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James Rushton

James Rushton

James Rushton is an independent security and foreign policy analyst based in Ukraine. He has a particular interest in British defense and foreign policy, as well as civilian protection in conflict zones.

Latest from James Rushton

Ukraine Is Already Striking Deep Inside Russia

Ukraine Is Already Striking Deep Inside Russia

While Ukraine’s Western allies debate the wisdom of allowing it to use long-range weapons to hit Russia’s interior, Kyiv is already employing drones and missiles against critical targets hundreds of miles over the border and Russia appears to have priced in a relaxation of U.S. restrictions.

Michael Weiss,
James Rushton
How Ukraine Caught Putin’s Forces Off Guard in Kursk — And Why

How Ukraine Caught Putin’s Forces Off Guard in Kursk — And Why

Ukrainian border raids into Russia are nothing new, although none has been undertaken with the type of forethought and ambition shown in the Kursk campaign. In under a week, Ukraine may have taken more of Russia than its adversary took of Ukraine in the entirety of 2024.

Michael Weiss,
James Rushton
Ukraine Has Every Right To Hit Russians in Russia With US Weapons

Ukraine Has Every Right To Hit Russians in Russia With US Weapons

Washington insists that the most effective U.S.-supplied artillery systems in Ukraine should be aimed strictly within Ukrainian territory. Not only are these restrictions holding back Ukraine militarily, they are also inconsistent and ultimately illogical.

Michael Weiss,
James Rushton
Ukraine’s Strikes Behind Enemy Lines Are Paying Off

Ukraine’s Strikes Behind Enemy Lines Are Paying Off

Ukraine’s ability to project power well behind a 1,000-mile line of contact has grown nearly exponentially since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion last year.

Michael Weiss,
James Rushton
Russians See Ukrainian Progress Where Others Don’t

Russians See Ukrainian Progress Where Others Don’t

Having serially outperformed expectations, Ukraine finds itself in the unenviable position of having gone from scrappy underdog to victim of its own mythologized success.

Michael Weiss,
James Rushton
Damning Evidence: Russia’s Culpability in Ukraine’s Biggest Ecological Disaster Since Chernobyl

Damning Evidence: Russia’s Culpability in Ukraine’s Biggest Ecological Disaster Since Chernobyl

The most compelling evidence is the growing consensus that what destroyed the dam was an explosion, not failure due to poor maintenance while being occupied by the Russians or the exceptionally high water levels in the Kakhovka Reservoir in the days leading up to the failure. The dam and hydroelectric power plant were captured on Feb. 24, 2022, in the early stages of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They have been in Russian possession ever since.

Michael Weiss,
James Rushton