Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Huseyin Ozdemir
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Hanging by a thread: Can Wagner survive the post-Prigozhin era?
Private Military Company (PMC), Wagner, may carry on without its charismatic founder and leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, but many experts believe it will never restore its former glory. A controversial plane crash Rumours are rife about the plane crash that claimed the lives of Wagner’s top brass. Many pundits believe...
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The Suwalki Gap and Putin's gambit for Prigozhin
The Prigozhin saga is unprecedented in Russian history. In the past, if a highly placed personality lost the trust of the Kremlin and were declared enemy of the state, the price would be dire. Prigozhin appears to be an exception. While his mutiny had many military personnel killed, including several...
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What does the Kremlin think about Turkiye's stance on Sweden's NATO bid?
Some experts argue that Turkiye’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership will strain its ties with Russia. However, a more nuanced approach is needed to understand the issues at stake. Turkiye-Russia relations go way beyond superficial analysis. Since the Russo-Turkish War of 1676–1681, they have fought on many occasions, and...
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The G7 Hiroshima Summit echoes nuclear fears
The G7 group of world leaders have had their sights on the Russia-Ukraine war. Over the past few weeks, speculation has been rife about a major Ukrainian counteroffensive, reflected by talks about supplying Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets. This development came after German Leopard-2 tanks were also supplied to...
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Who benefits from the murder of Vladlen Tatarsky?
The recent murder of Maxim Fomin, a popular pro-war blogger known as ‘Vladlen Tatarsky’, has once again cast a shadow of uncertainty over Russia’s domestic politics. Fomin’s assassination resembles the attack on Darya Dugina, another influential figure who supported the war in Ukraine and held great sway over the...
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This Russian call to occupy Istanbul is an outrageous provocation
A Russian “expert” recently made controversial comments about Turkiye following the 6 February earthquakes. Semyon Bagdasarov is a reserve army colonel of Armenian descent. He served as a deputy in the Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly, and is the director of the Moscow-based Centre for the...
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The pyrrhic battle for Bakhmut is a deadly flashpoint for Russia and Ukraine
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has witnessed battles and skirmishes with a high number of casualties. The defending side has often been favoured in these. However, the protagonists have also been locked in military action over relatively insignificant locations. A case in point is the city of...
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Wagner moves from the shadows to the spotlight
In recent months, the cities of Soledar, Vuhledar and Bakhmut have become the main focal points of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. However, the fact that there has been little significant change in the front lines for months has increased concerns that the conflict may be grinding to a stalemate....
