June 26, 2023
Insights into Russia's Weekend of Instability
Events over the weekend of June 24, 2023, unfolded quickly as reports came in that the Wagner Group Head Yevgeny Prigozhin had orchestrated an armed insurgency inside Russia. Prigozhin and his men quickly took over Rostov-on-Don —including the headquarters of Russia’s Southern Military District that is located there—with little resistance, and moved on towards Moscow. Then, just 120 miles outside of Moscow, Prigozhin announced an end to his dramatic gambit. The instability inside Russia has generated more questions than answers, and its impact on the Putin regime and its ability to continue to prosecute the war in Ukraine are still unclear.
CNAS experts provide updates and analysis of the situation, and its consequences for Russia, Ukraine, and European security and stability.
Read More:
Transatlantic Security
How the attempted rebellion in Russia could affect Putin's war in Ukraine
After a short-lived mutiny exposed instability in Russia, we take a look at what the revolt means for the war in Ukraine. Geoff Bennett discussed that with Samuel Bendett, a R...
Transatlantic Security
Putin Rebukes Wagner, Biden on Putin, Nevada Lithium Mine
Putin tries to present a united front in the wake of a mercenary rebellion. Biden emphasizes that the U.S. played no role in Russia's turmoil. Andrea Kendall-Taylor joins to d...
Transatlantic Security
Chaos in Russia brings uncertainty, opportunities for war in Ukraine
Peter Schroeder, who served as a senior intelligence official in both the Trump and Biden administrations focused on Russia and Ukraine, said an important takeaway from the ch...
Defense
How the Russian Revolt Could Transform the War in Ukraine
“I don’t think the Russian front line is in danger of immediate collapse,” Franz-Stefan Gady, a military analyst with the Center for a New American Security, told The Messenge...
Transatlantic Security
Wagner mutiny reveals ‘cracks’ in Russia, says US Secretary of State
The Wagner PMC has been Russia's most successful fighting force in Ukraine so far, and the fallout of the mutiny is likely to impact Moscow's war efforts significantly. Fighte...
Transatlantic Security
Short-Lived Mutiny in Russia Sheds Light on Putin’s Hold on Power
Andrea Kendall-Taylor, a longtime Russia intelligence analyst now at the Center for a New American Security, said the United States has limited capacity to influence events th...
Transatlantic Security
As revolt in Russia subsides, U.S. and allies brace for what comes next
A weakened Putin could face challenges from the Russian elite, or inspire leaders in Russian regions such as Chechnya and Tatarstan, many of which have long-standing grievance...
Transatlantic Security
Contrarian take on the Wagner Putsch with Richard Fontaine
Last weekend, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, launched a rebellion, coup or putsch against Moscow. It's still hard to discern what it was. As of n...
Listen:
Transatlantic Security
The Precarious Nature of Putin’s Regime
Over the weekend, infighting between Prigozhin and Shoigu led to seismic shifts in Russian domestic stability. This episode was recorded on Friday, June 23, prior to start of ...
Transatlantic Security
The Battlefield Landscape in Ukraine with Mike Kofman and Konrad Muzyka
Three weeks ago, Ukraine began its widely anticipated counteroffensive. Observers are watching for key developments on the battlefield as Ukraine attempts to regain territory,...
Authors
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Andrea Kendall-Taylor
Senior Fellow and Director, Transatlantic Security Program
Andrea Kendall-Taylor is a senior fellow and director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). She works on national security ch...
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Nicholas Lokker
Research Associate, Transatlantic Security Program
Nicholas Lokker is a research associate for the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). His work focuses on transatlantic relations, R...
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Michael Kofman
Former Adjunct Senior Fellow, Transatlantic Security Program
Michael Kofman serves as a Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Naval Analyses' Russia Studies Program, and a Fellow at the Kennan Institute, Woodrow Wilson Internation...
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Richard Fontaine
Chief Executive Officer
Richard Fontaine is the chief executive officer of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). He served as president of CNAS from 2012–19 and as senior fellow from 2009–12...
