Ukraine War

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is one of the defining conflicts of the twenty-first century, impacting everything from allied security architectures to global energy and food supply chains to the U.S. defense industry. CSIS produces leading research on the war in Ukraine and how it impacts European and U.S. security. 

Photo: Nico Vacca/Generated using Gemini and ChatGPT/CSIS

Photo: Nico Vacca/Generated using Gemini and ChatGPT/CSIS

The Art of Swarming

Cheap sensors and long-range fires have made it deadly to mass forces. This report argues that drone swarms can restore the offense when paired with a clear operational concept and explores how U.S. forces could use them in Kaliningrad, the South China Sea, and the Baltics.

Report by Benjamin Jensen — October 14, 2026

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Featured Analysis

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Russian Blood and Treasure: The Ballooning Costs of Putin’s War

Russia has suffered approximately 1.4 million casualties and 450,000 fatalities in Ukraine for only marginal territorial gains, according to new CSIS data. In addition, Ukraine has conducted deep strikes into Russian territory, including with AI-enabled drones.

Brief by Seth G. Jones and Riley McCabe — July 1, 2026

Latest Podcasts

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Spotlight On:  Drone Warfare

Photo: Anelo/Adobe Stock

Photo: Anelo/Adobe Stock

From Shahed to Geran: How Russia Continues to Reinvent the One-Way Attack Drone

Since acquiring the original design from Iran, Russia has treated the Geran as a base platform for unprecedented wartime iteration. In a new brief, Kateryna Bondar and Nicole Errera trace the drone's evolution and draw lessons for U.S. policymakers.

Brief by Kateryna Bondar and Nicole Errera — September 4, 2026

Past Events

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Related Programs

Experts

Seth G. Jones

Seth G. Jones

President, Defense and Security Department; Harold Brown Chair
Max Bergmann

Max Bergmann

Director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and Stuart Center
Daniel Byman

Daniel Byman

Director, Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program
Emily Harding

Emily Harding

Vice President, Defense and Security Department; Director, Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program
Benjamin Jensen

Benjamin Jensen

Director, Futures Lab and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Jerry McGinn

Jerry McGinn

Director, Center for the Industrial Base and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Alek Jovovic

Alek Jovovic

Deputy Director, Center for the Industrial Base and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department

All Ukraine War Content

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The Art of Swarming

Cheap sensors and long-range fires have made it deadly to mass forces. This report argues that drone swarms can restore the offense when paired with a clear operational concept and explores how U.S. forces could use them in Kaliningrad, the South China Sea, and the Baltics.

Report by Benjamin Jensen — October 14, 2026

Learning Without Bleeding: China’s Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine Drone War

China is using the Russia-Ukraine drone war as a military laboratory. Lilly Min-Chen Lee and Kateryna Bondar trace how quickly Chinese analysts identify battlefield innovations and how the PLA translates the lessons into training, procurement, hardware, and force structure.

Commentary by Lilly Min-Chen Lee and Kateryna Bondar — October 7, 2026

Is an Energy Truce Viable in the Ukraine War?

An energy truce in the Ukraine war before winter would serve Kyiv, Moscow, and global markets, yet past pauses have repeatedly broken down. A deal can hold only with a narrow target registry, independent satellite-based verification, and graduated responses to violations.

Commentary by Yasin Bozkus and Yasir Atalan — September 29, 2026

Russian Roulette

Red Lines and Reality: The West's Escalation Dilemma in Ukraine

Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Western policymakers have faced a recurring dilemma: how much escalation risk is acceptable in pursuit of a Ukrainian battlefield advantage?

Podcast Episode by Maria Snegovaya and Mick Ryan — September 25, 2026

Russian Roulette podcast logo

The Melting Arctic Lifeline for Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Two floating storage vessels have handled an estimated 53 percent of Russia’s seaborne Arctic crude exports since February 2022. CSIS Futures Lab analysis shows how the United States and Europe can target these bottlenecks to constrain the Kremlin’s wartime revenue.

Commentary by Tobias Oestreich, Jose M. Macias III, and Benjamin Jensen — September 23, 2026

How Do the Latest Black Sea Attacks Affect Global Food Security?

For the first time since 2022, attacks on agricultural infrastructure and cargo vessels are limiting grain exports from Russia and Ukraine at the same time. CSIS experts examine the latest attacks, their food-security impacts, and how the Iran war is worsening the crisis.

Critical Questions by Caitlin Welsh, Emma Curtis, and Joseph Glauber — September 11, 2026