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# Institute for the Study of War

> ISW is a non\-partisan, non\-profit, public policy research organization that advances an informed understanding of military affairs\.

## Pages
- [Map Room](https://understandingwar.org/analysis/map-room/)
- [Home](https://understandingwar.org/)
- [Best Practices in Counterinsurgency](https://understandingwar.org/analysis/contemporary-future-war/best-practices-in-counterinsurgency/)
- [Briefing Room](https://understandingwar.org/analysis/briefing-room/)
- [Analysis](https://understandingwar.org/analysis/)

## Research
- [China\-Taiwan Weekly Update, October 20, 2025](https://understandingwar.org/research/china-taiwan/china-taiwan-weekly-update-october-20-2025/)
- [Iran Update October 20, 2025](https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-october-20-2025/)
- [Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 16, 2025](https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-16-2025/): US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz stated on March 16 that Ukraine will receive unspecified security guarantees in exchange for unspecified territorial concessions\.
- [Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment October 20, 2025](https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-20-2025/)
- [Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 19, 2025](https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-19-2025/)

## Maps
- [Assessed Control of Terrain in the Siversk Direction October 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM ET](https://understandingwar.org/map/assessed-control-of-terrain-in-the-siversk-direction-october-20-2025-at-130-pm-et-2/)
- [Assessed Control of Terrain in Donetsk Oblast October 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM ET](https://understandingwar.org/map/assessed-control-of-terrain-in-donetsk-oblast-october-20-2025-at-130-pm-et/)
- [Assessed Control of Terrain in Luhansk Oblast October 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM ET](https://understandingwar.org/map/assessed-control-of-terrain-in-luhansk-oblast-october-20-2025-at-130-pm-et/)
- [Assessed Control of Terrain in the Velykyi Burluk Direction October 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM ET](https://understandingwar.org/map/assessed-control-of-terrain-in-the-velykyi-burluk-direction-october-20-2025-at-130-pm-et/)
- [Assessed Control of Terrain in the Kharkiv Direction October 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM ET](https://understandingwar.org/map/assessed-control-of-terrain-in-the-kharkiv-direction-october-20-2025-at-130-pm-et/)

## Newsroom
- [Independent: Melania Trump reveals she has been talking to Putin through ‘back channels’ about kidnapped Ukrainian children, as 8 are reunited with families](https://understandingwar.org/newsroom/independent-melania-trump-reveals-she-has-been-talking-to-putin-through-back-channels-about-kidnapped-ukrainian-children-as-8-are-reunited-with-families/)
- [Reuters: How the Houthis rule in Yemen: prisons, a personality cult, and pilfered food aid](https://understandingwar.org/newsroom/how-the-houthis-rule-in-yemen-prisons-a-personality-cult-and-pilfered-food-aid/)
- [France 24: Russia’s ‘false flag’ claims spark fears of pre\-war posturing](https://understandingwar.org/newsroom/russias-false-flag-claims-spark-fears-of-pre-war-posturing/)
- [DW: UN official fears Syria could resemble Libya after war](https://understandingwar.org/newsroom/un-official-fears-syria-could-resemble-libya-after-war/)
- [Business Insider: What to know about the Tomahawk cruise missiles Trump says he might give Ukraine](https://understandingwar.org/newsroom/business-insider-what-to-know-about-the-tomahawk-cruise-missiles-trump-says-he-might-give-ukraine/)

## People
- [Jackson Karas](https://understandingwar.org/people/jackson-karas/)
- [Kateryna Stepanenko](https://understandingwar.org/people/kateryna-stepanenko/)
- [Christopher Solomon](https://understandingwar.org/people/christopher-solomon/)
- [Karolina Hird](https://understandingwar.org/people/karolina-hird/)
- [Kelly Campa](https://understandingwar.org/people/kelly-campa/)