#Ukrainian forces conducted similarly successful counterattacks east of #Kyiv on April 1. Ukrainian forces likely broke the encirclement of #Chernihiv and pushed Russian forces east from #Brovary and captured Nova Basan, nearly to the Supiy River. isw.pub/RusCampaignApr1
#Ukrainian forces conducted several local counterattacks around Kyiv, in northeastern Ukraine, and toward #Kherson on March 31, successfully pressuring #Russian forces and seeking to disrupt ongoing Russian troop rotations. isw.pub/RusCampaignMar…
The Kremlin used the #COVID19 pandemic to expand its societal control tools. The Kremlin seeks to expand its ability to control Russia's population as President Putin increasingly relies on authoritarian measures to preserve his rule. THREAD 1/13 bit.ly/3isipTo
Putin has steadily expanded his grip on Russia since 2000, but the pandemic provided opportunities to refine his authoritarian toolkit further under the pretext of quarantine enforcement. 2/13
The Kremlin empowered Russian security services and military, expanded Russian authorities' digital surveillance capabilities, and tightened control over Russia's information space. 3/13
Reuters allowed the Kremlin-run TASS news agency to join Reuters Connect. The Kremlin might use this access to spread its false narratives among Western audiences under the veneer of objective reporting- a campaign ISW has tracked in detail. bit.ly/2NvzPRy THREAD 1/11
TASS CEO Sergey Mikhailov said the deal will help present news from Russia "as objectively & reliably as possible." 2/11
Joining Reuters Connect is a gain for the Kremlin and its efforts to make Russia’s global information space less vulnerable to counter-disinformation efforts. 3/11