Michael Kofman
War On The Rocks
United States
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Past articles by Michael:
The Kremlin in Command, Part II: Syria and the First Assault on Ukraine
Lawrence Freedman and Michael Kofman walk us through the post-Cold War history of the Kremlin as commander. In the second episode of this multi-part → Read More
Russia's Plan to Stay in the War
After Ukraine's stunning Kharkiv counter-offensive, Vladimir Putin has doubled down on his war against Ukraine, announcing a large military mobilization, → Read More
The Kremlin in Command, Part I: The Chechen Wars and Georgia
Vladimir Putin's role as supreme commander has been center stage, offering a floundering and frightful performance. To understand the present, we reach → Read More
Ukraine's Kharkhiv Operation and the Russian Military's Black Week
On a foggy morning in August 1918, Allied forces commenced the Battle of Amiens and the 'Hundred Days Offensive' that ended the Great War. A German → Read More
Into the Breach: Ukraine’s Counter-Offensive Begins
Join us for another discussion with Michael Kofman on the war in Ukraine. The main focus of this episode is the southern counter-offensive launched by → Read More
Awaiting a Ukrainian Counter-Offensive
Mike Kofman joins Ryan once again to update us all on the war in Ukraine. The big thing that everyone is watching for is evidence of an impending → Read More
Great Expectations? The Next Phase of the Russo-Ukrainian War
Michael Kofman joined Ryan for yet another conversation about the unfolding tragedy of the Russo-Ukrainian War. In this episode, they focus largely on the → Read More
Ukraine's Window of Opportunity?
With military circles abuzz that Ukraine might be preparing to launch a counter-offensive against Russian-held Kherson, Michael Kofman of CNA's Russia → Read More
Is the Most Important Battle of the War Coming?
Michael Kofman joins Ryan once again to discuss the Russo-Ukrainian War. In this episode, he discusses the looming battle for Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, → Read More
Ukraine and Russia Grapple with Relentless Battle and Attrition
Mike Kofman joins the show again to update us on the war in Ukraine. In this episode (which was recorded shortly before Russian forces withdrew from Snake → Read More
The Most Dangerous Phase for Ukraine?
This is not an optimistic episode. Michael Kofman speculates that the war might be in its most dangerous phase. Why is that? Ukraine's casualties and → Read More
Not Built for Purpose: The Russian Military’s Ill-Fated Force Design
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a deeply flawed military operation, from Moscow’s assumptions about an easy victory, to a lack of preparation, poor → Read More
What the Experts Got Wrong (and Right) About Russian Military Power
It is now widely understood that many observers, in advance of this war, over-estimated Russian military performance and underestimated Ukrainian military → Read More
The Battlefields of the Donbass and Beyond
Michael Kofman sat down with Ryan again to explain how the war in Ukraine is proceeding, with a focus on the Donbass, where Ukraine and Russia are concentrating their forces. Beyond the battlefields, Kofman ponders the future of the Russian armed forces and reports what he learned at a recent conference in Poland. → Read More
Counter-Attacks and Can-Kicking in the Russo-Ukrainian War
Russia's stumbling war was launched almost three months ago. As Russian and Ukrainian forces battle on, how should we understand the state of play? → Read More
Ukraine's Military Advantage and Russia's Stark Choices
Our friend Michael Kofman popped in for another conversation with Ryan about where things stand in the Russo-Ukrainian War. He gives a wide-ranging → Read More
Russia Downscales Its War, But Not in Brutality
Michael Kofman joined Ryan once more to update us all on the war in Ukraine. In this episode, Kofman explains how and why Russia is refocusing on the east → Read More
The Army, the Government, and the People in the Russo-Ukrainian War
Clausewitz--or at least the version of Clausewitz that is taught in many war colleges--has bedeviled generations of students by offering several → Read More
A New Phase of the Russo-Ukrainian War Begins
With Moscow’s announcement that the core aim of its invasion of Ukraine is now just to secure the Donbass, the conflict has entered a new phase. Michael → Read More
In the Fourth Week, Is Russia Revising its War Aims Amidst Attrition?
Michael Kofman joins Ryan once again to help us understand the Russo-Ukrainian War as its fourth week unfolds. They cover a lot of ground: Mike updates us → Read More