Group for Russian Regional Insights and Dynamics
A curated expert network covering Russian elites, security, energy, sanctions and the war in Ukraine — giving policymakers rapid access to credible, rigorous expertise
Vetted expertise
Experts are drawn from academia, investigative journalism, open-source intelligence and practitioners
Rapid access
Fast, accurate answers to a specific policy question — without trawling institutional websites
Inside and out
Western researchers, Ukrainians, Russians in exile and Russians still inside the country
Protected sources
Many contributors work anonymously. Identities can be discussed in advance, in person or by video
Coverage
Nine areas of expertise, from the Kremlin’s inner workings to Russia’s reach abroad
Regime and elite dynamics
Kremlin decision-making, formal and informal power structures, elite behaviour in wartime
Repression and security services
FSB operations, judicial repression, surveillance, detention and prison systems
Energy and sanctions
The gas sector, oil economics, sanctions architecture and illicit financial flows
Military and conflict
Military capability and production, bottlenecks and chokepoints
Propaganda and information ops
State media, disinformation, digital authoritarianism and internet control
Regional and minority politics
Federalism, the non-Russian republics, indigenous rights and decolonisation
Influence in the West
How Russia shapes political decisions and how its assets enter Western economies
Russian technology
Its evolution, and the sanctions circumvention that sustains it
External relationships
China, Iran and Africa — with specialist think tanks and practitioners
How GRID is used
A rapid-triage tool for officials who need fast, accurate expertise — and a partner for longer, in-depth research
Rapid triage
Reach the right specialist on a specific policy question — instead of relying on unchecked sources
In-depth research
Longer engagements that draw on GRID’s methodology and sources inside Russia
Trusted introductions
Meet vetted experts and advisors — with their identity and relevance discussed in advance, in person or by video
Who you reach
- Western researchersAcademic and think-tank specialists
- UkrainiansAnalysts and practitioners
- Russians in exileJournalists, lawyers, activists
- Russians insideReal-time access on the ground
Many contributors work anonymously because of the risk they carry - from the Russian government