Institute for the Study of War (ISW)
US non-profit research organisation that publishes open-source military and security assessments, best known for its daily analysis of Russia's war in Ukraine.
At a glance
- Entity level
- Organisation
- Type
- Non-profit or think tank
- Also known as
- ISW
- Flagship output
- Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment (latest: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 9, 2026, 9 September 2026)
- Category
- Geopolitical & political risk
- Also covers
- Security & corporate risk
- Tier
- Tier 1: Daily conflict assessments on Ukraine and Middle East widely cited by governments and media
- Headquarters
- Washington, DC, United States
- Coverage
- Russia-Ukraine, Iran and Middle East, China-Taiwan; military conflict assessment and forecasts
- Public access
- Free
- Latest activity seen
- 16 Oct 2026
- Evidence
- Verified
How it produces intelligence
Analysts assess open-source material daily, including official statements, milblogger and social media reports, and geolocated footage, and produce maps and written assessments.
Risk themes
Focus regions
Leadership
- George Barros, Co-author, Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment
- Christina Harward, Co-author, Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment
Links
What it publishes
| Output | Type | Cadence | Latest edition | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment | Daily/weekly briefing | Daily | Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 9, 2026 | 9 Sep 2026 | Read report |
| Iran Update (with AEI Critical Threats) | Daily/weekly briefing | Daily | Visit site | ||
| China-Taiwan Weekly Update | Daily/weekly briefing | Weekly | Visit site | ||
| Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment (with AEI Critical Threats Project) | Daily/weekly briefing | Daily | Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 16, 2026 | 16 Oct 2026 | Read report |
Latest findings
Recent public risk calls by Institute for the Study of War (ISW), summarised in our own words. They are its views, not 311's. Follow each source for the original.
Assesses that Putin and senior Russian officials are overstating battlefield gains to suggest a broad success that front-line evidence does not support.
16 Oct 2026 · Horizon: Current · Source: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 16, 2026Judges the inflated claims are an information operation to push Ukraine and Western partners into accepting Moscow's terms, with Putin refusing to cede any held territory.
16 Oct 2026 · Horizon: Next 6-12 months (peace talks) · Source: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 16, 2026Notes Russia is rebuilding armoured vehicle stocks, implying it still sees large mechanised offensives as viable if Ukraine's front breaks or against weaker drone-equipped foes.
16 Oct 2026 · Horizon: Medium term · Source: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 16, 2026Sees continued Kremlin seizures of European companies' Russian assets as likely leverage against European sanctions and the use of frozen Russian assets.
16 Oct 2026 · Horizon: Near term · Source: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 16, 2026Reports a likely Russian drone crashing about 30 km inside Moldova, alongside a 464-drone overnight strike package against Ukraine.
16 Oct 2026 · Horizon: Current · Source: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 16, 2026
Questions about Institute for the Study of War (ISW)
What is Institute for the Study of War (ISW)?
US non-profit research organisation that publishes open-source military and security assessments, best known for its daily analysis of Russia's war in Ukraine.
How does Institute for the Study of War (ISW) produce its intelligence?
Analysts assess open-source material daily, including official statements, milblogger and social media reports, and geolocated footage, and produce maps and written assessments.
Where is Institute for the Study of War (ISW) based?
Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is based in Washington, DC, United States.
What does Institute for the Study of War (ISW) cover?
Its work covers conflict & security, geopolitics, with a focus on Russia & Eurasia, Middle East & North Africa, East Asia.
Profile compiled by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit from public sources. Last checked 21 Oct 2026. Listing is not a ranking or an endorsement. Evidence source. Is this your organisation? Request a correction.