The Russian Geostrategy Monitor is a monthly brief that tracks Russian geostrategy worldwide employing the framework set inThe Structure of Modern Russia’s Foreign Strategy. Russian geostrategic activities are also tracked on the regularly updated interactive Russian Geostrategy Map.
Issue 38 covers the Russian geostrategy for the month of February 2026. The numbering and contents of the Outcomes, Goals and Objectives follows The Structure of Modern Russia’s Foreign Strategy framework.
Objective 3: Enhancing internal political instability and polarization within Western states
- On 5 February, Italy’s national cybersecurity agency stated that pro-Russian hackers had attacked the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
- On 6 February, the French authorities reported to have uncovered “a pro-Russia disinformation campaign falsely connecting President Emmanuel Macron to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.”
- The Financial Times reported on 15 February that Russia had been using former Wagner Group personnel “as a main conduit for Kremlin-organised sabotage attacks in Europe.”
- On 24 February, the WSJ published a material about a Netherlands think tank report listing 151 established Kremlin-linked acts or attempted acts of “violence, sabotage, public disturbances, arson and bombing attempts, among other criminal or terrorist acts” committed against European countries since February 2022.
Objective 8: Undermining US Foreign Policy in the Western Hemisphere
- On 9 February, Russia accused the US of trying to “suffocate” the Cuban economy.
- On 18 February, Moscow said the latest American restrictions imposed against the Cuban regime were “unacceptable,” promising to “provide aid to Havana, including material assistance, to help navigate a U.S. attempt to starve the island of oil.”
Objective 9: Achieving de-sovereignization of Ukraine
- In the Russo-Ukrainian War, during February 2026, Ukrainians counterattacked in the south, pushing Russians back on the front east of Zaporizhzhya and north of Hulyaipole.
Objective 15: Entrenching Russian influence in the Western Balkans
- The Jamestown Foundation’s material from 3 February covered Russia’s efforts to entrench pro-Russian and anti-European narratives in the Western Balkans “using extremist movements, Orthodox religious networks, and sympathetic political elites to weave Kremlin-aligned narratives into elections, legislation, and public discourse.”
Objective 16: Entrenching Russian influence in sub-Saharan Africa
- In a 17 February material, Bloomberg covered the Russian efforts to spread influence in Africa through “what may be the most significant expansion in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church” that was being conducted on the continent.
Objective 21: Alignment with Iran
- On 28 February, Moscow condemned the United States’ and Israel’s attack on the Iranian regime, calling them “aggressors,” and expressing support for the Iranian “constitutional order.”