MenuAs one door closes, another opens. For Russia, which lost European markets and relations, the doors of old Soviet allies and fellow pariahs open, this time in Pyongyang. Communist North Korea was Joseph Stalin’s creation, installed under Soviet occupation and formally established in 1948, then pulled back from collapse two years later by Mao Zedong’s
Category Archives: Russia & Eurasia
Trump Worries Ukraine Strategy Is Driving Up Diesel Prices
Russia faces an acute energy and fuel crisis following months of Ukrainian attacks on its refineries and other energy infrastructure. This has created long lines and economic slowdowns in Russia, forcing some regions to ration fuel. Read the full article here.
Energy Targets In The Sights Of Two Theaters Of War
On the first of this month, Ukrainian drones struck three oil refineries in Russia’s Bashkortostan region near the city of Ufa, around 1,600 kilometers from the border. A day later, Rosneft’s Saratov refinery was hit, a plant that processed 5.8 million tons of oil in 2024. These two incidents are part of a long list of damaging attacks on energy
Energy After Peace In Ukraine
Russia—the petrostate that spent a decade trying to weaponize natural gas against Europe—is now rationing fuel at home as shortages spread across the country. The Crimea has declared a state of emergency, and other occupied Ukrainian territories are struggling to secure adequate supplies as civilians continue to flee the deteriorating conditions. Ukraine’s sustained drone and missile campaign against Russian
Ukraine Reconstruction: Back To Basics For Global Grain And Steel
Ukraine’s post-war economic story will not initially be written by startups or fintech. It will be written in fields, furnaces, mines, pipelines, and ports (and drone production). Read the full article here.
The Struggle To Redraw Eurasia’s Energy Map
Russian missiles continue pounding Ukraine’s energy infrastructure despite President Vladimir Putin’s unilateral declaration of a ceasefire on May 9th. Earlier, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced the suspension of Kazakh crude oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline to Germany starting May 1st. This pipeline, which became operational in the 1960s, runs from Tatarstan, Russia, and branches through Belarus
Russia And Iran Are Reshaping Regional Power In Crisis And Confrontation
The U.S./Israel-Iran war is not just a confrontation with the Shia theocratic dictatorship in Iran and the Iranian proxies, like the Houthis and Hezbollah, involved in combat operations. Iran’s patrons and backers, primarily China and Russia, factor heavily in the mix. And there is no greater backer of Iran than Russia. Read the full article here.
Questions Remain About Russian Oil In U.S.–India Trade Deal
President Donald Trump promised to reconsider tariffs on India if New Delhi ceases purchasing Russian crude oil. Targeting Moscow’s second-largest crude oil buyer strikes directly at the Kremlin’s financial underbelly in its war of attrition against Ukraine. While this leverage may prove consequential as peace talks are limping, some in Washington worry that pressure on India is
Uncertainty: Top 5 Russian Energy Trends To Watch In 2026
The Russia-Ukraine war has been brutal to the Russian energy sector. New problems are emerging, and old issues are accumulating as Russia enters 2026. Losing Syria in December of 2024 and Venezuela in January 2026 exposes Russia’s global ambition as an emperor with no clothes. Ukraine’s bloody slog comes at a huge cost. Read the full article
Decline: Top Five 2025 Developments In Russian Energy
Exporting energy has long been recognized as a money-making machine for Moscow. It has not only filled the Kremlin’s war chest but also generated immense personal wealth for Russian leaders and affiliated oligarchs. But in 2025, the picture of Russian energy became much more complicated. The Russian energy sector now functions not only as a strategic asset