INSTITUTE BRIEF
The Institute for Conflict Studies and Analysis of Russia (IKAR) is an independent, non-profit think tank providing policymakers, military experts, researchers, and journalists with insights on Russia and security challenges emerging from its policies. We conduct comprehensive, evidence-driven research on Russia — its internal processes, propaganda, and hybrid operations.
The long-term costs of military spending have pushed Russia’s government management close to its absolute limit. Deeper economic problems, cuts to non-military budget areas, and the vulnerability of the capital region to air strikes indicate that sustaining an attritional posture entails escalating domestic political risks. Under these constraints, Moscow is attempting to shift the strategic…
Russia runs planned information campaigns to influence political choices, public moods, and decision-making in Western democracies. The goal of these campaigns is to plant self-interested stories into the local politics of these countries. By using existing social problems, a lack of trust in leaders, and conflicts of interest, Moscow interferes in the information space of…
By suspending the toughest economic restrictions indefinitely without securing any commitments from Moscow in return, Washington weakens its economic leverage over the Kremlin, giving Russia more room to test Europe’s security on its eastern and southern flanks. For Moscow, the decision creates an opportunity to preserve its economic resources while testing how far it can…
Briefings, public conversations, and closed-door roundtables.
See all researchThe Institute for Conflict Studies and Analysis of Russia (IKAR) conducted two regional sociological studies — one in Krasnodar krai and the other in Rostov oblast — as part of a systematic study of Russian society. The survey was conducted in Krasnodar krai from May 14 to 31, 2026, and in Rostov oblast…
War has once again become the number one concern for Russians, and they would like it to end as soon as possible The Institute for Conflict Studies and Analysis of Russia (IKAR) conducted a sociological survey as part of its monitoring of Russian society, called the “Mirror of Russia.” The 10th wave was conducted from…
Russia uses common and proven approaches in its attempts to influence electoral processes in other countries. Significant efforts are directed at Russian-speaking voters in these countries and at presenting the elections there to their own citizens in the light necessary for internal political stability within the Russian Federation itself. Our research aims to analyze the…
Indicators, monitoring, and rapid-response analysis.
See all analyticsThe long-term costs of military spending have pushed Russia’s government management close to its absolute limit. Deeper economic problems, cuts to non-military budget areas, and the vulnerability of the capital region to air strikes indicate that sustaining an attritional posture entails escalating domestic political risks. Under these constraints, Moscow is attempting to shift the strategic…
Russia runs planned information campaigns to influence political choices, public moods, and decision-making in Western democracies. The goal of these campaigns is to plant self-interested stories into the local politics of these countries. By using existing social problems, a lack of trust in leaders, and conflicts of interest, Moscow interferes in the information space of…
By suspending the toughest economic restrictions indefinitely without securing any commitments from Moscow in return, Washington weakens its economic leverage over the Kremlin, giving Russia more room to test Europe’s security on its eastern and southern flanks. For Moscow, the decision creates an opportunity to preserve its economic resources while testing how far it can…
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