Call for Papers: Russia Seminar 2026

The Finnish National Defence University (FNDU) will organise the 8th annual Russia Seminar on 11–12 February 2026 in Helsinki (Santahamina), Finland. The purpose of the Russia Seminar is to increase discussion on the Russian war against Ukraine and produce new knowledge related to the war and warfare.

The title of the seminar is: “Russia’s War Against Ukraine – Russia’s Future Military Development”. The basic idea is to focus on the protracted war from the framework of three key concepts: “State, Armed Forces, and War”.

The number of audience expected to attend is roughly 70 and that of online spectators over 100. The seminar will be streamed online in real time. The working language of the seminar will be English. All presentation material should be unclassified.

The FNDU is now launching a Call for Papers on the following themes:

Russia’s security policy in contemporary world. The aim of this theme is to look into the Russia’s status, interests, objectives, threat perceptions, and limitations in contemporary world.  Theories and methods in forecasting the trajectories of tomorrow’s Russian role on the globe are welcomed.

Russia’s relations and resources. The aim of this theme is to look into the Russia’s relations with different actors, as well as human and economic resources Russia has to pursue its objectives in contemporary and tomorrow’s world.

Military development. The aim on this theme is to look into the Russia’s Armed Force’s C2 and management, organizational structures, deployment and reserves, human potential, manning and mobilisation and technological development.

Russian military thought. The aim of this theme is to look into the Russian military thought and theory and their changes in the sphere of art of war as well the tomorrow’s role of military power in Russia’s security and domestic policy. Methods in analysing the trajectories of Russian perceptions on military security and development are welcomed.

Military strategy and operational art. The aim of this theme is to look into the Russian strategic deterrence, its methods and instruments, the art of war in strategic and operational spheres and the examination of Lessons identified and Lessons learned in context of war against Ukraine.  Methods and resources in analysing the changes of tomorrow’s Russian deterrence and use of force are also welcomed.

Civil-military relations. The aim of this theme is to look into the civil-military relations in Russia. That is, the tangible and intangible aspects affecting military performance and development. Focus is on the state’s human resources, on the intricate balance of the civil and the military, and on the very fundaments of the institutions and instruments Russia is utilising in its war. The concept of “civil” can be understood from the citizen’s, society’s or from an institution’s point of view.

Speaker candidates are invited to write a 1-2 -page abstract that should contain the following: (Please use the template attached.)

• Descriptive title of the presentation
• Short biography and current affiliation of the speaker candidate
• Questions studied
• Methodology used
• Literature or articles in which the topic is discussed
• Agreement for on-line streaming (yes or no)
• Willingness to extend the abstract into an article (yes or no).

If the speakers are willing to extend their abstracts into articles, it is encouraged to do so in the FNDU series of research reports (including Finnish Defence Studies and/or Journal of Military Studies, both peer-review publications), as a part of conference proceedings if further agreed by both parties. Please indicate your possible willingness for this when sending your abstract. The speakers who contribute both an article to the publication and present the results of research in the seminar will be provided with travel expenses and accommodation (max 2 nights in Helsinki). The final versions of the article are to be submitted no later than the end of March 2026. Detailed information on the format of articles will be sent later.

Please send your abstract not later than 14 November 2025 to:

Senior researcher, D.Mil.Sci, LtCol (ret.) Pentti Forsström [email protected] (+358 299 530 511).

Abstract Russia seminar 2026.doc