You are currently reviewing an older revision of this page.
Registration Link (Pending)
Details:
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the strategic landscape of the Black Sea has undergone a profound transformation. Once considered a symbol of Russian maritime dominance, the Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) has been significantly weakened by Ukraine’s innovative and asymmetric tactics. The sinking of the Moskva cruiser, the recapture of Snake Island, and repeated strikes on Russian naval assets in Crimea have undermined Moscow’s ability to operate freely in the region. As a result, the BSF has shifted from an offensive posture to one focused on defense and adaptation.This online panel brings together a group of leading experts to discuss the findings of RISS’s new research project examining the evolution of the BSF since the onset of the war in Ukraine. The conversation will explore the Fleet’s shifting strategic role, the limitations of its traditional hub in Sevastopol, and the feasibility of alternative basing options.
Michael KofmanSenior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program
Michael Kofman is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he focuses on the Russian military, Ukrainian armed forces, and Eurasian security issues. Prior to joining Carnegie in 2023, he served as director of the Russia Studies Program at the Center for Naval Analyses, where he led a team conducting research on the capabilities, strategy, and military thought of the Russian Armed Forces. Widely recognized as one of the leading authorities on the Russian military, and the Russo-Ukrainian war, Kofman has led foundational work in the field, and is routinely cited in major publications.
Eugene RumerDirector and Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program
Eugene Rumer is a senior fellow and the director of Carnegie’s Russia and Eurasia Program.
Prior to joining Carnegie, Rumer was the national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the U.S. National Intelligence Council from 2010 to 2014. Earlier, he held research appointments at the National Defense University, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and the RAND Corporation, and served at the State Department and on the National Security Council staff.
Dara MassicotSenior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program
Dara Massicot is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Her work focuses on defense and security issues in Russia and Eurasia.
Prior to joining Carnegie, Massicot was a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation and senior analyst for Russian military capabilities at the Department of Defense. She has published extensively on Russian military capabilities, modernization efforts, and strategy, and is a preeminent expert on the Russo-Ukrainian War.
She holds an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, and B.A.s in Russian Language and Literature and Peace, War, and Defense from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Back to Project CONNECT