Why Russia Is in More Trouble Than It Looks
An interview on the state of play on the battlefield, Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russian territory, and Vladimir Putin’s recent nuclear saber-rattling.
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Michael Kofman
Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program
about
Michael Kofman is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he focuses on the Russian military, Ukrainian armed forces, and Eurasian security issues. Prior to joining Carnegie in 2023, he served as director of the Russia Studies Program at the Center for Naval Analyses, where he led a team conducting research on the capabilities, strategy, and military thought of the Russian Armed Forces. Widely recognized as one of the leading authorities on the Russian military, and the Russo-Ukrainian war, Kofman has led foundational work in the field, and is routinely cited in major publications.
Aside from his work at Carnegie, Kofman is a contributing editor at War on the Rocks, where he hosts the Russia Contingency, a bi-weekly podcast on the Russian military and the Russia-Ukraine war. He previously served as a research fellow and program manager at the National Defense University. Past fellowships have included the Modern War Institute at West Point, Center for New American Security, and the Woodrow Wilson Center.
affiliations
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MA, International Security, Georgetown University BA, Political Science, Northeastern University.languages
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30 Results
· September 20, 2024
Assessing Russian Military Adaptation in 2023
Russian forces proved more flexible and effective in the conduct of defensive operations in 2023. Yet the Russian military remained committed to defending forward and aggressively counterattacking in a manner that proved costly to the force.
· October 8, 2024
The Meaning of Creeping Ukrainian Losses in the East
A discussion of territorial losses in the Donbas, the situation in Kursk, manpower challenges on both sides, and how Ukraine is seeking war termination on favorable terms.
Missile Diplomacy: What Is a Winning Strategy in Ukraine?
A conversation about the state of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the potential role of Western long-range missiles.
- Michael Kofman,
- Olga Tokariuk,
- Christopher Miller
Independent Thinking with Bronwen Maddox Podcast
Mike Kofman and Rob Lee on the West’s Aid to Ukraine, and the Debate Over Red Lines and Escalation
A discussion on the latest phase of the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine's Gamble
The Risks and Rewards of the Offensive Into Russia’s Kursk Region
Ukraine's Kursk Offensive
Ukraine’s bold incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast two weeks ago has boosted Kyiv’s morale and changed the narrative of the war.
Ukrainian forces push farther into Russia despite Putin’s efforts to counter incursion
Ukraine said it blasted its way deeper into the Kursk region of Russia where it has captured dozens of towns and settlements and taken Russians prisoner.
Russian Troops Prepare for a Counterattack After Ukraine’s Surprise Offensive
After rapid advances in western Russia, a Ukrainian military offensive slowed over the weekend. Russia is sending reinforcements to the area for a likely counterattack, but hasn't launched it yet.
Is Russia's Window for Gains this Summer Narrowing?
A discussion on topics from Russia’s culminated offensive on Kharkiv, to battlefields of the Donbas, to ongoing fighting in the south, to Russia’s displaced Black Sea Fleet