ICDS Tallinn

Russia’s War in Ukraine: The Resonance of Ukraine’s Resistance - International Centre for Defence and Security Ukraine’s messaging resonates because it reflects the audience’s values, beliefs, and historical experiences. Its power lies not only in President Zelenskyy’s skilled communication, social media savvy, and emotional appeals, but in the deeper principles it expresses—justice, sovereignty, and the rule of law. These liberal democratic values define what we are willing to defend.

Kyiv’s story of heroic resistance and defence of democratic values has captured western hearts and minds.

Ben Heap examines the roots of Ukraine’s messaging success.

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Join global leaders, policymakers, and innovators in shaping the future of digital governance, AI, and democracy.

➡️ 9–10 October 2025 | tds.icds.ee

#TDS2025

Nädal välis- ja julgeolekupoliitikas: Hübriidrünnakud Leedus, Kreml ja kirik, Lähis-Ida rahuplaanid, Saksamaa, Tšehhi, Tallinna digitippkohtumine – Diplomaatia Rahvusvahelise Kaitseuuringute Keskuse (RKK) 2025. aasta 41. nädala uudiskiri. RKK teadurid kommenteerivad olulisi sündmusi ja suundumusi välispoliitikas ja julgeolekuvaldkonnas.

Eelmisel nädalal ütlesid oma “jah, aga” Trumpi esitatud 20-punktilisele rahuplaanile nii Iisrael kui Hamas. Pole aga sugugi selge, kas nad ütlesid jah samadele punktidele, selgitab Merili Arjakas RKK uudiskirjas Gaza rahuprotsessi tausta.

@meriliarjakas.bsky.social @icds-tallinn.bsky.social

Church is a Body of … State? How the Kremlin Wields Religion as a Weapon - ICDS Russia utilises Orthodox Christianity—specifically the Moscow Patriarchate—for both domestic and foreign political influence. Conversely, it becomes convenient for Russian authorities to portray alleg...

The Russian Orthodox Church and its clergy have acted as narrative launderers, translating Kremlin talking points into religious language.

Marek Kohv explains how Russia wields religion as a means to achieve its political aims.

Prague uncovers network of pro-Russian TikTok accounts aiming to sway Czech election Czech authorities have identified and launched an investigation into a network of nearly 300 TikTok bot accounts spreading pro-Russian narratives on a massive scale in advance of the country’s Oct

As the Czech election looms, Russian interference rears is head.

Prague uncovers network of pro-Russian TikTok accounts aiming to sway Czech election theins.ru/en/news/285377

Church is a Body of … State? How the Kremlin Wields Religion as a Weapon - ICDS Russia utilises Orthodox Christianity—specifically the Moscow Patriarchate—for both domestic and foreign political influence. Conversely, it becomes convenient for Russian authorities to portray alleg...

When the Church is available as a tool in the hybrid toolbox, the Kremlin never shies away from exploiting it, writes Marek Kohv.

GIP, Georgia’s Key Think Tank, Halts Work Citing Repression, Loss of Mission - Civil Georgia The Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP), a leading Tbilisi-based think tank established in 2011, an

One more of our trusted partners falls victim to the Georgian Dream’s increasing repression. As an independent policy research project sharing GIP’s democratic values, REUNIR stands with its Georgian colleagues.

@horizoneu.bsky.social

civil.ge/archives/703...

Welcome, David Cattler!

🤝 ICDS is delighted to welcome David Cattler as our new Non-Resident Research Fellow.

More about his background and expertise: icds.ee/en/autor/dav...

Venezuela's Maduro ready to declare state of emergency over US 'aggression'

A crisis in Venezuela involving the US might tip the balance in Washington in favour of hemispheric retrenchment. We in Europe must watch this carefully.

www.france24.com/en/video/202...

How to grapple with the Shadow Fleet? Estonia’s navy has pioneered what Marek Kohv calls “legal harassment” — hailing suspicious ships and checking their paperwork.

🚨New article “The Elephant in the Lecture Hall: Russian Intelligence and Western Academia”🐘
Now FREE ACCESS:👉https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2025.2556211
Should we resume academic cooperation with Russian universities someday—despite their deep integration into the (COUNTER)INTELLIGENCE STATE?

From Hamas's perspective, agreeing to Trump's peace plan would require great faith in Israel keeping its promises – a faith they largely lack. The question is whether they also envisage any positive future for themselves. @meriliarjakas.bsky.social

From Stalemate to Solution: Rethinking EU Approaches to Bilateral Disputes in the Context of Enlargement - ICDS Although Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has given new momentum to the European Union’s enlargement process, further progress is being hindered by unresolved bilateral disputes.

The ability to manage and resolve disputes is not merely a technical requirement for EU enlargement but increasingly a strategic necessity in a more conflicted geopolitical environment.

📄 New report by Steven Blockmans and Butrint Berisha.

@stevenblockmans.bsky.social @butrintberisha.bsky.social

Russia and the Red Sea since 2022: Militarised Foreign Policy or Strategy of Conflict? - ICDS Accounting for over 10% of world trade, the Red Sea is an essential waterway and a chokepoint for international shipping. Piracy, instability, and inter-state conflict are long-term challenges that ha...

Since 2022, Russia's oil transit through the Suez Canal has soared to nearly 70%, alongside naval ambitions and reported Houthi ties.

What is Moscow’s strategy in the Red Sea region, and how does it fit its wider aggressive foreign policy? @ivanklyszcz.com

Nädal välis- ja julgeolekupoliitikas: Gaza rahuplaanide rohkus, USA ja Venezuela, (hübriid)sõda Euroopas – Diplomaatia Rahvusvahelise Kaitseuuringute Keskuse (RKK) 2025. aasta 40. nädala uudiskiri. RKK teadurid kommenteerivad olulisi sündmusi ja suundumusi välispoliitikas ja julgeolekuvaldkonnas.

On suur küsimärk, kas Hamas on valmis uskuma Iisraeli valitsust piisavalt, et relvad maha panna ja pantvangid vabastada, kirjutab Merili Arjakas RKK nädalakirjas.

@meriliarjakas.bsky.social @icds-tallinn.bsky.social

Venemaal pole meie piirkonnas piisavalt jõudu, et kujutada endast reaalset sõjaohtu. Nende fookus on Ukrainal. Lääne suunal tegutsetakse peamiselt selleks, et survestada lääneriike mõjutama Ukrainat Venemaa eesmärkide suunas, leiab Nele Loorents. #ABCDTallinn

🎧 Kuku: kuku.pleier.ee/podcast/kuku...

🤝 A heartfelt thank you to all the panellists, participants, volunteers, and supporters who made the 19th ABCD possible!

#ABCDTallinn was organised by ICDS and @modestonia.bsky.social, in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. The main partner of the event was DefSecIntel Solutions.

"Estonian Defence Week helps to bridge academic discussions, political expectations, and defence industry opportunities." — Nele Loorents, Director of the ABCD, is glad that #ABCDTallinn was part of EDW.

Moldova at the Crossroads: The Bear at the Gate and the Winds of the West - ICDS Elections are always a pivotal moment in any democracy, the ultimate expression of citizens shaping their country’s future. But for Moldova, the stakes go far beyond domestic politics. These parliamen...

As Moldovans head to the polls, the question is no longer whether Russian interference exists but whether voters believe European integration offers enough tangible improvement to outweigh economic pain and relentless disinformation, writes Nino Karanadze.

Annual Baltic Conference on Defence (ABCD) 2025 Photos: Marko Mumm and Raul Mee

📸 Photos: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCv1i8

📸 Photos: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCv1i8

Fortifying Europe: Reconciling Europe’s Needs & Resources

-Tuuli Duneton @modestonia.bsky.social
-Alexandre Escorcia, Ministry for the Armed Forces (France)
-Joanne Hamer, Ministry of Defence (UK)
-Viktoria Hjort-Malmer, Ministry of Defence (Sweden)

Moderator: Lara Jakes @nytimes.com

#ABCDTallinn

🔥 Innovation Under Fire: Adjusting Capabilities and Strategy for Modern Warfare

- Marko Kaseleht, Nortal
- Nicholas Nelson, Archangel / CEPA
- Michael Vetter, Federal Ministry of Defence
- Vadym Yunyk, RoGuard Systems

Moderator: Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar, UDCG IT Coalition

#ABCDTallinn

Special thanks to @icds-tallinn.bsky.social for another impeccably executed ABCD — really important moment to have a focused forum for discussion on Baltic defense, covering a wide range of topics from strategic to technical.

This was a really interesting conversation - thanks so much to @icds-tallinn.bsky.social for putting it together!

The #ABCDTallinn was the perfect scene for a visit by Norwegian Deputy Defence Minister Anders Flåm. Good bilateral meetings with Secretaries General Kuusk and Vseviov, and a timely pre-event panel on maritime security with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace on stage. Thanks, @icds-tallinn.bsky.social

"It's no longer the platforms that make the difference, it will be our ability to sense, understand and orchestrate the effects chain including the sensor networks, the data, the analytics and the effectors." — Michael Vetter, Ministry of Defence of Germany.

#ABCDTallinn

"Russia is testing NATO's unity and speed of response. Sweden has responded decisively." — Viktoria Hjort-Malmer, Defence Policy Director at the Ministry of Defence of Sweden.

#ABCDTallinn

Rethinking Grand Strategy: Opportunities and Perils for a Transatlantic Future

- Max Bergmann, CSIS @erep.csis.org
- Francois-Marie Gougeon, NATO HQ
- Jonatan Vseviov, MFA Estonia

Moderator: Jacob Parakilas, RAND @randeurope.org

@jparakilas.bsky.social
@maxbergmann.bsky.social
#ABCDTallinn

🧭 Navigating Uncertainty: The Threat in Focus

- Adrian Ciolponea, NATO ACT
- Michel Duclos, Institut Montaigne
- Vahur Karus, Estonian Defence Forces
- John Mead, JFC Brunssum

Moderator: Jacopo Barigazzi, @politico.eu
@jacopobarigazzi.bsky.social

Session one of day two #ABCDTallinn