In "Bearclaws," we analyze specific occurrences and traits of covert action cases involving Putin's administration's complimentary kinetic and non-kinetic (disinformation) operations and methods. We view these as tools of statecraft and strategic messaging that the post-Soviet intelligence services employ to support the stability of the regime and its objectives in both domestic and international affairs.

What is this project?

This project is dedicated to a closer scrutiny of the nature and outcomes of Russia’s post-Soviet targeted killing program as a multipurpose policy and statecraft instrument for political signaling aimed at a range of domestic and foreign audiences. The project focuses on Putin’s regime’s utilization of covert action and clandestine activities against opponents at home and abroad as a public strategic messaging tool for communicating intent and resolve in a near-peer competition context.

Task Team Leaders: Kuropatkin Tawil, Austin Merkel

Leadership Team Member: Dr. Kiril Avramov

Detailed Description

Our project addresses the following research questions: 1) how intelligible and credible is the belligerent/warning public messaging in terms of intent to respective intended recipients (i.e., internal political opponents and investigative journalists and whistleblowers), 2) how do these audiences interpret these violent “acts of admonition” on the personal and/or group levels, and 3) how do they react to these incidents in terms of public (online) and offline responses?

The results of this study could prompt the evolution of public and online, as well as personal offline, patterns of behaviors and activity that are aimed at regime’s monitoring evasion and deception and improved patterns of personal and local communities’ online and offline security protocols.

History of this project


Goals for the semester. What student will learn?