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What Phillips P. OBrien thinks about Russia

@phillips-obrien · 11 positions · 0 changes of mind

Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of St Andrews and author of How the War Was Won; writes Phillips's Newsletter on the war in Ukraine and on Western strategy.

Phillips P. OBrien did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

6 dated positions, 2026, in their own words. Our reading of what Phillips P. OBrien has said — not written or endorsed by them.

  1. Our readingThe American military is being run on the Russian model rather than the Ukrainian one, and it should be rebuilt on the Ukrainian principles instead.

    Their wordsThe US military is being run by a group that apes the Russians and not the Ukrainians—when we have in front of us one of the best statements of command principles I have ever seen from the latter.

    ↗Weekend Update #201: It Will Be A Brutal Fall and Winterphillipspobrien.substack.com 3rd of 3 in this piece

    Americawar

    Interesting
  2. 7 days earlier

  3. Our readingRussia's 2026 summer offensive failed: it took almost no ground while losing more soldiers than Russia can recruit.

    Their wordsWhat we are seeing is a summer offensive of failure.

    ↗Weekend Update #200: Summer Is Ending, The Russian Offensive Is A Failure So Farphillipspobrien.substack.com 1st of 2 in this piece

    Interesting
  4. 7 days earlier

  5. Our readingUkraine's deep-strike campaign should be aimed at Russia's fuel system above every other target, because that is what takes money away from the war machine.

    Their wordsIt is not because it affects Russian morale, or causes inconvenience, it is because ultimately it is the best way to take away the one thing all war machines need—money.

    ↗Weekend Update #199: Ukraine's Campaign Against Russian Oil Infrastructure Should Be The Focusphillipspobrien.substack.com 1st of 3 in this piece

    war

    Interesting

  7. Our readingWithout the ability to sell fuel abroad Russia is not a great power and not even a medium economic power.

    Their wordsRussia without the ability to raise money by exporting fuel is not only not a great power, it is not a medium economic power.

    ↗Weekend Update #199: Ukraine's Campaign Against Russian Oil Infrastructure Should Be The Focusphillipspobrien.substack.com 2nd of 3 in this piece

    Interesting

  9. Our readingBelieving that Trump might yet help Ukraine is not harmless optimism: it is part of a manoeuvre that buys Putin time.

    Their wordsIn other words, it is not harmless optimism to act like Trump might help Ukraine, it is falling for a deadly, pro-Putin maneuver that is and will increasingly lead to Ukrainian suffering.

    ↗Weekend Update #199: Ukraine's Campaign Against Russian Oil Infrastructure Should Be The Focusphillipspobrien.substack.com 3rd of 3 in this piece

    war

    Interesting
  10. 8 days earlier

  11. Our readingRussia's allies have been more useful to Russia than Ukraine's allies have been to Ukraine.

    Their wordsRussia’s allies, on the other hand, have actually offered Russia support that has allowed Russia to fight the war that Russia has wanted to fight.

    ↗Weekend Update #198: Russia's Allies Are More Helpful Than Ukraine'sphillipspobrien.substack.com 1st of 3 in this piece

    war

    Interesting