The Evening: Ukraine Strikes Back, Autocrat Summit, Doctor My Eyes, and More

Ukraine Strikes Headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet

A Ukrainian attack targeting the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Crimea damaged two ships and triggered a large blaze at a sprawling naval shipyard that plays a critical role in the Russian war effort, as the NYT reports.

Autocrat Summit

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un met today at Russia’s main spaceport, displaying a partnership between the leaders that unnerves the West over concerns that North Korea will provide munitions to support Russia and that Russia will provide critical assistance to North Korea’s space satellite program, as the WSJ reports.

Biden Administration Will Track Civilian Deaths From U.S.-Supplied Arms

The Biden administration has established a new system for responding to incidents in which foreign forces are suspected of using American-made weapons to injure or kill civilians, a first-of-its-kind initiative in an ongoing effort to minimize the human toll of U.S. arms exports and military operations worldwide, as The Washington Post reports.

Executive Education

Beyond the Battlefield: Global Implications of Russia's War in Ukraine breaks down how the February 2022 invasion and concomitant sanctions have been altering national and regional security in Russia, on the European continent, and the United States.

Audio Briefs

CSIS experts give short, spoken-word summaries on the biggest takeaways from their latest reports, white papers, and commentaries—in their own words.

Listen here: "On Carbon-Linked Trade, Start with the Basics" by CSIS's Allegra Dawes and Cy McGeady.

In That Number
2

North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Wednesday, as its leader, Kim Jong-un, was in Russia for a meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin to discuss military and other cooperation.
Source: NYT

Critical Quote

iDeas Lab

CSIS's Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group hosted Deputy Under Secretary Dr. Radha Iyengar Plumb, for a discussion on defense acquisition. Watch the full video here.

Optics

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un visited the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur Oblast, Russia, on September 13, 2023.

Recommended Reading

"Summit between Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin" by CSIS’s Victor Cha and Ellen Kim.

This Town Tomorrow

At 9:30 a.m., the CSIS Africa Program discusses drivers of coups in Africa and the challenges and opportunities for countries that have experienced successful coups since 2020. 

Then, at 1:00 p.m., the CSIS Middle East Program reflects on the lessons Iranian civil society has learned one year after the killing of Mahsa Amini. 

Later, at 1:30 p.m., the CSIS Missile Defense Project hosts a conversation on missile defense missions, roles, and responsibilities across the U.S. Department of Defense.

Video

This morning, the Project on Prosperity and Development discussed the importance of digital public infrastructure in promoting innovation. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

The CSIS Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project launches Driving Impact, a new podcast series that explores how Washington’s most influential policy leaders got their start. For the first episode, the Hon. Aaron Williams, shares his journey to becoming the 18th director of the Peace Corps.

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Smiles

The folks at Playing for Change have worked their magic again. Check out this outstanding video of Jackson Browne and friends performing Browne’s classic “Doctor My Eyes.” Such a joy!

I invite you to email me at aschwartz@csis.org and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz