Eastern-Central Europe
Russia’s Nuclear Doctrine Shift: A Dangerous Escalation Amid the Ukraine Conflict
Russian President Vladmir Putin’s new nuclear doctrine shifted significantly from the country’s previous nuclear policy. The new amendments, announced in late September 2024, lowered the threshold for the usage of nuclear weapons.
New Wave of Mobilization and Conscripting Prisoners in Russia
On Oct. 2 Vladimir Putin signed a law that allows criminals to join the army in return for immunity. According to independent Russian outlet Istories, the government wants to conscript 40 percent of 60,000 prisoners with pre-trial detention status.
Austrian Elections Mark Big Win for the Far-Right in Europe
The Austrian Freedom Party, which ran on a platform of limiting immigration, easing sanctions with Russia and Euroscepticism won the Austrian Election on Sept 29. However, forming a coalition will be challenging with other major parties refusing to work with them.
Moldova's 2024 Election: A Crossroads for European Integration
A significant development in the lead-up to the Moldovan presidential election occurred on Sept. 24, when the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) released its list of approved candidates. The agency notably did not register Igor Munteanu, one of the main political opponents of incumbent President Maia Sandu.
Protests Mark Latest Instance of Russian Women’s Growing Resistance to Mobilization
On Sept 21, 2024, around 20 Russian women gathered outside the capital holding up banners that demanded a meeting with Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and the return of their mobilized loved ones. The demonstration took place on the second anniversary of the decree signed by President Vladimir Putin ordering the mobilization of reserve citizens to the war in Ukraine.
Kursk Incursion: Ukraine’s Bold Advance Faces Tough Realities
On Aug 6, 2024, Ukrainian armed forces launched an incursion into the Kursk region of Russia. More than 1,000 Ukrainian troops, backed by tanks and armored vehicles, caught Russia off guard, prompting Moscow to declare a state of emergency and rush reinforcements to the region.
Russian Drone Strikes Near NATO: Prelude to World War 3 or Isolated Incidents?
On Sept. 8, a Russian-operated Shahed-type drone crashed in Latvia's Rezekne region. The drone had entered Latvian airspace from Belarus and was tracked by air defense systems. While there was no immediate harm, Latvian Minister of Defense Andris Sprūds emphasised this incursion's seriousness, as any violation of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member's airspace could have broad security ramifications.
Russia Cracks Down Further on LGBTQ+ Community
The regime in Russia further cracked down on its queer community this month, with Russia’s top court ruling to ban the so-called “international LGBTQ movement,” labeling it an extremist organization. It is now illegal in Russia to “promote or praise LGBTQ relationships, publicly express non-heterosexual orientations or suggest that they are normal.”
Polish Trucker Blockade of Ukrainian Border Continues as EU Threatens Lawsuits
The European Union (EU) has threatened legal action against the Polish government for failing to resolve the blockade at the border between Poland and Ukraine — caused by a weeks-long trucker protest.
French Government Accuses the Kremlin of Causing Antisemitic Graffiti Incident
Around 250 blue Stars of David were tagged on buildings in France, in what the Parisian police chief called an “antisemitic” incident. Officials in France claim that a Russian-speaking person living abroad “may have paid for” the graffiti and Russian-controlled social media accounts promoted images of the graffiti.
Top Ukraine General Calls War a “Stalemate” — West Quietly Pushes Negotiations
In a recent interview with The Economist, top Ukrainian General Valery Zaluzhny admitted that the war against Russia has reached a stalemate — comparing the situation in Eastern Ukraine to Northern France during World War I.
Antisemitic Mob Storms Russian Airport and Threatens Violence Against Arriving Jews
A mob in the Russian Republic of Dagestan stormed an airfield on Oct. 30, 2023, prompting the closure of an airport and the diversion of flights.
Hungarian Prime Minister Faces Backlash After Meeting with Putin
In a controversial move, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Oct. 24, 2023. Orbán, the leader of Hungary’s right-wing party FIDESZ, was even photographed shaking hands with Putin, drawing the ire of other Western leaders.
Amidst Migration Wave, Slew of Central European States Reintroduce Border Controls
In a sharp reversal of trends since the COVID-19 pandemic, Central European Schengen area countries (i.e. European Union member states who have joined the visa-free and, essentially, internal border-free zone) have opted to reintroduce border controls of various intensity temporarily.
German Elections Cast Poor Forecast for Kyiv
In the run-up to the election, the public media network Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) showed that 41% of respondents thought that Ukraine should accept territorial concessions to Moscow, should it mean an end to the conflict.
Explosions Over Kremlin Increase Tensions
The Russian government blamed Ukraine for an apparent drone attack above its capital building.
Russian Opposition Figure Vladimir Kara-Murza Jailed for 25 years
On Monday, April 17, Moscow City Court sentenced opposition activist and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in a strict regime penal colony after finding him guilty of spreading 'fakes' about the Russian army, operating an 'undesirable' organization for working with the Open Russia Foundation, and committing high treason.
Russia Reacts to Finland NATO membership
Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) last Tuesday after remaining militarily non-aligned since the end of the Second World War.
Protests in Tbilisi Against Pro-Russian Georgian Government
Thousands of opposition supporters gathered outside the Georgian parliament to express their dissatisfaction with the government’s policies.
Russia Takes Presidency of United Nations Security Council
On April 1, the Russian Federation took hold of the presidency over the United Nations (UN) Security Council.