Regional Desk · Country Dossiers

Moscow Lens Project

Thirteen post-Soviet states, each read through its relationship with the Kremlin — rated from 1, most distant from Moscow, to 5, most closely bound to it.

As of October 2026 · By Desmond Sala

Moscow Lens Project · Introduction

Three decades after the Soviet Union’s dissolution, Russia still shapes the political choices of the countries that emerged from it, whether through alignment, wariness, or open conflict. This project attempts to provide a brief overview of each post-Soviet state, besides Russia and Ukraine, which are better known generally, and whose relationship is defined by the Russian invasion and Russo-Ukrainian War. The Moscow Lens Project examines each state’s national politics and its relationship with the Kremlin, giving readers the background knowledge to understand the region as a whole. Information is current as of October 2026.

Through the lens

Relationship with Moscow

Each state is coloured by its rating. Select a country on the map — or in the dossiers below — to read its political overview, its stance on Russia, and the power players who shape it.