Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Institute for the Study of War

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 12h

NEW: Russian forces have conducted three company- and battalion-sized mechanized assaults in priority areas of Donetsk Oblast over the last two weeks, marking an inflection in recent Russian armor usage in Ukraine. 🧵 (1/5)

Other Key Takeaways ⬇️

2 45 190

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 12h

5/ Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 14, 2025: isw.pub/UkrWar101425

7 80

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 12h

4/ The Kremlin continues to demonstrate its unwillingness to compromise or engage in good-faith peace negotiations.

Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Sumy Oblast and western Zaporizhia Oblast. Russian forces recently advanced in the Dobropillya tactical area.

1 9 120

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 12h

3/ Kremlin officials continue to apply the same narratives to the Baltic states that Russia has used to justify its invasions of former Soviet states in the past three decades.

1 8 80

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 12h

2/ Russian forces appear to be conducting larger mechanized assaults during rainy and foggy weather conditions, which complicate Ukrainian drone operations.

1 3 76

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 12h

NEW: Russian forces have conducted three company- and battalion-sized mechanized assaults in priority areas of Donetsk Oblast over the last two weeks, marking an inflection in recent Russian armor usage in Ukraine. 🧵 (1/5)

Other Key Takeaways ⬇️

2 45 190

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 13h

Iran Update, October 14, 2025:

Iran Update, October 14, 2025

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander Mazloum Abdi said on October 11 that he and the Syrian transitional government reached an agreement.

isw.pub

4 22

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 13h

Kataib Hezbollah Spokesperson Abu Ali al Askari called the US sanctions “ridiculous” and denied any connection between Kataib Hezbollah and the sanctioned individuals.

1 1 25

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 13h

Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah criticized recent US sanctions targeting Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)-owned commercial entities, Iraqi bank executives, and Kataib Hezbollah officials.

1 17

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 13h

Other Key Takeaways ⬇️

Iran reportedly turned on the automatic identification systems (AIS) of most of its oil tankers on October 13, according to Tanker Trackers. This incident marks the first time that Iranian tankers have turned on their AIS signals since 2018.

1 19

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 13h

NEW: Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander Mazloum Abdi said on October 11 that he and the Syrian transitional government reached a “preliminary agreement” last week to integrate the SDF and Kurdish internal security forces into the state’s defense and interior ministries, respectively. 🧵 (1/5)

1 12 68

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 14h

2/ Please note that the Spring 2026 internship is full-time and entirely remote. Exceptions to full-time will be made on a case-by-case basis. The internship term spans from January 13 to May 15, 2026.

1 23

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 14h

Are you interested in supporting and contributing to our world-renowned research, analysis, and geospatial intelligence? Now’s your chance.

You have one month left to apply, with applications closing on November 14. Peruse our four internship offerings and apply here: understandingwar.org... (1/2)

1 5 42

Reposted by Institute for the Study of War

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: Hamas and Israel have continued to implement the October 9 ceasefire agreement. Hamas released all 20 living hostages and the bodies of four deceased hostages, and Israel released at least 1,700 Palestinian prisoners on October 13. (1/4)

Read the full update: isw.pub/IranUpdate10...

3 28 120

Reposted by Institute for the Study of War

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

WARNING: The Kremlin is Preparing to Mobilize Reservists on a Rolling Basis to Fight in Ukraine for the First Time: isw.pub/UKRWARNO101325

Note: This warning does not suggest that the Kremlin is likely to undertake a single large-scale mobilization at this time.

11 85 270

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

WARNING: The Kremlin is Preparing to Mobilize Reservists on a Rolling Basis to Fight in Ukraine for the First Time: isw.pub/UKRWARNO101325

Note: This warning does not suggest that the Kremlin is likely to undertake a single large-scale mobilization at this time.

11 85 270

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

3/ The Kremlin appears to be changing tactics within its reflexive control campaign to deter the US from providing Ukraine w/ Tomahawk missiles, likely due to recent reports that the US has been sharing intelligence to help Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign against Russian energy infrastructure.

7 110

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

2/ European officials continue to note how Russia is intensifying its covert & overt attacks against Europe, supporting ISW’s assessment that Russia has entered “Phase Zero” — the informational & psychological condition-setting phase — of its campaign to prepare for a possible future NATO-Russia war

2 17 120

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: The Kremlin removed some restrictions on using Russian reservists in combat, allowing the Kremlin to employ reservists in its war in Ukraine. ISW will review the significance of this draft law in an upcoming warning update publication. isw.pub/UkrWar101325

Other Key Takeaways ⤵️(1/3)

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 13, 2025

The Kremlin removed some restrictions on using Russian reservists in combat, allowing the Kremlin to employ reservists in its war in Ukraine.

isw.pub

5 45 170

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

4/ UNSC Resolution 1929 calls on UN member states to “inspect any [Iranian] vessel on their territory suspected of carrying prohibited cargo, including banned conventional arms or sensitive nuclear or missile items.”

Read the full update:

Iran Update, October 13, 2025

Hamas and Israel have continued to implement the October 9 ceasefire agreement, published by ISW and AEI's Critical Threats Project.

isw.pub

3 52

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

3/ Other Key Takeaway:

Senior Iranian officials have continued to threaten to close the Strait of Hormuz, likely to try to deter the United States and its allies from enforcing UNSC Resolution 1929 and sanctions on Iranian oil exports.

1 5 49

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

2/ The ceasefire agreement does not address key outstanding issues between Hamas and Israel, such as Hamas’ disarmament, a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and future governance in the strip.

2 4 29

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: Hamas and Israel have continued to implement the October 9 ceasefire agreement. Hamas released all 20 living hostages and the bodies of four deceased hostages, and Israel released at least 1,700 Palestinian prisoners on October 13. (1/4)

Read the full update: isw.pub/IranUpdate10...

3 28 120

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 2d

3/ This event is the first instance of ISW observing “little green men” (a euphemism the Kremlin uses for the Russian military forces in unmarked uniforms) operating near a NATO state in the context of the “Phase Zero” campaign. isw.pub/UkrWar101225

2 22 140

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 2d

2/ ISW continues to assess that Russia has recently intensified its covert and overt attacks against Europe and that Russia has entered “Phase Zero” — the informational and psychological condition-setting phase — of its campaign to prepare for a possible NATO-Russia war in the future.

3 41 160