Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
The Russian Analytical Digest (RAD) analyzes recent events, trends and developments within contemporary Russian politics, economics and business, foreign policy, security and society. Each issue contains original academic and policy relevant research articles by authors from across the globe, and topical statistical data, graphics and opinion polls. The series is produced by a partner network that includes the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zürich, the external page Research Centre for East European Studies (FSO) at the University of Bremen, the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES) and the external page Center for Eastern European Studies (CEES) at the University of Zurich. The RAD is edited by external page Fabian Burkhardt, external page Vassily Klimentov, external page Matthias Neumann, external page Robert Orttung, external page Jeronim Perović, external page Heiko Pleines, and external page Hans-Henning Schröder.
The series is partnered with the German language publication Russland-Analysen, the Russian Regional Report, and the Caucasus Analytical Digest (CAD).
All Issues
All RAD IssuesCurrent Issues
No. 340: The Transformation of Armenian-Russian Relations
This special issue examines the foundational pillars of the bilateral relations between Armenia and Russia, the countries’ political, security and economic ties, which have both structured and constrained their relationship. The opening article maps the political friction, ranging from persistent misunderstandings to clearly defined red lines in the relations between Armenia and Russia, while the second article demonstrates that defence cooperation has significantly eroded following Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine indicating Armenia’s diversification of its security arrangements. The last article analyses the evolving economic relationship between the two countries, highlighting the transformative impact of international sanctions.
No 339: Russia and Syria After Assad's Fall
The three contributions in this issue examine aspects of Russian-Syrian relations. Hafssa Kouskous analyses how Russia’s Wagner Private Military Company was central in consolidating Russia’s stake in Syria after Moscow intervened in the Syrian Civil War in 2015. Fast forwarding to the present, the contributions by Bilal Salaymeh and Vassily Klimentov investigate Russian-Syrian relations after the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, exploring the challenges that complicate bilateral relations and illuminating how Damascus and Moscow remain suspicious of each other despite the multiplication of bilateral contacts in 2025.