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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

May 23, 2024

Pride of Ukraine: Oleksandr Usyk’s historic victory boosts wartime morale

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Joshua Stein</span>

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk's remarkable achievement in unifying the heavyweight division for the first time this century has provided war-torn Ukraine with a welcome morale boost, writes Joshua Stein.

Conflict Resilience & Society

UkraineAlert

May 23, 2024

Ukraine faces long-term mental health challenges among veteran community

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Claire Szewczyk</span>

Far away from the front lines of the country’s ongoing war with Russia, growing numbers of Ukrainian veterans are facing up to the psychological aftermath of their military service, writes Claire Szewczyk.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

May 23, 2024

President Zelenskyy’s term is over but he’s still a legitimate wartime leader

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Elena Davlikanova</span>

Kremlin attempts to question the legitimacy of Ukraine's President Zelenskyy due to the end of his official term in office ignore the obvious impossibility of holding elections amid Europe's biggest invasion since World War II, writes Elena Davlikanova.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

May 21, 2024

Ukraine’s Western allies should fear Russian victory not Russian defeat

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert">Peter Dickinson</span>

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says his country's allies fear the potential geopolitical consequences of Russian defeat, but Russian victory is a far more realistic and alarming prospect, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Industry

UkraineAlert

May 21, 2024

Ukraine’s soccer stars aim for Euro 2024 glory amid Russian invasion

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert">Mark Temnycky</span>

The Ukrainian national soccer team heads to Euro 2024 in Germany this summer hoping to provide their war-weary compatriots with a much-needed morale boost, writes Mark Temnycky.

Conflict Freedom and Prosperity

UkraineAlert

May 16, 2024

Anger and defiance in Kharkiv as advancing Russian troops draw closer

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Maria Avdeeva</span>

The mood in Kharkiv is a mix of anger, anxiety, and defiance as Ukraine's second city prepares to defend itself against a new Russian offensive, writes Maria Avdeeva.

Conflict Drones

UkraineAlert

May 15, 2024

Georgia’s government uses Kremlin playbook to consolidate grip on power

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Lucy Minicozzi-Wheeland</span>

The Georgian government's efforts to adopt a Kremlin-style law imposing restrictions on civil society has sparked huge protests and led to questions over the country's future geopolitical direction, writes Lucy Minicozzi-Wheeland.

Civil Society Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

May 14, 2024

Russia’s growing kamikaze drone fleet tests Ukraine’s limited air defenses

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Marcel Plichta</span>

Russia's expanding fleet of kamikaze drones poses an evolving security threat to Ukraine that tests the country's limited air defense capabilities, writes Marcel Plichta.

Conflict Defense Industry

UkraineAlert

May 14, 2024

Putin appoints economist as defense minister as Russia plans for long war

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert">Mercedes Sapuppo</span>

The appointment of a technocrat economist as Russia's new Defense Minister is a clear sign that Putin preparing the country for a long war with Ukraine and the West, writes Mercedes Sapuppo.

Conflict Defense Industry

UkraineAlert

May 14, 2024

Putin expands invasion as outgunned Ukraine waits for Western weapons

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Mykola Bielieskov</span>

Russia has opened a new front in the invasion of Ukraine with a cross-border offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region as Putin seeks to capitalize on a window of opportunity before fresh Western aid reaches Ukrainian front line troops, writes Mykola Bielieskov.

Conflict Drones

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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.

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Content

UkraineAlert

Jul 22, 2020

How to win Ukraine’s long fight for good governance

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Anders Åslund</span>

Ever since 1991, Ukraine has been described as a land of huge potential, but it remains among Europe's poorest nations. Can President Zelenskyy provide the good governance Ukraine requires to succeed?

Corruption Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Jul 21, 2020

Ukraine’s healthcare system is in critical condition again

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Judy Twigg</span>

After a few years in remission, Ukraine’s health sector is in critical condition once again, with efforts underway to reverse the reform progress achieved in the sector since the 2014 Revolution of Dignity.

Democratic Transitions Political Reform

BelarusAlert

Jul 20, 2020

Belarus presidential vote: Ukrainian MPs join calls for democratic breakthrough

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Oleksiy Goncharenko</span>

The August 9 presidential election in Belarus promises to have major geopolitical ramifications for the entire region. A cross-party group of Ukrainian MPs has formed an association to support democracy in Belarus ahead of the vote.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Jul 20, 2020

Statelessness in Ukraine: New law offers fresh hope

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Eric Fritz and Kseniia Karahiaur </span>

Almost thirty years since the collapse of the USSR, statelessness remains a significant issue in independent Ukraine, but new legislation aims to make it easier for residents to gain legal status.

Human Rights International Norms

UkraineAlert

Jul 17, 2020

Israeli-Ukrainian artist offers window on late Soviet realities

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Jacob Heilbrunn</span>

Artist Zoya Cherkassky stands for something permanent and enduring, drawing on the deep traditions that she encountered both in Ukraine and in Judaism.

Civil Society Israel

UkraineAlert

Jul 16, 2020

Will Ukraine’s new central bank chief be independent?

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >David Clark</span>

President Zelenskyy has appointed Kyrylo Shevchenko as Governor of Ukraine's National Bank but questions remain over whether the new NBU chief will be able to remain truly independent.

Democratic Transitions Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Jul 15, 2020

New US sanctions block Putin’s pipeline despite Danish breakthrough

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Diane Francis</span>

Russia has recently secured approval from Denmark to complete the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, but new US sanctions reflect America's resolve to make sure the strategically important project remains unfinished.

European Union Geopolitics & Energy Security

UkraineAlert

Jul 15, 2020

Toppling Lenin: The lessons of Ukraine’s memory wars

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Peter Dickinson</span>

The Black Lives Matter movement has sparked a flurry of monument removals across the US and elsewhere. Independent Ukraine's long history of memory wars offers a timely case study in the politics of the past.

Democratic Transitions Nationalism

UkraineAlert

Jul 14, 2020

Russo-Ukrainian War: Kremlin denials prevent progress towards peace

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Oleksandr Merezhko</span>

Almost six years have passed since the Minsk Agreements were first signed. However, there is still fundamental disagreement over the parties to these agreements and the obligations they are under.

Conflict Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

UkraineAlert

Jul 13, 2020

East Ukraine’s European roots and the myths of Putin’s Russian World

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Alvydas Medalinskas </span>

Moscow has sought to justify the war in eastern Ukraine by claiming it historically belongs within the "Russian World", but this ignores the region's deep Ukrainian roots and cosmopolitan heritage.

Conflict Disinformation