Category: Investigations

The Mechanics of Covert Influence Russia’s attempts to exert influence over the political and economic elites of the European Union have long ceased to be speculative—they are now an undeniable reality. What’s more, this influence has shown the capacity to shape strategic decisions within individual EU member states. Through a...

A pressing issue in European politics over the past decade has been the increasing activity of radical parties and their connections with Russia. Regardless of the national context in which they operate, certain patterns stand out: these parties often serve as “platforms” for Moscow, facilitating direct or indirect attempts to...

The current meeting in Anchorage is more than a symbolic “halfway point” between the United States and Russia. For the Kremlin, it’s an attempt to breach the sanctions wall via localized economic engagement with Alaska — from the fishing industry and technical flight arrangements to critical minerals and oil-and-gas ventures....

Across Europe, concern is mounting over persistent foreign interference in domestic politics — a trend that becomes particularly visible ahead of key events such as elections. One of the most frequently used channels for such meddling, according to investigative reports, is the cultivation of radical or far-right political forces whose...

Nothing galvanizes the military sector—from soldier training to weapons manufacturing and procurement—like the looming specter of war. This assertion is no longer theoretical; it’s been vividly illustrated by the events unfolding on Europe’s eastern frontier. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, European states and Kyiv’s...

Despite internal turmoil and external threats, the European Union is moving swiftly to bring Moldova, the Western Balkans, and Ukraine closer to its doorstep — a step Brussels frames as a strategic choice aimed at bolstering democracy and economic stability in the region. Yet behind the lofty declarations of a...

After 24 February 2022, Russia sharply increased the production of artillery ammunition. A critical link in this chain is cotton cellulose — the raw material for nitrocellulose, which is used to produce smokeless powders. The lion’s share of this raw material is supplied by Uzbekistan, and its deliveries have only...

Due to the effectiveness of the sanctions regime imposed by Western countries on the Russian Federation for its aggressive and destructive foreign policy, the Russian economy loses billions of dollars in revenue every month. Despite this, Russia continues to receive tens of billions of dollars in profits every month from...

One of the most striking economic trends in Europe over the past decade has been China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). For countries with limited resources or underdeveloped infrastructure, it has opened doors long shut — bringing long-awaited funds for roads, ports, railways, and energy projects that had languished for...

Under conditions of international isolation — intensified after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine — Russia has been actively seeking alternative ways to influence European politics in order to promote its interests. Having failed in its attempts to “befriend” the EU at the official level, Moscow has increasingly...