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thestudyofwar.bsky.social
Institute for the Study of War
@thestudyofwar.bsky.social
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ISW is a policy research organization focused on U.S. national security. Email: press@understandingwar.org. For more: https://linktr.ee/understandingwar
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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 1d
NEW: Ukraine released the latest US-Ukrainian-European 20-point peace plan on Dec. 23. The Kremlin will need to compromise on demands it has long insisted on, including many that are incompatible with both the latest 20-point peace plan and the initial 28-point plan. isw.pub/UkrWar122425
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thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Ukraine released the latest US-Ukrainian-European 20-point peace plan on Dec. 23. The Kremlin will need to compromise on demands it has long insisted on, including many that are incompatible with both the latest 20-point peace plan and the initial 28-point plan. isw.pub/UkrWar122425
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December 25, 2025 at 3:37 AM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
Today marks two months left to apply for the 2026 Hertog War Studies Program! The two-week study intensive program on military decision-making brings together like-minded peers interested in national security. Apply by February 24, 2026.

Apply here: https://isw.pub/HWSPBlueSky
December 24, 2025 at 10:00 PM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: The Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) reported on Dec. 24 that unspecified sources in Tehran told ISPI that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei authorized the development of miniaturized nuclear warheads for ballistic missiles.

Read more: isw.pub/IranUpdate12...
December 24, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Institute for the Study of War
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
4/ Russian gains likely will continue to be constrained to a slow foot pace, and any sudden Russian operational-level breakthrough remains unlikely.
December 24, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Reposted by Institute for the Study of War
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Russia conducted another large-scale combined missile and drone strike against Ukraine overnight on December 22 and 23, primarily targeting energy infrastructure in western Ukraine. (1/6)

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 23, 2025: isw.pub/UkrWar122325
December 24, 2025 at 5:45 AM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Russia conducted another large-scale combined missile and drone strike against Ukraine overnight on December 22 and 23, primarily targeting energy infrastructure in western Ukraine. (1/6)

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 23, 2025: isw.pub/UkrWar122325
December 24, 2025 at 5:45 AM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Israel is reportedly considering a plan that outlines “stringent conditions” for southern Lebanon in return for Israel “forgoing military action,” according to Lebanese media. (1/4)

Iran Update, December 23, 2025: isw.pub/IranUpdate12...
December 23, 2025 at 11:43 PM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: The United States announced its largest-ever arms sale to Taiwan, which will significantly aid Taiwanese efforts to implement an asymmetric defense strategy. The sale includes key precision munitions and unmanned systems.

Read the full December 23 China & Taiwan Update: isw.pub/ChinaTaiwanU...
December 23, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by Institute for the Study of War
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: False reports are likely shaping Russian President Vladimir Putin’s understanding of the battlefield situation.

Read the full Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 22, 2025: isw.pub/UkrWar122225

More Key Takeaways ⬇️ (1/5)
December 23, 2025 at 4:18 AM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: False reports are likely shaping Russian President Vladimir Putin’s understanding of the battlefield situation.

Read the full Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 22, 2025: isw.pub/UkrWar122225

More Key Takeaways ⬇️ (1/5)
December 23, 2025 at 4:18 AM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Israeli officials are increasingly concerned about the reconstitution of Iran's ballistic missile program. Read the Iran Update, December 22, 2025: isw.pub/IranUpdate12...

Here is the latest ISW-CTP analysis about the reconstitution of Iran's ballistic missile capabilities. ⬇️ (1/8)
December 23, 2025 at 2:39 AM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Russian forces are conducting a new cognitive warfare campaign through limited cross-border attacks across a broad part of the previously dormant northern frontline in Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts.

Read the full update: isw.pub/UkrWar122125
December 22, 2025 at 3:04 AM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: US delegations met separately with a Ukrainian-European delegation and a Russian delegation in Miami on December 19 and 20, respectively. 🧵(1/5)

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 20, 2025: isw.pub/UkrWar122025

December 21, 2025 at 2:28 AM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
Considering applying to the Summer 2026 Hertog War Studies Program? For a behind-the-scenes look, watch this video recap of the 2024 program: isw.pub/HWSP2024

Apply here: understandingwar.org...
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December 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by Institute for the Study of War
criticalthreats.bsky.social
NEW | US Airstrikes in Syria: The United States struck dozens of ISIS-affiliated targets in Syria on December 19 in direct response to the ISIS-affiliated killing of two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra on December 13.
Read more: www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/ira... (1/6)
Iran Update, December 19, 2025
www.criticalthreats.org
December 20, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Reposted by Institute for the Study of War
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Russia is helping the PLA improve its airborne capabilities, which the PLA could use to establish and defend an airhead in an invasion of Taiwan.

Read the full December 19, 2025, China & Taiwan Update: isw.pub/ChinaTaiwanU...
December 19, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Institute for the Study of War
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Russian President Vladimir Putin used his annual Direct Line televised press conference on December 19 to reaffirm his commitment to achieving his full war aims in Ukraine.

Read the full December 19, 2025 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment: isw.pub/UkrWar121925
December 20, 2025 at 6:30 AM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Russian President Vladimir Putin used his annual Direct Line televised press conference on December 19 to reaffirm his commitment to achieving his full war aims in Ukraine.

Read the full December 19, 2025 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment: isw.pub/UkrWar121925
December 20, 2025 at 6:30 AM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: The United States struck dozens of ISIS-affiliated targets in Syria on December 19 in direct response to the ISIS-affiliated killing of two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra on December 13.

Read the December 19 Iran Update: isw.pub/IranUpdate12...
December 20, 2025 at 1:30 AM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Russia is helping the PLA improve its airborne capabilities, which the PLA could use to establish and defend an airhead in an invasion of Taiwan.

Read the full December 19, 2025, China & Taiwan Update: isw.pub/ChinaTaiwanU...
December 19, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Institute for the Study of War
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Syrian Transitional Government Negotiations with the SDF: Syrian, Kurdish, and Western sources speaking to Reuters expressed relative optimism about the progress on Syrian Democratic Forces integration negotiations between the SDF and Syrian government.

Full report: isw.pub/IranUpdate12...
December 19, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Reposted by Institute for the Study of War
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov continue to publicly demonstrate their commitment to achieving Russia’s original war aims while exaggerating Russian battlefield gains.

Read the full update: isw.pub/UkrWar121825
December 19, 2025 at 2:27 AM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Syrian Transitional Government Negotiations with the SDF: Syrian, Kurdish, and Western sources speaking to Reuters expressed relative optimism about the progress on Syrian Democratic Forces integration negotiations between the SDF and Syrian government.

Full report: isw.pub/IranUpdate12...
December 19, 2025 at 3:13 AM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
NEW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov continue to publicly demonstrate their commitment to achieving Russia’s original war aims while exaggerating Russian battlefield gains.

Read the full update: isw.pub/UkrWar121825
December 19, 2025 at 2:27 AM
thestudyofwar.bsky.social
One of the many perks of the Hertog War Studies Program (HWSP) is its strong community and alumni network. Plus, alumni are eligible to participate in the Advanced War Studies Program, offered twice per year.

Interested in joining the ranks? Apply today: understandingwar.org...
December 18, 2025 at 11:00 PM