Our Scans · Russia · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Russia is becoming an independent geopolitical actor. Russia will seek to maintain the world's strategic balance of power. A resurgent Russia is likely to continue to stir up trouble across much of Central and East Europe and the Middle East. It remains to be seen whether a rapprochement is possible with the U.S. And, Russia's economy is expected to return to modest growth in late 2016 and 2017, further strengthening its hand.

• [New] Russia plans to significantly increase the use of jet-powered strike drones in air attacks on Ukraine - their share could reach 50%. Militarnyi
• [New] Countering Russia's threats with Tomahawk deployments, is stabilizing. Hudson Institute
• [New] If the Trump administration weakens NATO by withdrawing U.S. forces, stopping key weapons deliveries to Europeans who are willing to buy them, and canceling deployment of a U.S. weapon system out of fear of provoking Russia, it courts disaster. Hudson Institute
• [New] Russia's theory of victory is that even if gradually, it is gaining ground and will eventually wear down Ukrainian defences. News
• [New] Ukraine's theory of victory is that if it can kill more Russian soldiers than Russia can recruit, Russia will eventually have to negotiate peace. News
• [New] Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian ships and ports could shut down grain exports via the Black Sea in the near future, pushing up prices and causing hunger in Africa and the Middle East. MarineLink
• [New] About 25% of Russia's grain exports and 25% to 30% of its Black Sea oil exports could be disrupted. CNBC
• [New] The first autonomous train is to begin shadow operation without passengers in 2026, followed by passenger-carrying test runs in 2027. / Russia Railway Gazette International
• [New] The Big Circle Line will become Russia's first fully automated metro line by 2030. Railway Gazette International
• [New] Closer cooperation with Russia and China could help North Korea overcome weaknesses in human intelligence, satellite surveillance and international access. UPI
• [New] To damage Ukraine's economy and energy grid, destabilize its transport and infrastructure networks, and thereby weaken society's will to resist, Russia uses sea -, land -, and air-launched drones, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles. Russia in Global Affairs
• [New] The strike on a major Russian oil refinery added to worries about global supply security, supporting higher oil prices amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions. Polymarket
• [New] The Arctic is an important part for Russia - of Russia, it's always going to be in terms of sovereignty. Center for Strategic and International Studies
• [New] Russian President Vladimir Putin has adopted a reckless policy that accepts the risk of Russian drones entering European and NATO airspace as an acceptable consequence of its strikes in Ukraine. Critical Threats
• [New] Authorities in Russia's Pskov region have declared a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) threat, leading to the closure of Pskov Airport to both arriving and departing flights. Caliber.az
• [New] The newly announced unmanned systems regiments will be subordinate to the Russian Navy and appear to be separate from USF, which has operated in support of Russian ground forces in Ukraine. Critical Threats
• [New] Russia will hold the largest conscription for military service in 14 years. Militarnyi
• [New] Russia's energy strategy includes plans for 38 new nuclear power units with a combined capacity of 29.3 GW and a 25% share of generation from nuclear by 2045. Last Week in ConTech
• [New] Russia could provide satellite and military expertise while China could offer access to communications infrastructure, technology and a broader overseas presence. UPI
• [New] Russian assistance could help North Korea build a group of reconnaissance satellites capable of monitoring South Korea, Japan and U.S. military facilities more frequently. UPI
• [New] The strikes on Russia's Amazon, which have included facilities in the Moscow and St. Petersburg regions and in Krasnodar in southern Russia, are causing billions of rubles in losses and threatening hundreds of small businesses. gCaptain

Last updated: 08 August 2026