• 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.

April 2023

Russian War Report: Russia cancels Victory Day parades and moves “Immortal Regiment” marches online

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Russia continues ramping up its attacks in eastern Ukraine while canceling its Victory Day parade in areas bordering Russian-annexed Ukrainian territory.
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April 2023

Russian War Report: Russian army presses on in Bakhmut despite losses

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Bakhmut remains a major conflict zone with dozens of attacks on Ukrainian forces there, despite Russian forces sustaining heavy losses.
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April 2023

Russian War Report: Belarus accuses Ukraine of plotting terrorist attack

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus' KGB accused Ukraine of plotting an attack on a Russian consulate in the Belarusian city of Grodno. Belarus also confirmed it would accept Russian tactical nuclear weapons.
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