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Check FAQAbout Neil
I am a Canadian journalist and analyst focused on the Caucasus, Russia and Ukraine. From 2014 to 2017, I served as Senior Intelligence Analyst at The SecDev Group. My primary focus is Chechnya, violence and politics in the North and South Caucasus, and the Syrian conflict, particularly Russia's role there. I have written for a wide array of prominent publications, including CNN, Guardian, Al Jazeera, The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, Telegraph and Eurasianet. I have also consulted on issues of security, governance and radicalization for the European Union, OSCE, US Marine Corps, and other organizations. I hold an MA in Russian and Eurasian Studies from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, in which I largely focused on the Caucasus. I previously studied at Saint Petersburg State University in Saint Petersburg, Russia, focused on Russian language training. I am professionally competent in Russian and have intermediate proficiency in Armenian. I am presently engaged as a freelance journalist and analyst based in Kyiv, Ukraine. I travel regularly through the former Soviet Union, including recent work in Ukraine. I am actively searching for new opportunities, so please do feel free to get in touch either here or at ******.
Portfolio
Hopelessness grows as Azerbaijan’s blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh enters third month
The article discusses the situation in Goris, Armenia, which has become a temporary home for displaced Karabakh Armenians due to Azerbaijan's blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh. The blockade, enforced by Azerbaijani 'eco-activists' and tacitly supported by Russian peacekeepers, has caused severe shortages and isolation for the residents of Karabakh. The international community, including the EU and UN, is pressuring Azerbaijan to reopen the road, but to no avail. The article highlights the psychological and physical hardships faced by the displaced individuals and the local efforts to support them. It also touches on the complex geopolitical dynamics, including Russia's role in the conflict and the perceived indifference of the international community due to Azerbaijan's oil wealth.
Kherson's liberated villages start to revive after horrors of occupation
The article discusses recent developments in the war in Ukraine, focusing on the withdrawal of Russian troops from the right bank of the Dnipro river and the liberation of Kherson city, the only provincial capital captured by Russia since the invasion began on February 24. It highlights the fierce battles fought by Ukrainian troops to recapture towns in northeast Kherson, particularly Vysokopillya, and the harsh realities of Russian occupation in the region. Personal accounts from Ukrainian citizens, including a combat medic named Oleksandr and the Balan family, provide insight into the experiences of those living under occupation, including looting by Russian soldiers, the challenges of giving birth during the occupation, and the torture of a local policeman. The article also touches on the psychological impact of the occupation and the resilience of the Ukrainian people, who are now facing the task of rebuilding their homes and lives.
COMMENT: After one year of war, Russia faces new challenges in Ukraine
The article reflects on the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the resilience and successes of Ukrainian forces in the face of the conflict. Despite expectations of Russian aggression on the anniversary, Ukraine experienced a calm day, signaling a potential shift in the conflict dynamics. The article discusses the significant reduction in Russian military capabilities, including the depletion of precision munitions and the restructuring of their armed forces due to heavy losses. It also touches on the emergence of armed resistance groups, such as those from Belarus and Chechen separatists, who are gaining experience and support with the aim of challenging Russian allies and potentially destabilizing the region further. The author suggests that while Russia maintains control over parts of Ukraine, its military strength is waning, and it faces new internal challenges, with momentum seeming to favor Ukraine as spring approaches.
The endless battle for Bakhmut
The article reports on the dire situation in Chasiv Yar, a town near the frontline of the intense battle for Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. Despite heavy shelling and the proximity to Russian forces, some civilians remain, living in basements and relying on humanitarian aid. The town's strategic importance is highlighted by its connection to one of the only two roads to Bakhmut, making it a target for Russian artillery. Ukrainian defenders are described as barely holding the line, with high casualties and difficult conditions. The article also touches on the symbolic significance of Bakhmut, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowing not to surrender the city, despite some foreign allies suggesting a strategic withdrawal. Personal accounts from a local official, civilians, and soldiers, including an American volunteer, provide insight into the human impact of the conflict and the determination to resist the Russian advance.
Fighting Russia from Chechnya to Ukraine – and back again
The article provides an in-depth look at the Dzhokhar Dudayev Battalion, a unit of pro-independence Chechen fighters named after the first president of Ichkeria, who are currently fighting alongside Ukrainian troops against Russian forces in the Donbas region. The battalion, which was formed in 2014, is engaged in the defence of Bakhmut, a strategic city in Ukraine. The article features interviews with Maga, a Chechen fighter, and Alexander, an ethnic Ukrainian member of the battalion, who share their experiences and perspectives on the conflict. The piece also touches on the historical context of the Chechen wars and the current situation in Chechnya under the rule of Ramzan Kadyrov, a pro-Putin leader. The fighters express their determination to continue their struggle against Russian aggression, not only in Ukraine but also with the aim of liberating Chechnya in the future.
Ukrainian teachers fight virtual war for children's hearts and minds
The article discusses the efforts of Ukrainian teachers and students to continue education under the Ukrainian curriculum despite the Russian occupation of parts of Ukraine, such as Zaporizhzhia oblast. It highlights the imposition of the Russian curriculum in occupied territories, which emphasizes Russian history and ideology. Ukrainian teachers, such as Anastasia and Oksana Minikova, have been conducting online classes to ensure students can still learn about Ukrainian history and culture. The article also touches on the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and the differences between Ukrainian and Russian educational content. It mentions the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants against Russian officials for the deportation of Ukrainian children. The piece ends with the hope that the Ukrainian counteroffensive will liberate the occupied territories, allowing education to resume in person.
Ukrainian teachers fight virtual war for children's hearts and minds
The article discusses the efforts of Ukrainian teachers to continue educating students in the Ukrainian curriculum despite the Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia oblast. Russian authorities have imposed their own curriculum, emphasizing Russian history and values, and have created a paramilitary youth movement. Ukrainian teachers, such as Anastasia and Oksana Minikova, are conducting online classes from free Ukrainian territories to ensure students in occupied areas can still learn about their heritage. The article also touches on the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, a war crime for which the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants against Russian officials. The Ukrainian education system in occupied territories like Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk has raised a generation disconnected from Ukraine, and the mental health of children in these areas is severely affected by the occupation and propaganda.
Fighting Russia from Chechnya to Ukraine – and back again
The article focuses on the Dzhokhar Dudayev Battalion, a unit of pro-independence Chechen fighters named after the first president of Ichkeria, who are currently fighting alongside Ukrainian troops against Russian forces in the Donbas region. The battalion, which includes ethnic Chechens and other nationalities, is engaged in the defence of Bakhmut, a strategic city in Ukraine. The piece highlights the historical context of Chechen resistance against Russian rule, drawing parallels between the Chechen wars of the 1990s and the current conflict in Ukraine. It also touches on the personal stories of Maga, a Chechen fighter, and Alexander, an ethnic Ukrainian member of the battalion, who both see the fight against Russia as a shared struggle for independence and liberation.
Hopelessness grows as Azerbaijan’s blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh enters third month
The article discusses the situation in Goris, Armenia, which has become a temporary home for displaced Karabakh Armenians due to Azerbaijan's blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh. The blockade, enforced by Azerbaijani 'eco-activists' and tacitly supported by Russian peacekeepers, has caused severe shortages and isolation for the residents of Karabakh. The international community, including the EU and UN, is involved, but Azerbaijan's leader, Ilham Aliyev, shows no signs of ending the blockade. The article includes personal accounts from displaced individuals staying in Goris and touches on the broader geopolitical implications, including Russia's role and the psychological impact on the affected population.
'In this war, the ordinary infantryman is nothing': Ukrainian soldiers in Donbas feel abandoned and outgunned
The article discusses the intense combat in the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces are facing severe challenges against Russian troops. Despite successful defense efforts in other parts of the country, the situation in Donbas is dire, with Ukrainian soldiers feeling abandoned and outgunned. Soldiers report a lack of heavy weaponry and support from Kyiv, contrasting with the advanced arms supplied to other regions. The Ukrainian military is sustaining significant casualties, with President Zelensky acknowledging the loss of 60 to 100 soldiers daily. Western military aid has been delivered, but soldiers on the ground have not seen much of it, leading to frustration and a sense of being expendable. The article includes personal accounts from soldiers who have experienced the harsh realities of the frontline, including those who fought in Mariupol. Despite new pledges of advanced weaponry from the U.S., U.K., and Germany, the immediate outlook for Ukrainian forces in the Donbas remains bleak.
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