Daniel Ofman is a staff reporter with The World based in Washington D.C. He’s reported extensively on Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. His reporting covers a wide range of subject areas, including geopolitics, diplomacy, defense, intelligence, security, economics, culture, and sports. You can reach Daniel at: Daniel.Ofman@theworld.org
What is Maria Butina doing now in Russia after her release from a US prison?
After being deported from the United States, Maria Butina is now a member of parliament in Russia’s Duma. She’s become a public persona, often appearing on Russian state TV, and has been active on social media, advertising multiple initiatives, including encouraging foreigners to move to Russia.
As Ukraine loses ground in the east, the mobilization debate becomes more heated
In recent months, Russian forces have been advancing in eastern Ukraine at the fastest pace since the early days of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Russia and Ukraine are seeing high casualty rates, which is forcing both sides to mobilize more troops to fill their ranks. But Ukraine’s leadership has been unwilling to mobilize younger men between 18 and 25 years old — despite pressure from its partners.
Russia’s military role in Syria
Russian state news agencies reported on Sunday that Bashar al-Assad and his family fled to Russia where they will be granted asylum. For years, the Kremlin’s political and military support has enabled Assad to cling onto power. Today, Russia’s military still has boots on the ground in Syria — but with the fall of the Assad regime, the Kremlin’s foothold has become uncertain.
Is the Russian flag a symbol of war?
In nearly three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, hundreds of thousands of people have left Russia. Outside of Russia, anti-war activists have attempted to organize support, but often, these attempts have led to harsh disagreements. The most recent debate is about whether the Russian flag has become a symbol of war.
After 1,000 days of full-scale war with Russia, is there a mood shift in Ukraine?
In Ukraine, nearly three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, there are signs of a significant societal mood shift. According to a recent poll, support for continuing to fight has declined across every region in the country. And more than half of the population wants to negotiate an end to the conflict.
Russian opposition leaders and thousands of supporters rally in Berlin against Putin
Some of the most prominent Russian dissidents and their supporters gathered over the weekend in Berlin. The opposition has a wide range of demands, but this was an opportunity for activists to gather with a common message — to end Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reign.