Ukraine
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Water Weaponization: Its Forms, Its Use in the Russia-Ukraine War, and What to Do About It
Water has been associated with conflict and cooperation between states since the beginning of recorded history. In ancient Mesopotamia, a conflict over the Euphrates River between two Sumerian cities yielded the world’s first recorded treaty. However, water has just as often been weaponized during conflict—water weaponization being the exploitation of the human need for water,…
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Briefer: One Year Later: Unraveling Climate and Ecological Security in Ukraine
One year after the invasion, this briefer reassesses the war’s implications for the energy transition, as well as global climate, ecological and food security.
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Climate & Food Security on Stage at the Munich Security Conference
Almost a year after the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine began, it was no surprise that the 2023 Munich Security Conference focused on the importance and implications of the ongoing conflict. This focus included a look at the second-order effects of the conflict, such as global food insecurity and the energy transition – a recognition…
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Yellow Card: Global Food Crisis Underscores Need for Systemic Security
By Brigitte Hugh In January 2022, food prices were already higher than normal. Pandemic-driven supply chain and labor complications combined with intensifying climate hazards had negatively affected global food availability. Then Russia invaded Ukraine, which has drastically reduced grain exports from Europe’s breadbasket, compounding the situation. Among other devastating humanitarian consequences, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine…
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A Case Study in the Environmental Risks of War: Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant
By Richard Marcantonio The risks of warfare are complex. Beyond the often-devastating immediate humanitarian implications of large-scale violence, warfare’s impact on the broader environment is multifaceted, posing environmental, social, political, economic, and human health risks. The ongoing violence in Ukraine precipitated by Russia’s invasion has brought to the fore, again, the specter of these broader…
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Nuclear Threats in Ukraine Today and Their Implications for Global Security Tomorrow
By Christine Parthemore and Andrea Rezzonico Amidst the mounting human toll of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its attacks are affecting nuclear energy sites as well. As of this writing, Russian forces have seized control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – the largest site of operating reactors in Europe. To date, the fighting at this plant…
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FACT SHEET: Russian Disinformation on U.S.-Supported Labs in Ukraine A Brief Overview & Links to Resources
Russia has increased its disinformation which falsely claims that Ukraine may have biological and chemical weapons. This effort from the Russian government, along with support from the Chinese government, is intended to erode trust in the United States and sow doubt in the international community, and may be part of plans for Russian biological or…
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The Deeply Dangerous Spread of Russian Disinformation on Biological Weapons
On Friday, March 11, the U.N. Security Council met at the request of Russia to discuss unsubstantiated and spurious claims that the United States is supporting biological and chemical weapons laboratories in Ukraine—the latest action in a long-running Russian disinformation campaign aimed to sow confusion and undermine trust in the United States and partner nations.…
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BRIEFER: Climate, Ecological Security and the Ukraine Crisis: Four Issues to Consider
By Erin Sikorsky, Elsa Barron and Brigitte Hugh In an analysis released early this year, the Center for Climate and Security (CCS) noted that climate change and climate security risks are not separate from other security challenges facing the United States—instead, they are overlapping and interconnected. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is no exception. Climate…
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IMCCS and NATO at the Munich Security Conference on the Eve of Conflict: Addressing Catastrophic Risks
By Elsa Barron The threat of a likely Russian invasion of Ukraine hung over the recent 2022 Munich Security Conference, held from February 18-20. Events and discussions regarding NATO’s role in responding to this immediate geopolitical, and potential humanitarian, crisis were many. Devastatingly, these conversations that were at the time hypothetical are now coming to…