IKAR Institute logo
Conflict studies & analysis

INSTITUTE BRIEF

Independent research and analysis of Russia — its society, propaganda, and security challenges.

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.

Latest Publications

Building a Nation Under Arms: Russia From Mobilization to Military Socialisation
Building a Nation Under Arms: Russia From Mobilization to Military Socialisation
Analytics

Building a Nation Under Arms: Russia From Mobilization to Military Socialisation

Russia’s substantial wartime losses and declining effectiveness of contract-based recruitment raise growing questions about its ability to sustain the front’s manpower needs without renewed mass mobilization. IKAR’s study examines Russia’s available and emerging mechanisms for replenishing military personnel, public attitudes toward mass mobilization and its potential political consequences, and the feasibility of various mobilization scenarios.…

The Fuel Crisis in Russia as a Factor in Destabilizing the War Economy
The Fuel Crisis in Russia as a Factor in Destabilizing the War Economy
Analytics

The Fuel Crisis in Russia as a Factor in Destabilizing the War Economy

Transformation of the Fuel Crisis into a Systemic Challenge Monitoring of the Russian information space during the period from 29 June to 20 July 2026 indicates a further escalation of the fuel crisis and its transition from a regional issue into a systemic challenge affecting the Russian Federation’s rear-area support system. While at the end…

Vladimir Putin’s Actual Trust Rating Is Far Lower Than the 70% Shown by Official Polls
Vladimir Putin’s Actual Trust Rating Is Far Lower Than the 70% Shown by Official Polls
Research

Vladimir Putin’s Actual Trust Rating Is Far Lower Than the 70% Shown by Official Polls

Research Methodology The 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…

Research

Briefings, public conversations, and closed-door roundtables.

See all research
Vladimir Putin’s Actual Trust Rating Is Far Lower Than the 70% Shown by Official Polls
Research

Vladimir Putin’s Actual Trust Rating Is Far Lower Than the 70% Shown by Official Polls

Research Methodology The 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…

Vladimir Putin’s Actual Trust Rating Is Far Lower Than the 70% Shown by Official Polls
Sociological survey: MIRROR OF RUSSIA, 10 wave
Research

Sociological survey: MIRROR OF RUSSIA, 10 wave

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…

Sociological survey: MIRROR OF RUSSIA, 10 wave
Russian Interference in Electoral Processes: Risks for Ukraine
Research

Russian Interference in Electoral Processes: Risks for Ukraine

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…

Russian Interference in Electoral Processes: Risks for Ukraine

Analytics

Indicators, monitoring, and rapid-response analysis.

See all analytics
Building a Nation Under Arms: Russia From Mobilization to Military Socialisation
Analytics

Building a Nation Under Arms: Russia From Mobilization to Military Socialisation

Russia’s substantial wartime losses and declining effectiveness of contract-based recruitment raise growing questions about its ability to sustain the front’s manpower needs without renewed mass mobilization. IKAR’s study examines Russia’s available and emerging mechanisms for replenishing military personnel, public attitudes toward mass mobilization and its potential political consequences, and the feasibility of various mobilization scenarios.…

Building a Nation Under Arms: Russia From Mobilization to Military Socialisation
The Fuel Crisis in Russia as a Factor in Destabilizing the War Economy
Analytics

The Fuel Crisis in Russia as a Factor in Destabilizing the War Economy

Transformation of the Fuel Crisis into a Systemic Challenge Monitoring of the Russian information space during the period from 29 June to 20 July 2026 indicates a further escalation of the fuel crisis and its transition from a regional issue into a systemic challenge affecting the Russian Federation’s rear-area support system. While at the end…

The Fuel Crisis in Russia as a Factor in Destabilizing the War Economy
Managed Shortage: War in Everyday Life
Analytics

Managed Shortage: War in Everyday Life

Summary Monitoring of Russian sources for the period 15–29 June 2026 shows that the fuel shortage is emerging as a new stage in a broader campaign of pressure on Russia’s rear. Fuel disruptions are increasingly shifting the consequences of the war from the realm of abstract political developments into everyday life. Isolated shortages are gradually…

Managed Shortage: War in Everyday Life