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The Power Vertical

The Power Vertical is a blog and podcast for Russia wonks and Kremlin watchers by Brian Whitmore. It covers emerging and developing trends in Russian politics, shining a spotlight on the high-stakes power struggles, machinations, and clashing interests that shape Kremlin policy today.

Host and Eurasia Center Senior Fellow Brian Whitmore invites guest experts to deliver their insights and analysis in this weekly podcast. The Atlantic Council and the Charles T. McDowell Center for Global Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington co-sponsor this production.

The Russia Tomorrow series

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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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New satellite imagery taken this morning June 30, 2022 shows smoke coming from the contested Snake Island (45.255721, 30.204173) which Russia announced its withdrawal from June 30. Russian forces have left Snake Island in the Black Sea, the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Thursday June 30, after carrying out what they said was a successful operation. The Ukrainian Armed Forces said that the enemy hastily evacuated the remnants of the garrison in two speedboats and probably left the island. (Maxar via EYEPRESS)

New Atlanticist

Jul 1, 2022

Russian War Report: Russia claims Snake Island losses were ‘gesture of goodwill’

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

Plus, Russian diplomatic accounts spread a questionable story about anti-Russian stickers placed at an Auschwitz memorial.

Conflict Cybersecurity

In the News

Jul 1, 2022

Jain quoted in the Los Angeles Times on Biden’s global democracy agenda

On June 30, Scowcroft Center director for democratic order Ash Jain was quoted in the Los Angeles Times discussing support for Biden's global democracy agenda despite domestic challenges.

China NATO

In the News

Jul 1, 2022

Grieco in Defense News: NATO touts country pairings as key to defending the eastern flank

By Atlantic Council

On July 1, Kelly Grieco was quoted in a Defense News article addressing NATO’s announcement that it would pre-assign allied forces to specific countries for territorial defense. Grieco explained the intent of NATO’s posture change to change the character of their eastern deployments from a ‘tripwire force,’ intended to hold invading Russia forces up long enough […]

Conflict Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Jul 1, 2022

With all eyes on Ukraine, Vladimir Putin targets domestic dissidents

By Doug Klain

While international attention focuses on Vladimir Putin’s genocidal war in Ukraine, the Russian government is accelerating its brutal crackdown on any remaining expressions of anti-regime dissent on the domestic front.

Civil Society Conflict

In the News

Jul 1, 2022

Wieslander cited in New York Times on European unity over Ukraine

“Anna Wieslander, the Swedish director for Northern Europe for the Atlantic Council, said that although support for Ukraine had mostly held across the alliance, it was uneven: strongest in nations with long experience and deep fears of Russian domination, like Poland and the Baltic states, and more difficult to maintain in countries like Belgium, the […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Jul 1, 2022

Wieslander quoted in New York Times on NATO’s changed geostrategic reality

“Referring to the changing geostrategic reality wrought by February’s invasion, Anna Wieslander, the Swedish director for Northern Europe for the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think-tank, said the shift toward collective defense was much bigger than previously seen. ‘It really is a before Feb. 24 and after,’ she said, referring to the date of Russia’s invasion […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Jun 30, 2022

Graham cited in Polygraph.info on merchants and banks hesitating to conduct business with Russia due to sanctions

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jun 30, 2022

Why Russia’s economy is more resilient than you might think

By Josh Lipsky

With each recession, Russian institutions—and the population itself—have become increasingly inured to economic trauma.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Jun 30, 2022

Goodwill gestures and de-Nazification: Decoding Putin’s Ukraine War lexicon

By Peter Dickinson

From “goodwill gestures” to “de-Nazification” and “reclaiming Russian lands,” the Atlantic Council's Peter Dickinson decodes some of the key phrases from the lexicon of Putin’s Ukraine War into plain English.

Central Asia Conflict

EconoGraphics

Jun 30, 2022

Global Sanctions Dashboard: Russia default and China secondary sanctions

By Charles Lichfield, Maia Nikoladze and Castellum.AI

Russia's default on sovereign debt; EU oil ban; China secondary sanctions threat; Middle Eastern illicit networks

China East Asia

Experts