Category: Civil Society

Moldovan and Georgian elections highlight Russia’s regional ambitions

Georgians go to the polls this weekend in a parliamentary election that is widely expected to determine whether the country will pursue integration with Moscow or the West. This closely mirrors the situation in Moldova, where voters face a similar choice on November 3 when the country holds the second round of its presidential election.

Ukrainian journalist who exposed Russian occupation dies in Kremlin captivity

A Ukrainian journalist who sought to document the Russian occupation of her country has died in Kremlin captivity. The family of award-winning journalist Victoria Roshchyna received notification of her death from the Russian authorities in early October. No cause of death was given, with reports indicating that she died in mid-September while being moved between

Michelle Kholos Brooks interviewed by the Library of Congress on War Words

Original Source On October 15, Michelle Kholos Brooks, non-resident senior fellow at Forward Defense, was interviewed alongside Sarah Norris by the Library of Congress about the creation of the play War Words. Kholos Brooks, a playwright, spoke about how she approached writing a play focused on veteran’s stories and what she learned about experiences in

Ending Russian impunity: Why Ukraine needs justice as well as security

With no end in sight to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, some members of the international community are now advocating for a negotiated settlement that risks rewarding Moscow for its aggression. The idea of offering the Kremlin concessions is dangerously shortsighted and overlooks the central importance of justice in any future peace settlement. Failing to

History is a key battleground in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

History is at the very heart of Russia’s war on Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin frequently using historical narratives to justify the invasion. Western academia can help combat the Kremlin’s weaponization of the past by paying significantly more attention to the field of Ukrainian history. Ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began ten

Countering Russia’s campaign to erase Ukrainian cultural identity

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has included a wide range of attacks on Ukrainian heritage sites as the Kremlin seeks to erase Ukraine’s cultural identity. By September 2024, UNESCO had officially verified damage to 438 cultural sites in Ukraine including religious buildings, museums, libraries, and monuments. Writing earlier this year, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin

Too many still view Ukraine through the prism of Russian imperialism

“There are only so many books on Ukraine we can review each month,” an editor from a major British newspaper tells me at one of the country’s largest literary festivals. He looks a bit uncomfortable, almost apologetic. He wants me to understand that if it were up to him, he’d review a book on Ukraine

Key Ukrainian front line city evacuates as Russian offensive gains pace

Evacuation efforts are currently accelerating in eastern Ukraine’s Pokrovsk as the Russian military draws closer. Residents are fleeing amid fears their hometown will soon become the latest in a growing list of Ukrainian cities reduced to rubble by Putin’s invading army. Pokrovsk has long been an important Russian objective. Located on a crucial road connecting

Ukraine’s EU accession hinges on stronger defense and consolidated reforms

Ukraine officially began accession talks with the European Union on June 25. While these negotiations offer hope for a nation that has long sought more comprehensive integration with European political and economic structures, they will also be qualified by contemporary security and political considerations. To achieve EU accession, Ukraine must strengthen its defense capabilities, execute