Michael Kofman
@michaelkofman.bsky.social
43K followers 81 following 290 posts
Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment. Defense analysis with a focus on the Russian and Ukrainian militaries.
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michaelkofman.bsky.social
The latest Russia Contingency is out. I join BG Jyri Raitasalo to talk about how Finnish Defense Forces are changing training, perspectives on lessons learned from the Russia-Ukraine war, deterrence/defense l as part of NATO, and more. @WarOnTheRocks t.co/wnKrcOxLug
https://warontherocks.com/episode/therussiacontingency/36087/finlands-frontline-and-natos-northern-defense/
t.co
Reposted by Michael Kofman
davidcadier.bsky.social
Very much looking forward to welcoming @michaelkofman.bsky.social at @irsem.bsky.social, to his keynote on the strategic lessons of the Russia-Ukraine war, and to discussing implications for European security with @elietenenbaum.bsky.social and Maud Quessard!

October 6

www.irsem.fr/agenda/strat...
Strategic Lessons of the Russia-Ukraine War: Implications for European Security - IRSEM
www.irsem.fr
Reposted by Michael Kofman
warontherocks.bsky.social
Security guarantees looked one way in Alaska, and another in Washington. @massdara.bsky.social and @michaelkofman.bsky.social join Ryan to break down which version Ukraine might get.

Listen here: warontherocks.com/20...
Reposted by Michael Kofman
samfr.bsky.social
New post from @ldfreedman.bsky.social

"Half-Baked Alaska"

On the failed Trump-Putin summit and what changes about the prospects of peace as a result.

(£/free to read)

samf.substack.com/p/half-baked...
Half-Baked Alaska
Moving from ceasefire to full settlement
samf.substack.com
michaelkofman.bsky.social
Recently met this great UA customs inspector
Reposted by Michael Kofman
christopherjm.ft.com
Uh oh.

Scoop: Scores of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s MPs are potentially refusing to vote to restore the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, fearing the regained powers will be used to take revenge against them. www.ft.com/content/d8c2... via @financialtimes.com
Zelenskyy MPs balk at restoring anti-corruption bodies over “revenge” fears
MPs fearing prosecution refuse to vote on bill that restores independence of anti-corruption agencies
www.ft.com
michaelkofman.bsky.social
Latest WOTR podcast is out. I join @ryanevans.bsky.social to talk about the state of the front, manpower, drones, and the recent disruption of aid from the United States. Open to all. @WarOnTheRocks open.spotify.com/episode/11Cb...
How Ukraine is Adapting, Enduring, and Striking Back
War on the Rocks · Episode
open.spotify.com
michaelkofman.bsky.social
Some things here may be dated but I still found it useful. If you follow drone use in Ukraine then you likely know a lot of what’s in this piece. Yet the perspective is nonetheless helpful. warontherocks.com/2025/06/i-fo...
I Fought in Ukraine and Here’s Why FPV Drones Kind of Suck – War on the Rocks
warontherocks.com
Reposted by Michael Kofman
Reposted by Michael Kofman
msnegovaya.bsky.social
[email protected] and I had a great conversation with the always insightful @michaelkofman.bsky.social about the current state of the war in Ukraine. Mike shared his assessment of the frontline situation, how things are going for each side, & what he’s watching closely in the months ahead.
A Battlefield Update from Mike Kofman | Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts
Max and Maria get another update from military expert Mike Kofman on the state of the frontlines in Ukraine.
www.csis.org
michaelkofman.bsky.social
Latest RC is out. I join @justin-br0nk.bsky.social and Guy Plopsky to talk about the Israeli vs Russian air campaign. Why one succeed and the other failed. How can these different wars be usefully compared? What are observations or lessons learned. @WarOnTheRocks warontherocks.com/episode/ther...
Air Power in Practice: Lessons from Israel and Russia, Part 1 – War on the Rocks
warontherocks.com
michaelkofman.bsky.social
The damage to 6 other bombers is unclear. Max impact could therefore be 40%-50% of operationally ready aircraft if all 20 were affected. However it looked like some Tu-22M3 hit were not operable.
michaelkofman.bsky.social
Assuming 40% operational readiness in Russian LRA the confirmed impact of damaged and destroyed aircraft is 25-30% of the fleet. If readiness is lower then this goes to 35%+. These are rough estimates.
michaelkofman.bsky.social
Where different BDA assessments seem to converge. Destroyed: 7 Tu-95MS, 4 Tu-22M3, 1 An-12. Damaged: 1 Tu-95MS, 2 Tu-22M3 , 2 A-50s (probably non-operational). Additionally attacked & possibly damaged: 4 Tu-22M3 (status unclear), and 1 Tu-95MS.
michaelkofman.bsky.social
For folks who missed it. I sat down with the head of Estonian Military Intelligence for a conversation on the Russia-Ukraine war, how he sees the future Russia threat, and the security dynamic in the Baltic. @WarOnTheRocks warontherocks.com/episode/ther...
An Estonian Perspective on the Current and Future Russian Threat – War on the Rocks
warontherocks.com
michaelkofman.bsky.social
Another Russia Contingency episode is out. Rob Lee and @massdara.bsky.social join me for a good discussion on the SBU operation, what we know, implications, and exchange views on the current course of the war. @WarOnTheRocks warontherocks.com/episode/ther...
Unpacking Ukraine’s Audacious Drone Raid – War on the Rocks
warontherocks.com
Reposted by Michael Kofman
jackieschneider.bsky.social
With interviews featuring Leon Panetta, Frank Kendall, Michael A. Brown, @spettyjohn.bsky.social, Paul Scharre, @mchorowitz.bsky.social @aaronbateman.bsky.social, @michaelkofman.bsky.social, Kate Epstein, Thomas G. Mahnken, Benjamin Jensen, Jack Shanahan, James Roche and many more
Reposted by Michael Kofman
michaelkofman.bsky.social
Where different BDA assessments seem to converge. Destroyed: 7 Tu-95MS, 4 Tu-22M3, 1 An-12. Damaged: 1 Tu-95MS, 2 Tu-22M3 , 2 A-50s (probably non-operational). Additionally attacked & possibly damaged: 4 Tu-22M3 (status unclear), and 1 Tu-95MS.
michaelkofman.bsky.social
The second part of our Russia contingency episode with Richard Connolly and Alexandra Prokopenko is out. We continue the discussion on Russia’s economic outlook, debates about how Moscow is financing the war, defense spending, and more. @warontherocks.bsky.social warontherocks.com/episode/ther...
Assessing the Russian Economy in 2025, Part 2 - War on the Rocks
warontherocks.com
michaelkofman.bsky.social
Latest Russia Contingency is out. I’m joined by Richard Connolly and Alexandra Prokopenko to talk about the state of the Russian economy. We look at oil prices, sanctions, and discuss different scenarios for the coming months. @WarOnTheRocks warontherocks.com/episode/ther...
Assessing the Russian Economy in 2025, Part 1 - War on the Rocks
warontherocks.com