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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

A Conflict Erupts Online Between Ukrainians and Russians

UkraineAlert
Jan 20, 2026

Ukraine’s best security guarantee is the ability to strike back inside Russia

By
Serhii Kuzan

With Kyiv’s Western allies unlikely to risk war with Russia, Ukraine’s most realistic security guarantee remains a strong military coupled with the ability to strike targets deep inside Russia, writes Serhii Kuzan.

Conflict
Defense Policy

A Conflict Erupts Online Between Ukrainians and Russians

UkraineAlert
Jan 15, 2026

Veterans can shape the future of Ukrainian democracy

By
Vasyl Sehin

The participation of military veterans in Ukraine’s political life has the potential to dramatically strengthen Ukrainian democracy and safeguard the country’s historic transition from centuries of Russian autocracy, writes Vasyl Sehin.

Conflict
Democratic Transitions

A Conflict Erupts Online Between Ukrainians and Russians

UkraineAlert
Jan 8, 2026

Ukraine’s robot army will be crucial in 2026 but drones can’t replace infantry

By
David Kirichenko

Ukraine’s growing robot army of land drones will play a vital role in the country’s defense during 2026, but they are not wonder weapons and cannot serve as a miracle cure for Kyiv’s manpower shortages, writes David Kirichenko.

Artificial Intelligence
Conflict

Latest analysis

UkraineAlert

Apr 24, 2024

A decentralized power grid can help Ukraine survive Russian bombardment

By
<span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Yuri Kubrushko</span>

Russia is attempting to depopulate large parts of Ukraine by bombing the country's power grid. Ukraine's best chance of survival may lie in a more decentralized energy sector, writes Yuri Kubrushko.


Conflict

Geopolitics & Energy Security


UkraineAlert

Apr 23, 2024

Russian bombardment of Ukraine’s power grid may force millions to flee

By
<span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Olga Aivazovska, Andriy Savchuk </span>

Russia's new bombing campaign aims to destroy Ukraine's civilian infrastructure and depopulate the country by rendering entire regions uninhabitable, write Olga Aivazovska and Andriy Savchuk.


Conflict

Geopolitics & Energy Security


UkraineAlert

Apr 21, 2024

‘A bad day for Putin’: US aid vote gives Ukrainians renewed hope

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

Ukrainians let out a collective sigh of relief on Saturday as the US House of Representatives passed a long-delayed $61 billion aid bill that will provide Ukraine with a crucial lifeline in the struggle against Russian aggression, writes Peter Dickinson.


Conflict

Defense Industry


UkraineAlert

Apr 19, 2024

Experts on the REPO Act: A good deal for the United States and for Ukraine

By
<span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert">John E. Herbst</span>

Experts evaluate what the provisions of the REPO Act would mean for Ukraine, the United States, and the rest of the world.


Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

International Financial Institutions


UkraineAlert

Apr 18, 2024

Putin’s plan to depopulate Ukraine

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

Vladimir Putin's new plan for victory in Ukraine appears to rely on a strategic bombing campaign to render entire regions of the country uninhabitable, writes Peter Dickinson.


Conflict

Geopolitics & Energy Security


UkraineAlert

Apr 18, 2024

Grassroots diplomacy can help unlock international support for Ukraine

By
<span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert">Benton Coblentz</span>

Washington State’s ambitious new Sister State Agreement with Kyiv Oblast offers an attractive model that others can follow, both in the US and beyond, writes Benton Coblentz.


Civil Society

Conflict


UkraineAlert

Apr 17, 2024

US House resolution: Russian abduction of Ukrainian children is genocide

By
<span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Kristina Hook, Christopher Atwood </span>

A recent US House resolution clearly articulates Russia’s genocidal crimes in Ukraine. Western leaders must now follow such statements with the necessary actions, write Kristina Hook and Christopher Atwood.


Conflict

Freedom and Prosperity


UkraineAlert

Apr 16, 2024

Western fear of escalation will hand Putin an historic victory in Ukraine

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

The West's self-defeating fear of escalation has allowed Russia to regain the initiative in Ukraine and is now threatening to hand Putin an historic victory, writes Mykola Bielieskov.


Conflict

Disinformation


UkraineAlert

Apr 16, 2024

Ukrainian nuclear energy can fuel country’s recovery and power Europe

By
<span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert">Suriya Evans-Pritchard Jayanti</span>

Ukraine's nuclear energy industry could help fuel the country’s reconstruction and power Europe’s energy transition, writes Suriya Evans-Pritchard Jayanti.


Conflict

Economy & Business


UkraineAlert

Apr 15, 2024

Organizing for victory

By
<span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Ben Hodges</span>

In the escalating struggle against Putin's Russia, Iran, and China, The West needs a return to the clarity of Churchill and Roosevelt, who communicated clear strategic priorities to the public, industry, and the military, writes Ben Hodges.


Conflict

Defense Industry

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spotlight

Resilience in the face of adversity

Ukraine’s transformation

Ukraine has moved tentatively toward an open society and market economy since independence. The country has held several democratic elections and made halting progress in addressing corruption and state control in its economy. Since the 2014 Maidan Revolution, Ukraine has undertaken significant governance and economic reform and moved decisively toward a Europe-Atlantic foreign policy. Since 2022, Ukraine has resiliently continued to advance some reforms despite fighting for its very existence against the full-scale Russian invasion.

Learn more about Ukraine

A Conflict Erupts Online Between Ukrainians and Russians

UkraineAlert
Dec 5, 2024

Ukraine’s entrepreneurial class can drive the country’s economic recovery

The Ukrainian SME sector has demonstrated remarkable wartime resilience and is poised to be at the forefront of efforts to create a modern, innovative, postwar economy, writes Anton Waschuk.

Read More

A Conflict Erupts Online Between Ukrainians and Russians

UkraineAlert
Oct 1, 2024

Ukraine needs international investors to maintain defense tech momentum

By
Mykhailo Fedorov

Ukraine’s rapidly expanding defense tech sector can play a game-changing role in the war against Russia but Ukrainian companies need international investment, writes Ukraine’s Minister for Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov.

Artificial Intelligence
Conflict

A Conflict Erupts Online Between Ukrainians and Russians

UkraineAlert
Jun 13, 2024

Ukraine officially embraces English as historic westward pivot continues

By
Oleksiy Goncharenko

By officially embracing English, Ukrainians aim to support their country’s historic pivot away from Moscow and return to the European community of nations, writes Oleksiy Goncharenko.

Civil Society
Conflict

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

Jan 20, 2016

A Conflict Erupts Online Between Ukrainians and Russians

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Alexei Sobchenko</span>

A vicious diatribe recently exploded on the Russian Internet between several Ukrainian journalists and bloggers on one side, and prominent Russian opposition bloggers and activists on the other. The discourse reflects the deep divide between the two nations, which has continued to deteriorate since the events of 2014. The debate has been brewing for a […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jan 19, 2016

What Minsk Accord? Kremlin-Backed Militants Hold Luhansk Journalist Hostage for Year

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Halya Coynash</span>

Eleven months after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s agreement in Minsk that all prisoners must be released, Kremlin-backed militants are continuing to hold a number of prisoners, including many civilians, like 31-year-old Luhansk journalist Maria Varfolomeyeva. Varfolomeyeva worked for the local news website Svobodny Reporter and has worked as a fixer for various national media, including […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jan 19, 2016

How to Help Ukraine: An Alternative Vision

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Vladislav Inozemtsev</span>

Three former US Ambassadors to Ukraine recently wrote an op-ed article in the New York Times (“Investing in Ukraine’s Future,” December 30, 2015) that called for an increase in Western financial assistance to Ukraine and argued that the country is now “teetering on the brink.” I strongly support their willingness to stay firm against a […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jan 19, 2016

How Ukraine’s Reformers Beat the Pharma Mafia

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Josh Cohen</span>

A little over a month after US Vice President Joe Biden told Ukrainian legislators that graft was eating Ukraine “like a cancer,” an order from Ukraine’s cabinet of ministers struck a decisive blow against pharmaceutical corruption. This order outsources the purchasing of numerous medicines for seriously ill Ukrainians from the Ministry of Health to respected international […]

Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jan 18, 2016

Seven Key Reforms for Ukraine in 2016

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

After Orthodox Christmas, I spent a few days in Kyiv. It is quite striking how the mood has changed in a positive direction. The 2016 budget and the modified tax code were adopted on December 24. After two weeks of well-deserved rest, there is a sudden realization that Ukraine accomplished many important economic reforms in […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jan 13, 2016

New Poll Confirms Growing Mistrust Between Donbas Residents and Kyiv

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Michael Druckman and Katie LaRoque</span>

Ukrainians elected more than 10,000 mayors and 160,000 city councilmembers in local elections on October 25. It was the third nationwide election since the Euromaidan Revolution. A new International Republican Institute (IRI) poll of the Ukrainian-controlled territories of the Donbas region (i.e., Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts) reveals that only 26 percent of respondents believe the […]

Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jan 13, 2016

Free the Kremlin’s 20 Ukrainian Hostages Now

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

Soviet dissident Vasyl Stus—an important Ukrainian poet of the twentieth century—never lived to see the fall of the Soviet Union. He died in a prison camp near Perm in 1985. As I read one of Stus’s poems about Siberia, I realized that Gennadiy Afanasyev, a 25-year-old Crimean photographer exiled to the Sytkyvkar penal camp in […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jan 13, 2016

The Complex History of the Ukrainian Nation: A Review of “The Gates of Europe”

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Alexei Sobchenko</span>

During a time of war, history becomes a weapon used to justify claims and raise soldiers’ spirits. In this case, successful histories are simple, unequivocal, and confirmed by the experiences of past centuries. The current Kremlin version of history of the relationship between Russia and Ukraine fully meets these criteria. According to Moscow, there was […]

Poland Russia

UkraineAlert

Jan 12, 2016

Ukraine Should Do More to Combat Human Trafficking

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Luke A. Drabyn</span>

Ukraine remains one of Europe’s most notorious sources of human trafficking. Since 1991, over 160,000 men, women, and children have been exploited for labor, sex, forced begging, and organ removal, according to a mid-2015 report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy, with recommendations from domestic and international nongovernmental organizations, […]

Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jan 12, 2016

2016 Will Be a Make It or Break It Year for Ukraine

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Alina Polyakova</span>

Two years ago, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians braved the freezing temperatures on Kyiv’s Maidan to protest. Since then, Ukraine has gone through almost too many crises to count: upheaval with the ousting of former President Viktor Yanukovych; Russian occupation of Crimea; a war with Russian forces in the Donbas that continues to simmer; and […]

Russia Ukraine
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