Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Surprise Connection Leads to a U.S. Alum Sponsoring a Ukrainian Alum’s Humanitarian Parole

Sierra Abukins — 2023-04-18T16:15:17-0700

They didn’t know each other, but both were alumni of the Middlebury Institute—a connection that ended up bringing a Ukrainian and his son to Davis, California.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Shares his Insights on the Events Leading Up to the Invasion of Ukraine

Sierra Abukins — 2023-02-27T09:40:33-0800

In the latest addition to the Institute’s Ambassadorial Series, Jill Dougherty, former CNN foreign affairs correspondent, interviews Ambassador John Sullivan, who served under the Trump and Biden administrations.

In the News: Putin’s wartime bluster obscures Russia’s precarious future

scdiehl@middlebury.edu — 2023-02-24T12:14:38-0800

A year into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, The Hill spoke with Professor Anna Vassilieva, director of the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies.

Monterey Conversations on Russia’s Wild 1990s and NATO and the EU

Mollie Messick MATESOL '21 — 2022-06-17T07:27:53-0700

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine turning into a war of attrition, Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies (MIR) invited seven experts on Europe, NATO, and Russia for two online panel discussions devoted to probing underexplored causes and consequences of the war.

Recently Published: Russian Invasion Foreshadowed, Language of Extremism, By the Sea, Unconventional Warfare, Beijing Comrades

Jessie Raymond — 2022-06-15T05:33:28-0700

From foreshadowing the Russian invasion of Ukraine to translating one of the 100 most influential queer books of all time, see what members of the Institute community have recently published.

Private Companies Track the War in Ukraine in Real Time

aegert@middlebury.edu — 2022-06-06T09:29:03-0700

In a segment on the PBS NewsHour, Professor Jeffrey Lewis commented on how the growth of commercial satellite imagery has improved transparency for what the public can know about global conflict.

How Putin Could Actually Use Nukes

ecipriani@middlebury.edu — 2022-05-25T10:55:01-0700

In an article for Politico, Institute scholars Avner Cohen and George Moore described three potential scenarios in which Russia may deploy nuclear weapons against Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Battlefield Is Haunted by Putin’s Chemical Weapons Legacy

ecipriani@middlebury.edu — 2022-05-17T13:20:34-0700

In the New York Times, Dr. Hanna Notte warned that it could be difficult to hold Russia accountable for a chemical weapons strike.

Why the United States Should Label Russia as a Terrorist State

cfclymer@middlebury.edu — 2022-05-16T07:45:01-0700

In The Hill, Professor Jason Blazakis, director of the Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, argues for the United States to add Russia to the U.S. government’s State Sponsor of Terrorism list.

CBC Interviews Jeffrey Knopf on Chemical Weapons and Ukraine

cfclymer@middlebury.edu — 2022-05-12T07:34:32-0700

Professor Jeffrey Knopf was interviewed by CBC News on chemical weapons and Ukraine.