Simon Saradzhyan

Simon Saradzhyan is the founding director of Russia Matters and the assistant director of the U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

Blog

BRICS Overtook G-7 in Key Components of National Power—So What?

Simon Saradzhyan October 23, 2024

As Russian President Vladimir Putin hosts the first summit of BRICS+ in Tatarstan’s capita

Blog

Poll: Majority of Russians Would Oppose Returning Land Even if Putin Decides To Return it as Part of Peace Deal

Simon Saradzhyan October 17, 2024

A majority of Russians would support ending hostilities and launching peace negotiations, according to the results of a September 2024 poll by Russia's 

Blog

Does Western Help With Missile Targeting Cross Putin’s Red Line in War Against Ukraine?

Simon Saradzhyan September 18, 2024

To hear Vladimir Putin say it the other day, NATO countries assisting Ukraine in collecting and using information for its strikes against targets inside Russia would

Debate

Simon Saradzhyan September 18, 2024
Blog

Majority of Russians Favor Talks to End Ukraine War, But 1/3 Support Use of Nukes

Simon Saradzhyan July 18, 2024

The Levada Center has released the results of its monthly polling of Russians on Russia’s war in Ukraine and its broader stand-off with NATO.

Blog

Russian Wargame Practicing Tactical Nukes Use Is Warning to West

Simon Saradzhyan May 22, 2024

The Russian defense ministry has just launched a multi-phase exercise near Ukraine meant to prepare its forces for using non-strategic nuclear weapons (NSNWs).

Blog

Polls Show Record Low Number of Russians Willing to Permanently Move Abroad

Simon Saradzhyan April 12, 2024

The share of Russians who would like to leave Russia for permanent residence in another country has reached a record low, according to the results of a

book review

Thomas Graham on Why and How America Should Start Getting Russia Right

Simon Saradzhyan October 19, 2023 RM Exclusives
The U.S. needs to get Russia right, which requires America to see Russia “plainly and without sentiment,” Graham writes in his new book.
article

Mutiny in Russia: What Happened, What’s Next and What To Be Thankful For

Simon Saradzhyan June 29, 2023 RM Exclusives
Deus ex machina or not, we should be thankful that this struggle for power within the Russian ruling elite did not acquire a nuclear dimension.
article

What Led to Putin’s Blunder in Ukraine?

Simon Saradzhyan February 24, 2023 RM Exclusives
Three factors are likely to have contributed to shaping Putin’s decision to launch the invasion one year ago.