Kateryna Stepanenko

Putin is likely afraid of having over 700,000 Russian veterans return to 🇷🇺 in the event of demobilization out of fear that veteran groups could threaten the stability of his regime upon their return. Putin launched a deliberate campaign to suppress veteran civil societies.🧵

NEW: The Kremlin launched several programs aimed at introducing Russian schoolchildren to Russian combat drone production and operations, setting conditions to incorporate these children as experienced military drone manufacturers or operators in the future. Other Key Takeaways…

.@guardian: [C]omponent and manufacturing equipment supply for Shaheds has improved. “China is more directly providing components to Russia,” said @KatStepanenko, from @TheStudyofWar, probably aided by a direct rail link to China near Yelabuga. “Integration of Chinese components,…

The Kremlin seeks to supplant the West in Africa to position itself as a great power and global force. More to come from CTP's @liam_karr ⬇️

Russian and Ukrainian drones use cellphone internet networks to operate, so shutdowns are one way authorities try to counter the attacks, said @KatStepanenko, a Russia analyst at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War. Along with the shutdowns, these are part of a…

Russia continues to ramp up its information efforts in Africa, and US aid cuts are leaving a void for the Kremlin (and China) to fill. Read my latest and also check out @KatStepanenko's and @nataliabugayova's latest @TheStudyofWar report on Russian cognitive warfare worldwide.⬇️

New: Russia has long been packing its Shahed one-way attack drones with highly destructive thermobaric warheads, but Ukrainians dealing with this deadly challenge tell me the threat is getting worse — saying the bombs are bigger and used more frequently. businessinsider.com/russian-drones…

Featuring sharp expert commentary from @TheStudyofWar’s @KatStepanenko:

1/2 Rus mil bloggers on TG: "Domestic calls to "nationalize"(i.e. control) people's VPK (volunteer and start-up community aiding the war) miss the point, since people's VPK is now getting integrated into the government/MOD "system", and tens of thousands of drones are distributed…

1/2 Russian TG channels are publishing stats for the Rubicon Center - MOD's most advanced UAV/drone formation. Apparently, 3/4 of all drones used are radio-controlled VT-40 FPVs, while fiber-optic drones (VT-40 and KVN) make up about only 20% of all UAVs used.…

Every few days the Russians break a new record for the size of their strike packages. At this rate the Russians will be firing 1,000 drones in single night before the end of this year. Putin will not stop until he's conquered Ukraine or is defeated.

The Kremlin focuses on the battle for the mind out of both necessity and opportunity. Russia is not weak per se, given its sizable military capabilities and potential. But Russia is weak relative to its strategic goals. The Kremlin uses cognitive warfare to close gaps between its…

Russia is classifying its demographics statistics to conceal challenges with sustaining Russia's force generation system.

Cognitive warfare is Russia’s way of war, governance, and occupation. ⬇️(1/4) Russia has effectively used cognitive warfare to facilitate its war in Ukraine, shape Western decision-making, obfuscate Russian objectives, preserve Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime, and mask…

Reducing US military aid to Ukraine will neither lead to a sustainable peace in Ukraine nor compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to reassess his theory of victory.

What is cognitive warfare? ⬇️ Cognitive warfare is a form of warfare that focuses on influencing the opponent's reasoning, decisions, and ultimately, actions to secure strategic objectives without fighting or with less military effort than would otherwise be required. China,…

The target of Russian cognitive warfare is the opponent's will to act. To achieve more, Russia needs others to do less. The Kremlin seeks to condition the US to choose inaction when it comes to Russia. Russia may very well lose if the West leans in to support Ukraine. The…

Russian cognitive warfare is far greater than disinformation at the tactical level. My latest with @KatStepanenko. understandingwar.org/backgrounder/p… 🧵

Important primer on the nature of Russian information operations and cognitive warfare by @nataliabugayova and @KatStepanenko. Debunking individual false narratives only grapples with the tactical level of Russian cognitive warfare and is insufficient for countering Russian…

NEW | A Primer on Russian Cognitive Warfare, by @nataliabugayova and @KatStepanenko Key Takeaways + Full Report⬇️(1/2) Understanding cognitive warfare is a national security requirement for the United States. Russia is a key player in the cognitive warfare space and a model…

NEW: Russia conducted its largest combined strike series of the war on the night of June 28 to 29 by launching over 500 missiles and drones against Ukraine. Additional Key Takeaways: Russia appears to be increasingly striking civilian areas in its large-scale strike packages.…