• 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.

October 2022

Russian War Report: Heavy fighting expected in Kherson as Prigozhin aims to boost Wagner operations

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Heavy fighting expected in Kherson, while disinformation on Facebook continues. The Polish Senate also declares Russia a terrorist regime.
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October 2022

Russian War Report: Wagner sends vehicles to Kherson while Iran increases military support

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Wagner Group has been reported in Ukraine assisting Russian forces in fighting and fortifying positions in the Donbas.
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October 2022

Footage raises additional questions about Wagner presence in Sudan

by Private: Tessa Knight, Private: Mattia Caniglia, Ruslan Trad

Videos allegedly show Wagner personnel training Sudanese Army and RSF paramilitary forces.
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