• Resident Fellow for Security Research

Ruslan Trad

Ruslan Trad is a Resident Fellow for Security Research at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab).

Ruslan is interested in Eurasia, Syria, conflicts, hybrid warfare, and mercenary groups. Before joining DFRLab, he worked as a risk analyst, consultant, and freelance journalist. In recent years, he has worked in the field of OSINT investigations and due diligence reports. Ruslan is also author and co-author of three books and a wide range of articles related to the Syrian Civil War, Russian foreign policy, and security.

Ruslan is a member of the Association of European Journalists–Bulgaria and is co-founder of De Re Militari, a Bulgarian online journal for conflict analysis. During his journalism career he was a correspondent in several countries including Lebanon, Turkey, Iraqi Kurdistan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Thailand.

In 2014 Ruslan was awarded Activist of the Year by the Helsinki Committee for his Syria war coverage. Ruslan’s articles can be found in Bellingcat, BBC, Carnegie Middle East Center, New Lines Magazine, Die Presse, European Eye on Radicalization, Vocal Europe, Bild, Vocativ, IB Times, Der Standard, Muftah, Internazionale, Al Jazeera, and others.

December 2022

Russian War Report: Fierce fighting in Donetsk despite the onset of winter

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

While many had hoped Winter would slow the fighting in Ukraine, the conflict has continued and, in some cases including in Donetsk, intensified.
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December 2022

Russian War Report: Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels promote news of TV Rain losing broadcasting license in Latvia

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

The Latvian National Electronic Media Council revoked the broadcasting license of TV Rain, an independent Russian television channel, citing threats to Latvian national security.
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December 2022

Russian War Report: Russian Telegram channel spreads digitally modified photo of Poland’s prime minister

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Russian Telegram channels disseminated a manipulated photo showing Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a monument during his visit to Ukraine.
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