Lydia Wachs
@lydiawachs.bsky.social
PhD Candidate @stockholm-uni.bsky.social | Previously researcher at @swp-berlin.org, @rusi.bsky.social | Alumna @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social | nuclear issues, Russia, missile defence | views=my own
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Lydia Wachs
@lydiawachs.bsky.social
· Feb 14
Happy to share - now here as well - my latest article, titled "Russian nuclear roulette? Elites & public debates on #nuclearweapons in Moscow after Ukraine," which was published in December in the Nonproliferation Review.
Read it here (open access): doi.org/10.1080/1073...
Read it here (open access): doi.org/10.1080/1073...
"This year’s Zapad underscores the complex interplay between military signaling, political maneuvering, and nuclear posture in the Russia-Belarus relationship."
Great piece👇
Great piece👇
Belarus's nuclear sharing arrangement with the Kremlin makes it far more difficult for Minsk to act independently, write @gabrielairosa.bsky.social and @dexeve.bsky.social.
"The 'Zapad' exercise and how Lukashenko learned to love the Bomb." ⬇️
"The 'Zapad' exercise and how Lukashenko learned to love the Bomb." ⬇️
The 'Zapad' exercise and how Lukashenko learned to love the Bomb
Despite being highly anticipated, the sudden change in public rhetoric about this year's Zapad strategic military exercise suggests that the Russia-Belarus relationship may be more complicated than…
thebulletin.org
November 7, 2025 at 8:24 AM
"This year’s Zapad underscores the complex interplay between military signaling, political maneuvering, and nuclear posture in the Russia-Belarus relationship."
Great piece👇
Great piece👇
" #Russian defense minister proposes preparations for full-scale #nucleartests... In response, Putin asked the heads of the Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry and the security services..."
mdza.io/k/DqKooaEXVQ 1/2
mdza.io/k/DqKooaEXVQ 1/2
Russian defense minister proposes preparations for full-scale nuclear tests — Meduza
At a Security Council meeting, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov proposed that Vladimir Putin immediately begin preparations for a full-scale nuclear weapons test on the Novaya Zemlya archipela...
mdza.io
November 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
" #Russian defense minister proposes preparations for full-scale #nucleartests... In response, Putin asked the heads of the Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry and the security services..."
mdza.io/k/DqKooaEXVQ 1/2
mdza.io/k/DqKooaEXVQ 1/2
Reposted by Lydia Wachs
Poseidon belongs to a long Soviet lineage of experimenting with high-yield undersea delivery systems. These projects explored how ocean depth, pressure, and shock-wave propagation could be harnessed to shape or amplify nuclear effects. 🧵
October 29, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Poseidon belongs to a long Soviet lineage of experimenting with high-yield undersea delivery systems. These projects explored how ocean depth, pressure, and shock-wave propagation could be harnessed to shape or amplify nuclear effects. 🧵
Putin just announced that Russia is ready to comply with the quant. limits of #NewSTART for one year after its expiry www.kommersant.ru/doc/8058884?...
Путин: РФ готова придерживаться ДСНВ в течение года после истечения его срока
Подробнее на сайте
www.kommersant.ru
September 22, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Putin just announced that Russia is ready to comply with the quant. limits of #NewSTART for one year after its expiry www.kommersant.ru/doc/8058884?...
Still can’t quite believe that my article “Russian nuclear roulette” has won the Doreen and Jim McElvany Nonproliferation Award grand prize. nonproliferation.org/article-on-r... 1/3
Article on Russian nuclear strategy during Ukraine war takes top McElvany Award
An article providing key insights into Russian nuclear strategy during the first 18 months of the war in Ukraine has won the grand prize.
nonproliferation.org
September 12, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Still can’t quite believe that my article “Russian nuclear roulette” has won the Doreen and Jim McElvany Nonproliferation Award grand prize. nonproliferation.org/article-on-r... 1/3
Reposted by Lydia Wachs
1/4
Congratulations to Nonproliferation Review McElvany Award winners for their articles! @lydiawachs.bsky.social (grand prize), @karldewey1.bsky.social (runner-up), & Austin Cooper (honorable mention). Links to #openaccess articles in subsequent posts below.
nonproliferation.org/article-on-r...
Congratulations to Nonproliferation Review McElvany Award winners for their articles! @lydiawachs.bsky.social (grand prize), @karldewey1.bsky.social (runner-up), & Austin Cooper (honorable mention). Links to #openaccess articles in subsequent posts below.
nonproliferation.org/article-on-r...
Article on Russian nuclear strategy during Ukraine war takes top McElvany Award
An article providing key insights into Russian nuclear strategy during the first 18 months of the war in Ukraine has won the grand prize.
nonproliferation.org
September 11, 2025 at 9:25 PM
1/4
Congratulations to Nonproliferation Review McElvany Award winners for their articles! @lydiawachs.bsky.social (grand prize), @karldewey1.bsky.social (runner-up), & Austin Cooper (honorable mention). Links to #openaccess articles in subsequent posts below.
nonproliferation.org/article-on-r...
Congratulations to Nonproliferation Review McElvany Award winners for their articles! @lydiawachs.bsky.social (grand prize), @karldewey1.bsky.social (runner-up), & Austin Cooper (honorable mention). Links to #openaccess articles in subsequent posts below.
nonproliferation.org/article-on-r...
Reposted by Lydia Wachs
Russia has been upgrading 4 nuclear sites at home & in Belarus (where presumably Russian nukes are hosted), revealed new satellite images @businessinsider.com t.ly/VtKeZ. Read STAND’S @liviuhorovitz.bsky.social & @lydiawachs.bsky.social analysis on Moscow's nukes in Belarus t.ly/5wxol 5/10
Satellite photos show how Russia is building up 5 of its secret nuclear bases
New images assessed by Business Insider show new roadworks, buildings, and modifications, with some sites undergoing rapid expansion.
t.ly
July 18, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Russia has been upgrading 4 nuclear sites at home & in Belarus (where presumably Russian nukes are hosted), revealed new satellite images @businessinsider.com t.ly/VtKeZ. Read STAND’S @liviuhorovitz.bsky.social & @lydiawachs.bsky.social analysis on Moscow's nukes in Belarus t.ly/5wxol 5/10
Reposted by Lydia Wachs
1/8
Later this year from @mitpress.bsky.social in @belfercenter.bsky.social's Studies in International Security book series-- Atomic Backfires: When Nuclear Policies Fail.
This is a sobering edited volume on how efforts to reduce nuclear weapons dangers may sometimes wind up exacerbating them.
Later this year from @mitpress.bsky.social in @belfercenter.bsky.social's Studies in International Security book series-- Atomic Backfires: When Nuclear Policies Fail.
This is a sobering edited volume on how efforts to reduce nuclear weapons dangers may sometimes wind up exacerbating them.
July 3, 2025 at 2:48 PM
1/8
Later this year from @mitpress.bsky.social in @belfercenter.bsky.social's Studies in International Security book series-- Atomic Backfires: When Nuclear Policies Fail.
This is a sobering edited volume on how efforts to reduce nuclear weapons dangers may sometimes wind up exacerbating them.
Later this year from @mitpress.bsky.social in @belfercenter.bsky.social's Studies in International Security book series-- Atomic Backfires: When Nuclear Policies Fail.
This is a sobering edited volume on how efforts to reduce nuclear weapons dangers may sometimes wind up exacerbating them.
Really enjoyed the discussion 🤓
🛑 Happening at #EISS2025 right now! Roundtable ‘Nuclear Coercion’ with MichalOnderco, Kristin Ven Bruusgaard, @lydiawachs.bsky.social, Sanne Verschuren & @laurensukin.bsky.social
Full programme: drive.google.com/file/d/1_1eK...
Full programme: drive.google.com/file/d/1_1eK...
June 26, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Really enjoyed the discussion 🤓
Reposted by Lydia Wachs
Top level RT to discuss nuclear coercion (timely topic!) at @eissnetwork.bsky.social conference with very insightful contributions from @lydiawachs.bsky.social Kristin Ven Bruusgard, Eliza Georghe @laurensukin.bsky.social @sannecjv.bsky.social 🎩 to @profonderco.bsky.social for putting this together
June 26, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Top level RT to discuss nuclear coercion (timely topic!) at @eissnetwork.bsky.social conference with very insightful contributions from @lydiawachs.bsky.social Kristin Ven Bruusgard, Eliza Georghe @laurensukin.bsky.social @sannecjv.bsky.social 🎩 to @profonderco.bsky.social for putting this together
Looking forward to this👇
Incredibly happy to be in the summery Thessaloniki for the @eissnetwork.bsky.social Annual Conference! Join us for the incredibly topical roundtable on nuclear coercion tomorrow (incl @sannecjv.bsky.social @laurensukin.bsky.social @lydiawachs.bsky.social and Kristin Ven Bruusgaard) … (1/2)
June 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Looking forward to this👇
Reposted by Lydia Wachs
I published a piece today with @warontherocks.bsky.social on Europe's need to invest more in long-range strike. I hope you enjoy the read!
warontherocks.com/2025/03/euro...
warontherocks.com/2025/03/euro...
Europe, Deterrence, and Long-Range Strike - War on the Rocks
It turns out Europe’s favorite American import isn’t fast food or Netflix. It’s missiles, and Europe needs to start making its own. Eight weeks into the
warontherocks.com
March 20, 2025 at 8:55 AM
I published a piece today with @warontherocks.bsky.social on Europe's need to invest more in long-range strike. I hope you enjoy the read!
warontherocks.com/2025/03/euro...
warontherocks.com/2025/03/euro...
Reposted by Lydia Wachs
🎙️ NEW PODCAST: In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur from IISS, Dr. @bollfrass.bsky.social, @lydiawachs.bsky.social & @baklitskiy.bsky.social discuss how Russia’s nuclear arsenal has evolved from the Soviet era & what #Armscontrol means for global security today.
🎧 Listen : tinyurl.com/59bkpxsf
🎧 Listen : tinyurl.com/59bkpxsf
S4.E2 Better know a nuke: The Soviet Union and Russia
How has the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics’ nuclear policy evolved into Russia’s current arsenal? How have arms control treaties shaped nuclear stability – or failed to do so? And how can fut
tinyurl.com
February 28, 2025 at 8:29 AM
🎙️ NEW PODCAST: In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur from IISS, Dr. @bollfrass.bsky.social, @lydiawachs.bsky.social & @baklitskiy.bsky.social discuss how Russia’s nuclear arsenal has evolved from the Soviet era & what #Armscontrol means for global security today.
🎧 Listen : tinyurl.com/59bkpxsf
🎧 Listen : tinyurl.com/59bkpxsf
New podcast🚀
@baklitskiy.bsky.social & I join @bollfrass.bsky.social on IISS' 'The Arms Control Poseur' podcast to discuss the evolution of #Russia's #nuclear arsenal, arms racing & arms control⬇️ open.spotify.com/episode/6uYh...
@baklitskiy.bsky.social & I join @bollfrass.bsky.social on IISS' 'The Arms Control Poseur' podcast to discuss the evolution of #Russia's #nuclear arsenal, arms racing & arms control⬇️ open.spotify.com/episode/6uYh...
Better know a nuke: The Soviet Union and Russia
The Arms Control Poseur · Episode
open.spotify.com
February 20, 2025 at 12:37 PM
New podcast🚀
@baklitskiy.bsky.social & I join @bollfrass.bsky.social on IISS' 'The Arms Control Poseur' podcast to discuss the evolution of #Russia's #nuclear arsenal, arms racing & arms control⬇️ open.spotify.com/episode/6uYh...
@baklitskiy.bsky.social & I join @bollfrass.bsky.social on IISS' 'The Arms Control Poseur' podcast to discuss the evolution of #Russia's #nuclear arsenal, arms racing & arms control⬇️ open.spotify.com/episode/6uYh...
Reposted by Lydia Wachs
Wie ein neuer Krieg in Europa noch zu verhindern ist:
Europa und🇺🇦stehen am Abgrund. Ein Sofortprogramm muss her, das die USA entlastet, 🇺🇦stärkt – und die Ausweitung des Krieges abwendet.
@carlomasala1.bsky.social @cemoll.bsky.social @jpuglierin.bsky.social & ich👇
www.spiegel.de/ausland/ukra...
Europa und🇺🇦stehen am Abgrund. Ein Sofortprogramm muss her, das die USA entlastet, 🇺🇦stärkt – und die Ausweitung des Krieges abwendet.
@carlomasala1.bsky.social @cemoll.bsky.social @jpuglierin.bsky.social & ich👇
www.spiegel.de/ausland/ukra...
(S+) Meinung: Trump-Putin-Deal: Ein Sofortprogramm gegen die Ausweitung des Krieges
Europa und die Ukraine stehen am Abgrund. Ein Sofortprogramm muss her, das die USA entlastet, die Ukraine stärkt – und die Ausweitung des Krieges noch abwendet. So könnte es aussehen.
www.spiegel.de
February 17, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Wie ein neuer Krieg in Europa noch zu verhindern ist:
Europa und🇺🇦stehen am Abgrund. Ein Sofortprogramm muss her, das die USA entlastet, 🇺🇦stärkt – und die Ausweitung des Krieges abwendet.
@carlomasala1.bsky.social @cemoll.bsky.social @jpuglierin.bsky.social & ich👇
www.spiegel.de/ausland/ukra...
Europa und🇺🇦stehen am Abgrund. Ein Sofortprogramm muss her, das die USA entlastet, 🇺🇦stärkt – und die Ausweitung des Krieges abwendet.
@carlomasala1.bsky.social @cemoll.bsky.social @jpuglierin.bsky.social & ich👇
www.spiegel.de/ausland/ukra...
Happy to share - now here as well - my latest article, titled "Russian nuclear roulette? Elites & public debates on #nuclearweapons in Moscow after Ukraine," which was published in December in the Nonproliferation Review.
Read it here (open access): doi.org/10.1080/1073...
Read it here (open access): doi.org/10.1080/1073...
February 14, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Happy to share - now here as well - my latest article, titled "Russian nuclear roulette? Elites & public debates on #nuclearweapons in Moscow after Ukraine," which was published in December in the Nonproliferation Review.
Read it here (open access): doi.org/10.1080/1073...
Read it here (open access): doi.org/10.1080/1073...
Reposted by Lydia Wachs
Brilliant to see @lydiawachs.bsky.social is now here. Do follow if you are interested in Security and Defence, including nuclear.
February 14, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Brilliant to see @lydiawachs.bsky.social is now here. Do follow if you are interested in Security and Defence, including nuclear.