Tightening the noose

Putin’s “Victory Parade” mustered just one ancient tank this year as his badly led, poorly equipped and thoroughly demoralised troops and mercenaries retreated in Ukraine. However much he denies it, Putin is losing in Ukraine and defeat may cost him more than personal humiliation.

Counterstrike

Russia’s blundering and brutal assault on Ukraine has ground to a halt, but the West must keep arming Ukraine to ensure its plans to counter-attack succeed and drive the Russians from their country.

The long war

The West’s continued reluctance to confront Russia’s aggression in Ukraine or give Ukraine the jets, tanks and missiles it needs to destroy the invaders is dooming the country to a long and bloody stalemate.

Deportees

The International Criminal Court has called Russia’s systematic deportation of Ukrainian children a war crime, and Russia and the Soviet Union have a long and dreadful history of weaponising deportation.

Defeating Russia’s cyber-war against the West

Estonia’s prime minister, Kaja Kallas, argued that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the importance of securing democracies against malicious cyber actors in her recent address to ASPI’s Sydney Dialogue. This is an edited transcript of her speech.

Russia’s shadow war

The leak of 5,000 documents from Russia’s Vulkan group has exposed the ways Vladimir Putin’ wages cyber-war against the west.

Ecocide in Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has seen the deliberate destruction of Ukraine’s natural environment as a tactic of war, with no concern paid to their widespread, long-term and severe effects.

Russia’s forever war

Russia expected to crush, annex and absorb Ukraine in a matter of days, but after a year of dogged struggle, the Kremlin is now changing its tune and warning of a ‘forever war’.

Buffoonery in Belarus

Vladimir Putin’s disastrous invasion of Ukraine has not only humiliated his army and isolated his country, but pushed Sweden and Finland into the arms of NATO. Putin’s threat to move tactical nuclear weapons into his ‘mini me’ vassal of Belarus will only harden the resolve of democratic nations to oppose him.

Unite against the common enemy

Israel has been curiously reluctant to support Ukraine, despite their obvious similarities as isolated nations outside major defence blocks facing constant threats from hostile, authoritarian neighbours determined to destroy them, but opportunities exist for cooperation on air defence against common missile attacks on their citizens.

The war of words

Russia, in its various guises, has been trying to eradicate Ukrainian nationality, culture and language for hundreds of years, but every assault redoubles the commitment of Ukrainians to preserve and defend their language and nationhood.

Beauty and the beast

The bestial cruelty displayed by Russia’s invaders has shocked the world but only deepened Ukraine’s determination to fight for its survival.