Ondrej Ditrych
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ditrych.bsky.social
Ondrej Ditrych
@ditrych.bsky.social
Senior Analyst for Russia and the Eastern Neighbourhood at the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS)
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Hot off the press! @euiss.bsky.social long read on how the EU can #unpower Russia - not disarm it, but limit its capacity to cause harm. With excellent contributions by a number of colleagues covering a lot of ground from China to Africa and MENA to shadow fleet.

iss.europa.eu/publications...
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
Beyond traditional propaganda, today’s tools like brain science, big data & AI enable direct targeting of human cognition, shaping how people perceive and process reality itself, explains @ditrych.bsky.social.

📺 Watch the full discussion on cognitive security: youtube.com/watch?v=OM0x...
November 25, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
The diplomatic process to end Russia’s war in Ukraine is moving in the right direction, which makes it less likely that Moscow will accept it. For the EU, the next phase is the reconstruction loan, which could be a real game-changer explains @ditrych.bsky.social on @f24debate.france24.com ⤵️
November 25, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
This isn’t the first time in history that human minds have been targeted. But today’s tools change everything: weaponised brain science, big data & AI-driven manipulation are affecting the very foundations of our societies.

How the EU can ramp up cognitive security ⤵️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM0x...
Shielding democracy through cognitive security
YouTube video by EU Institute for Security Studies
www.youtube.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
The discussion will be based on a recent EUISS Brief on cognitive security by @ditrych.bsky.social & Nad’a Kovalčíková: www.iss.europa.eu/publications...
Smoke and mirrors: Building EU resilience against manipulation through cognitive security
Cognitive security calls for more than traditional defence measures. It requires a direct response to the strategic targeting of perception and knowledge in covert political warfare.
www.iss.europa.eu
November 14, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
💬 The #Arctic is emerging as a serious potential flashpoint between NATO & Russia, says @ditrych.bsky.social on DW: m.youtube.com/watch?v=pV9B...

Read his analysis of how the region is central to Russia's power but also its Achilles' heel: www.iss.europa.eu/publications...
NATO nations boost protection of Arctic flank amid increasing Russian threats | DW News
YouTube video by DW News
m.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
A new report alert: 🇷🇺 Russia and the Arctic.

The EU 🇪🇺 is revising its Arctic policy.

Why and how should it #unpower Russia in this strategically important region? Why is the Arctic a cornerstone of Russia's economy but also its Achilles heel?

Read here: www.iss.europa.eu/publications....
The northern frosts: The EU should contain and unpower Russia in the Arctic
The Arctic is a pillar of Russia’s power. It is also its Achilles’ heel. As the challenge Russia poses to European security intensifies, the EU must devote more attention and resources to the region i...
www.iss.europa.eu
November 5, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
🇸🇩 Sudan's war is not only one of the world's most acute humanitarian crises, but also a source of growing regional instability.

As risks of further escalation, proxy wars and spillover rise, Rossella Marangio explores how the EU can contribute to peace efforts. www.iss.europa.eu/publications...
November 4, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
From Ukraine to defence & tech

We unpack the state of transatlantic relations across key domains with Benedetta Berti, @ditrych.bsky.social, @clotildebomont.bsky.social, @spignal.bsky.social &
@gspataf95.bsky.social.

Takeaways: don’t panic: the mood is improving, even if the hard work isn’t over.
November 4, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
🧊 The #Arctic is central to Russia's power but also its Achilles' heel.

As Moscow's threat to European security grows, the EU must make the Arctic a strategic priority, constraining Russia's revenues & countering its hybrid campaigns, argues @ditrych.bsky.social. 🧵 www.iss.europa.eu/publications...
October 30, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
4/
📖 In this Chaillot Paper, we examine:
👉 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: European defence (@lscazzieri.bsky.social), support to Ukraine (@ditrych.bsky.social), China policy (@ruehlig.bsky.social)
October 15, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Moldova's parliamentary elections reaffirmed the country's European path despite extensive Russian interference. But in my new @euiss.bsky.social
commentary, I argue the critical challenge of safeguarding Moldova's fragile democracy perseveres.
🆕 Following yesterday's election, #Moldova reaffirmed its EU course, resisting Moscow's interference.

🇲🇩 The challenge ahead: defend the country's fragile democracy against mounting hybrid threats without drifting into a security state, writes @ditrych.bsky.social. www.iss.europa.eu/publications...
September 29, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
What do Moldova’s elections reveal about the vulnerabilities of European democracies? Join us this Monday to find out.

With @ditrych.bsky.social, Nad’a Kovalčíková & @gspataf95.bsky.social.

📍Live on YouTube www.youtube.com/live/H0fIk9D...
Europe Responds Ep.6: Democracy under attack: Election interference in Moldova and beyond
YouTube video by EU Institute for Security Studies
www.youtube.com
September 26, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
Thanks to the mutual defence clause enshrined in the Treaties, EU accession could represent "a very strong guarantee on paper," says @euiss.bsky.social senior analyst @ditrych.bsky.social. However, this could not be enough for #Ukraine to face future #Russia threats

newunionpost.eu/2025/08/21/u...
Is EU accession a security guarantee for Ukraine?
The EU's mutual defence clause could represent "a very strong guarantee" for Ukraine. But perhaps only on paper, warns EUISS's Ondrej Ditrych
newunionpost.eu
August 21, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
Is EU accession a security guarantee for Ukraine?

The mutual defence clause is strong on paper, but risks remaining theoretical as the EU lacks the capabilities and plans to fill the deterrence gap caused by uncertainty about US commitment, says @ditrych.bsky.social. newunionpost.eu/2025/08/21/u...
August 22, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Et si l’Europe redevenait une puissance alimentaire ?
Face à l’arme géopolitique que représente la nourriture pour la Russie, 🇪🇺 doit réaffirmer son rôle dans la sécurité alimentaire mondiale.

Une tribune pour Le Grand Continent avec Tomáš Petricek : legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2025/07/2...
Face à la géopolitique alimentaire de la Russie : une stratégie européenne | Le Grand Continent
Alors que les projecteurs sont braqués sur les drones et les pipelines, la Russie déploie discrètement depuis une décennie une autre arme — moins bruyante mais tout aussi puissante. En arsenalisant ...
legrandcontinent.eu
July 28, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
The EU can leverage digital diplomacy to more effectively counter #disinformation in Georgia & Armenia. AI-enhanced social listening offers an innovative way to navigate these contested info spaces explain @ditrych.bsky.social & @leodeago.bsky.social.

Read more: www.iss.europa.eu/publications...
July 18, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
"With the Trump administration, the relative credibility of the common defence pledge may have decreased & the Russians know it."

@ditrych.bsky.social unpacks the outcomes of the #natosummit25 on @f24debate.france24.com.

📺 Watch full show ➡️ go.france24.com/aIO
June 26, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
#Georgia's rulers are operating under illusions about the country's importance to the EU and the extent of its geopolitical clout.

@ditrych.bsky.social analyses why dispelling these misconceptions is essential if the Georgian government is to reconsider its course. www.iss.europa.eu/publications...
June 5, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
How can the EU #UnpowerRussia?

Join us as we unpack Moscow's strengths & weaknesses, and how Europe can turn the tables.

🗓️ 4 June
🕙 11 am
➡️ Register www.linkedin.com/events/unpow...
June 2, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Hot off the press! @euiss.bsky.social long read on how the EU can #unpower Russia - not disarm it, but limit its capacity to cause harm. With excellent contributions by a number of colleagues covering a lot of ground from China to Africa and MENA to shadow fleet.

iss.europa.eu/publications...
May 22, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
@euiss.bsky.social has just released its new collective work on “Unpowering Russia”, masterfully led by @ditrych.bsky.social. The paper looks at various forms of Russia’s power, and identifies strategy for the EU to #UnpowerRussia across domains and in different regions. 1/🧵
🚨 Russia works daily to undermine the EU.
⚠️ It’s time the EU fights back.

Launching today #UnpowerRussia: our strategic playbook to reduce the Kremlin's ability to harm.

🔗https://ow.ly/MgPL50VWxzx
May 22, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
Russia acts every day to weaken the EU.
It’s time Europe pushes back.

We're with @poland25eu.bsky.social today to discuss how the EU can #UnpowerRussia: a first look at our upcoming Chaillot Paper.

🔴 Live thread 👇
May 16, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
Thanks to all speakers & guests at today’s #UnpowerRussia event. & to @gabrielgavin.bsky.social for the fantastic moderation!

⏰ The full report drops on 22 May.

Stay tuned for a bold new strategy on how the EU can disable Russia’s tools of disruption.
May 16, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
🆕 The EU's absence from key #IndoPacific #trade frameworks weakens its ambitions in the region.

Targeted engagement with the #CPTPP would allow the EU to signal intent and remain a credible, constructive actor in the Indo-Pacific, writes Lizza Bomassi. www.iss.europa.eu/publications...
May 16, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Reposted by Ondrej Ditrych
#UnpowerRussia = reducing its ability to harm EU interests.

@ditrych.bsky.social presents our strategic playbook: grounded in a clear-eyed assessment of Russia’s strengths & weaknesses.

Moscow plays its strong cards well but the EU must learn to exploit its weak ones.
May 16, 2025 at 9:47 AM