosecution of Petro Poroshenko mean for Ukrainian democracy?

By Peter Dickinson

Escalating efforts to prosecute former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko are sparking concerns over the country's continued commitment to democracy under new president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Corruption
Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Jun 20, 2020

Ukraine’s coronavirus cases are surging – can the media tackle public complacency?

By Nataliya Gumenyuk

Ukraine has relaxed coronavirus lockdown restrictions but the country is now reporting record infection rates. Can the media learn the lessons of the past three months and help prevent public complacency?

Coronavirus
Media

UkraineAlert

Jun 18, 2020

Ukrainian educators find multimedia solution to coronavirus school closures

By Veronika Selega

The Ukrainian Online School initiative was Ukraine's response to the closure of schools due to the coronavirus pandemic. It featured both online lessons and TV broadcasts to make sure no child was left out.

Coronavirus
Education

UkraineAlert

Jun 17, 2020

One million passports: Putin has weaponized citizenship in occupied eastern Ukraine

By Peter Dickinson

Moscow plans to issue one million Russian passports to residents of Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine by the end of 2020 in a bid to prolong the six-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine indefinitely.

Conflict
National Security

UkraineAlert

Jun 16, 2020

NATO upgrades Ukraine

By Peter Dickinson

NATO recognized Ukraine as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner on June 12 in a status upgrade that reflected deepening cooperation and boosted Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration ambitions.

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

UkraineAlert

Jun 15, 2020

Zelenskyy keeps Ukraine on Euro-Atlantic course set by predecessor Poroshenko

By Oleksiy Goncharenko

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has been highly critical of his predecessor Petro Poroshenko, but the ongoing war with Russia mean Zelenskyy has little option but to maintain Poroshenko's policies of Euro-Atlantic integration.

Conflict
Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Jun 12, 2020

Mission accomplished? Vakarchuk quits but his political party lives on

By Melinda Haring

Ukrainian rock legend Slava Vakarchuk has resigned as an MP less than one year after leading his reformist party into parliament for the first time. He claims it is "mission accomplished" - but will his party survive?

Democratic Transitions
Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jun 10, 2020

Ukraine’s $7 billion Russian gas transit deal at risk amid claims of political pressure

By Aura Sabadus

Alleged political pressure targeting Ukraine's recently unbundled gas transmission system operator GTSO is threatening to undo Ukraine's energy sector reforms and derail a multi-billion dollar transit contract with Russia's Gazprom.

Corruption
Energy Markets & Governance

UkraineAlert

Jun 10, 2020

Ukraine’s worst move yet

By Alan Riley

The Ministry of Finance “dismissed” Walter Boltz, the chair of the Ukrainian gas transmission system operator MGU. If that independence is undermined, Gazprom may pull the transit contract and with it the guaranteed fees that Ukraine needs.

Economy & Business
Geopolitics & Energy Security

UkraineAlert

Jun 10, 2020

IMF finally confirms new $5 billion program for Ukraine

By Anders Åslund

Ukraine's new $5 billion IMF program unleashes at least $2 billion of additional financing. This means Ukraine can feel quite safe regarding its external financial needs for 2020.

Coronavirus
Crisis Management