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] The U.S. and its allies, including the United Kingdom, are increasing efforts to prepare for potential Russian nuclear anti-satellite threats through joint wargaming exercises focused on space conflict scenarios. JD Supra
• [New] Russia plans to expand its unmanned systems forces to 101,000 personnel. RBC-Ukraine
• [New] In 2026, Russia plans to produce three million more FPV drones than last year. RBC-Ukraine
• [New] Following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU raised its target for the share of renewable energy sources in gross final energy consumption from 32% by 2030 to 42.5%. Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)
• [New] The FBI is warning that end-to-end encryption applications are being targeted by phishing attacks from Russia's intelligence service. Federal News Network
• [New] Europe could afford to spend more on defending itself against Russia; however, it could not afford to overspend, to do it without planning, or to leave it for too long to prepare. The Economy
• [New] Major global trade changes for 2025-2026 include higher projected corn exports for India, Russia and South Africa with reductions for Pakistan and Uruguay. AgriNews
• [New] The 11th Airborne are known as the Arctic Angels, and they are battle testing drones in extreme climates to combat the rising threats posed by adversaries like Russia and China. CNN
• [New] The IMF now expects expansion to slow to 4.8% in 2026, as tailwinds linked to Russia's war in Ukraine fade and new headwinds from the Middle East conflict emerge. The Astana Times
• [New] Russian low-level space warfare in the coming decades will employ maneuvering robot satellites, mobile jammers and hidden sleeper satellites that activate at unexpected times. The Washington Times
• [New] You could imagine a more European NATO deciding to harden itself against Russia by bringing Ukraine in, especially given Ukraine's battlefield experience, size, and strategic position. The Walrus
• [New] Urgent standardization and mass production of vehicle-mounted C-UAV jammers represent a significant Russian top-down effort to address the devastating threat from Ukrainian FPV drones. sUAS News
• [New] China, along with Russia, plans to complete construction of a lunar base by 2035. International Action Center - Founded in 1992 by Ramsey
• [New] Russia plans to release more than 7 million FPV drones in 2026. EADaily
• [New] Russia has demonstrated co-orbital anti-satellite capabilities, with satellites that maneuver close to adversary spacecraft and could potentially disable or destroy them through kinetic impact, electronic jamming, or directed energy. Military Machine
• [New] Recent pro-Kremlin disinformation campaigns focused on portraying Ukraine as a danger to the Baltic states, interfering in European elections, and pressuring the EU to reverse its energy sanctions on Russia. CRC
• [New] Due to the extensive threat from Ukrainian drones, the AFRF urgently needed to develop both kinetic and nonkinetic solutions to protect frontline units, a need formally acknowledged by the Russian MOD in its tactical manual REMINDER on Protection and Counteraction Against Enemy UAVs. sUAS News
• [New] The armed maritime drone deployment in the Black Sea threatens Russia's remaining logistical corridors to Crimea at a moment when the Slavyanin ferry has already been disabled, compressing resupply options further. Drone Warfare
• [New] Predictive Analysis: Russia will likely sustain mass drone barrages of 100 or more munitions per night against Ukrainian cities, as the operational pattern over the preceding weeks shows no reduction correlated with diplomatic activity. Drone Warfare
• [New] The 2022 spike in the wake of COVID-19 disruptions and Russia's invasion of Ukraine proved temporary rather than cyclical. Food Security Portal
• [New] Russia plans to continue active research and fishing operations in the Antarctic region in the coming years, citing significant potential for domestic fishermen. SeafoodNews
• [New] Russia will continue to take steps aimed at the earliest possible de-escalation in the Middle East and the settlement of all existing disagreements by peaceful means. The Washington Institute

Last updated: 25 April 2026