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RUSI
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RUSI

UK's oldest defence and security research institute; primary open-source analyst on Ukraine drone campaigns and Hormuz maritime risk.

On 9 April, RUSI research cited by CEPA found that 130 Ukrainian refinery strikes in 2025 reduced Russian oil exports by 6%.

Last refreshed: 1 October 2026 · Appears in 6 active topics

Key Question

Does RUSI's independence hold when UK sanctions policy contradicts its own analysis?

Timeline for RUSI

View full timeline →
Follow Iran Conflict 2026 →Follow Russia-Ukraine War 2026 →Follow Drones: Industry & Defence →Follow UK Startups and Innovation →Follow Cybersecurity: Threats and Defences →Follow European Oil Markets →

Background

RUSI is a London-based defence and security research institute. Its public work examines military capability, strategic risk and cyber security, often by bringing specialist evidence into policy debate. On 9 April, research cited by CEPA assessed the economic effect of Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries.

The institute also acts as a forum for officials, researchers and practitioners working on security questions. On 17 June, the National Cyber Security Centre's chief executive used a RUSI security conference to report that the agency had handled more than 200 incidents affecting UK critical infrastructure in the preceding year.

RUSI matters because defence and security policy often depends on technical evidence that is hard for non-specialists to assess. Its research and convening work HELP put operational, technological and economic questions into a public policy frame.

Key Issues
Russian oil

RUSI gauges refinery strike effect

On 9 April, research attributed to RUSI gave a measurable test for Ukraine's refinery-strike campaign: 130 strikes during 2025 were linked to a 6% reduction in Russian oil exports.

For RUSI, the assessment shows the institute's role in connecting military operations with their economic effect. The 9 April analysis treated the number of strikes as only one part of the picture, alongside export losses, damage and Russia's wider oil revenue base. That distinction makes the work useful to readers assessing whether drone campaigns produce strategic pressure rather than isolated disruption.

Common Questions

Reference

What does RUSI's Centre for Finance and Security do?
RUSI's Centre for Finance and Security researches the intersection of financial systems, economic sanctions, and security policy. Its analysts regularly assess how sanctions architecture affects state revenues and conflict economics, and their findings are cited in FCDO and HM Treasury deliberations.Source: RUSI
Why is RUSI relevant to the Ukraine war?
RUSI has embedded researchers with Ukrainian forces, producing granular field assessments of drone campaign effectiveness and Russian tactical adaptations. These are among the most detailed open-source analyses available to Western governments and media.Source: RUSI
How does RUSI differ from Chatham House and IISS?
RUSI focuses specifically on defence and security with operational fieldwork including Ukrainian embeds; IISS is primarily a quantitative strategic studies institution; Chatham House covers broader Foreign Policy and international law. All three are London-based but occupy distinct research niches.Source: RUSI
Is RUSI funded by the UK government?
RUSI receives no core government grant. It is funded through membership subscriptions, research contracts, and donations from public and private sources, including the UK FCDO.Source: RUSI
Who runs RUSI and when was it founded?
RUSI was founded in 1831 by the first Duke of Wellington. Its Director-General since 6 January 2025 is Rachel Ellehuus, a former senior US Defense Department official WHO succeeded Karin von Hippel.Source: RUSI rusi.org/people/ellehuus
When was RUSI founded and by whom?
RUSI was founded in 1831 by the Duke of Wellington, making it the world's oldest defence and security think tank. It has been headquartered at Whitehall, London, since its founding.Source: RUSI
What is RUSI?
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) is a London-based defence and security think tank founded in 1831. It provides Independent analysis on military operations, geopolitics, and defence economics.
What did RUSI say about Starmer easing Russian fuel sanctions?
RUSI's Centre for Finance and Security director Tom Keatinge valued the UK's May 2026 decision to permit imports of Russian-origin refined products at $1.2-1.4bn a year at 2025 volumes and described it as an embarrassment for Downing Street, poorly communicated and in tension with UK sanctions policy.Source: RUSI Centre for Finance and Security
RUSI Iran war analysis 2026?
RUSI's most influential 2026 Iran war publication modelled interceptor depletion rates, finding the US-Israel Coalition expended 11,294 munitions in the first 16 days at a combined cost of $26 billion.Source: RUSI
Who is the director of RUSI?
RUSI's Director-General is Rachel Ellehuus, a former senior US Defense Department official WHO took up the POST in January 2025, succeeding Karin von Hippel.Source: RUSI rusi.org/people/ellehuus
Source Material
Royal United Services InstituteRoyal United Services Institute — WikipediaRUSI Official Website