• 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.

November 2022

Russian War Report: Russia defends ‘traditional values,’ criminalizes LGBTQ ‘propaganda’

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

After two Polish citizens were killed by a missile, Poland and NATO both say the hit was not a Russian attack.
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November 2022

Russian War Report: Ukrainians celebrate in Kherson as Russia evacuates the city

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

As Russian forces retreat from Kherson, Ukrainians celebrate online and in-person. While the overall status of the withdrawal remains in flux, today’s footage shows Russia is no longer in control of the central parts of Kherson. 
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November 2022

Russian War Report: Kremlin-controlled outlet rehashes narrative that Poland plans to annex western Ukraine 

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Once again, Kremlin media alleged that Poland was preparing to annex western Ukraine. In April, the site responsible for the reporting was blocked in Poland.
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