As Russia continues its assault on Ukraine, the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) is keeping a close eye on Russia’s movements across the military, cyber, and information domains. With more than seven years of experience monitoring the situation in Ukraine—as well as Russia’s use of propaganda and disinformation to undermine the United States, NATO, and the European Union—the DFRLab’s global team presents the latest installment of the Russian War Report.
Recent publications
December 2023
Russian War Report: Putin to run for re-election in annexed regions of Ukraine
The Central Election Commission confirmed the possibility of holding presidential elections in illegally annexed Ukrainian territories.
November 2023
Russian War Report: Pro-Kremlin surrogates accuse the US of using ‘climate weapons’ in Crimea
Following a severe storm in the Black Sea heavily impacted Crimea, pro-Kremlin sources circulated a conspiracy suggesting the US used a weather weapon.
November 2023
Russian War Report: Desperate for recruits, Russia offers one million rubles to join its military
The Russian army is struggling to fund equipment and recruit as they host fundraisers and recruitment drives offering pledges of one million rubl
November 2023
Russian War Report: Russia just lost the most troops in a single battle so far in 2023
In Ukriane, fighting over the strategically important town of Avdiivka has led to heavy Russian losses. In Armenia, Russian propaganda is targeting the Armenian government.
October 2023
Russian War Report: Ukraine inflicts heavy damage on Russian positions
Ukraine used US-provided ATACMS missiles to strike two Russian-occupied airfields in Zaporizhzhia oblast and Luhansk.
October 2023
Russian War Report: Civilian cafe attacked and a fake Ukrainian news site is exposed
A suspicious website impersonating a Ukrainian news agency accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian leadership of corruption and misusing aid provided by the United States.
September 2023
Russian War Report: Competing claims about the possible death of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet commander
Following an attack by Ukrainian forces on the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Crimea, rumors swirled about the potential death of Russian Admiral Viktor Sokolov.
September 2023
Russian War Report: Black Sea military operations approach NATO countries’ waters
Plus, Zelenskyy expresses frustration at the UN, Russia seems unlikely to block YouTube, and the US drops new sanctions.
September 2023
Russian War Report: Ukraine’s Black Sea offensive retakes oil rigs near Crimea
Ukrainian soldiers board what appears to be the Tavrida oil drilling rig near the waters of Crimea. Russia protests actions by Armenia.
September 2023
Russian War Report: A new recruitment push for fighters from Russia to Hungary
The Russian National Guard and a private Hungarian foreign legion have launched campaigns to recruit soldiers to fight in Ukraine.
August 2023
Russian War Report: Tensions escalate in the Black Sea as the Russian navy forcefully inspects a civilian cargo ship
Russia escalated tensions beyond Ukraine again this week when its navy forcibly inspected and fired warning shots at a civilian cargo ship.
August 2023
Russian War Report: Co-founder of Russia’s most popular search engine condemns war in Ukraine
A co-founder of Yandex, Russia’s primary search engine, issued a public statement of opposition to the war in Ukraine and acknowledging his “share of responsibility.”
