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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.

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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.

Content

In the News

May 5, 2022

Samotin in the Wall Street Journal: Why Russian conscripts can’t subdue Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

On May 5, Laura Resnick Samotin published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal examining why Russian conscripts have underperformed in the war in Ukraine.  “We have already seen one recent war between conscript armies. While conscription does not appear to have played a major role in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, the current […]

Conflict Defense Policy

In the News

May 5, 2022

O’Toole quoted in S&P Global on the US imposing secondary sanctions to prevent Russia from selling oil elsewhere

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business
Several tiny satellites photographed by an Expedition 33 crew member on the International Space Station. The satellites were released outside the Kibo laboratory using a Small Satellite Orbital Deployer attached to the Japanese module’s robotic arm on Oct. 4, 2012. Source: NASA, “Several tiny satellites,” Wikimedia Commons, October 4, 2012, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ISS-33_Several_tiny_satellites_1.jpg.

Report

May 5, 2022

Small satellites: The implications for national security

By Nicholas Eftimiades

Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Nicholas Eftimiades considers how the US government can better leverage commercial satellites to enhance space security.

China Defense Industry

BelarusAlert

May 4, 2022

Putin’s Ukraine War: Desperate Belarus dictator strikes back

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is seeking to introduce the death penalty for anti-war activists who are sabotaging Russian troop movements in protest over Belarus's supporting role in Putin's Ukraine invasion.

Belarus Conflict

In the News

May 4, 2022

Deni in Foreign Policy: Yes, the United States should weaken Russia

By John R. Deni

John Deni argues that the US should seek to weaken Russia to be able to focus on China in the long term.

China Conflict

UkraineAlert

May 4, 2022

Foreign policy realists should be bolder about defeating Putin in Ukraine

By Henrik Larsen

Foreign policy realists have urged caution over Ukraine but as the conflict grinds on it is now time to recognize that the democratic world has a significant interest in securing Vladimir Putin's decisive defeat.

Conflict European Union

In the News

May 4, 2022

Tran quoted in Eurasian Times on the potential consequences should the US decide to sanction China as it has sanctioned Russia

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business
File photo of Russian firefighter. (Source: EMERCOM)

New Atlanticist

May 3, 2022

Russian War Report: New fires and alleged sabotage operations across Russian territory 

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

Over the past week, numerous strategic facilities on Russian territory have caught fire drawing accusation of sabotage. 

Disinformation Human Rights

In the News

May 3, 2022

Friedlander quoted in the Washington Post on Russian oligarch’s offshore finances

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

In the News

May 3, 2022

Hooker quoted in The Christian Science Monitor: On Russia, is US policy edging from defense to offense?

Conflict Politics & Diplomacy

Experts