Russia’s antiquated military was exposed in the 2008 war with Georgia, prompting a major overhaul of the armed services that are now being unleashed on Ukraine.
Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
Experts around the world have been warning nuclear weapons are increasingly being seen as ‘usable’ by the political and military leaders who wield them.
A feature of the international community’s response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has been the adoption of sanctions. So what are sanctions? And are they likely to have any meaningful impact?
Russians flocked to banks and ATMs shortly after Russia attacked Ukraine and western countries announced sanctions.
(AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
Western countries are trying to fight Russia with sanctions, but Putin has taken steps to protect the Russian economy.
Ukrainian soldiers take positions in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 25, 2022 after Russia pressed its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of the capital.
(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Even if Vladimir Putin wins in Ukraine, he won’t be able to govern Ukrainians as he pleases. That’s because power is perceived very differently by Russians and Ukrainians.
Labor has maintained a 55-45% two-party lead in a Newspoll that also sees Anthony Albanese registering good personal ratings, against a background that has elevated national security issues.
The reasons for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are complicated and based on centuries of history between the two countries. A Ukrainian scholar provides some background.
Russians in Moscow and elsewhere flocked to ATMs to withdraw cash, fearful that the ruble will plunge further due to Western sanctions.
AP Photo/Victor Berzkin
By working with allies, the Biden administration has been able to place severe sanctions on Russia – including targeting Putin’s inner circle and banning banks from SWIFT.
Hackers can get eyes inside systems that are supposed to be secure.
Yuichiro Chino via Getty Images
Russian information warriors have the capacity to damage critical US infrastructure systems.
A woman and child walk away from a damaged residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine, where a military shell allegedly hit on Feb. 25, 2022.
Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images
Vladimir Putin has justified his invasion of Ukraine with baseless claims that Ukraine is committing genocide. It isn’t the first time a political leader has cried genocide for political means.
NATO has struggled to remain unified in recent years.
NATO via Flickr
Most of the emphasis has been on the threat to Europe’s gas needs, but if Russian crude oil is restricted, it will cause even greater problems.
The International Space Station is run collectively by the U.S., Russia, the European Space Agency, Japan and Canada.
NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center/Flickr
What happens to the International Space Station when tensions on Earth rise? A space policy expert explains how the ISS is run and how Russian aggression has threatened its operation in the past – and now.