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COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

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.

Content

Event Recap

Jul 8, 2025

New findings: Russian aerial attacks amount to extermination and persecution

By Fatima Khan and Winnie Zheng

On June 25, 2025, the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and Strategic Litigation Project, together with the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) and the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School (IHRC), hosted a hybrid panel discussion on new findings and policy implications surrounding Russian aerial attacks against Ukraine over the last three years. The event was moderated by […]

Civil Society Conflict

New Atlanticist

Jul 8, 2025

What really came out of this year’s BRICS summit?

By Valentina Sader, Ignacio Albe

Russia’s and China’s presidents were absent. But there were nonetheless several notable outcomes from the recent BRICS summit in Brazil.

Brazil China

Podcast

Jul 8, 2025

‘Death is our business’

By Alia Brahimi

In Season 2, Episode 12 of the Guns for Hire podcast, host Alia Brahimi is joined by the journalist John Lechner to discuss his new book, Death is Our Business: Russian Mercenaries and the New Era of Private Warfare.

Africa Russia

UkraineAlert

Jul 8, 2025

Putin is winning the drone war as Russia overwhelms Ukraine’s defenses

By Maksym Beznosiuk

Russia is now winning the drone war against Ukraine thanks to a massive increase in domestic drone production and a series of technological upgrades, writes Maksym Beznosiuk. This is enabling Putin to dramatically escalate the bombardment of Ukrainian cities.

Conflict Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

Jul 7, 2025

Why the Pentagon’s ‘pause’ on weapons to Ukraine backfired

By John E. Herbst

The efforts by the “restrainers” in the administration to pause arms to Ukraine failed. But they are still in the game.

Defense Policy Politics & Diplomacy

Econographics

Jul 7, 2025

Building BRICS

By Bart Piasecki

Fifteen years after its founding, BRICS has evolved into a formidable counterweight to Western dominance in global economic governance. Yet despite its growing influence, the bloc’s ability to translate bold rhetoric into concrete results remains uncertain.

Brazil China

UkraineAlert

Jul 2, 2025

Russia applauds US decision to halt key weapons deliveries to Ukraine

By Peter Dickinson

The Kremlin has cheered this week's US decision to halt the delivery of crucial defensive weapons to Ukraine as Russia continues to pursue its maximalist goal of extinguishing Ukrainian statehood, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Drones

UkraineAlert

Jul 2, 2025

Iran becomes the latest Russian ally to discover the limits of Kremlin support

By Elena Davlikanova

Iran has recently joined fellow Kremlin allies Armenia and Syria in discovering the limits of Russian support. Putin's army is dangerously overextended in Ukraine and is in no position to embark on new military adventures, writes Elena Davlikanova.

Conflict Drones

UkraineAlert

Jul 2, 2025

Ukraine’s drone wall is Europe’s first line of defense against Russia

By David Kirichenko

Ukraine's drone wall is rapidly emerging as Europe's first line of defense against the mounting military threat posed by an expansionist Russia, writes David Kirichenko.

Conflict Defense Industry

UkraineAlert

Jul 1, 2025

Putin’s escalating air offensive is overwhelming Ukraine’s defenses

By Mykola Bielieskov

Russian aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities are expanding rapidly and killing growing numbers of civilians. Kyiv must urgently find technological solutions to defend against Putin's escalating air offensive, writes Mykola Bielieskov.

Conflict Defense Industry

Experts

Events