The MESA Research Group has published a study in The Journal of Slavic Military Studies examining the evolution of Russian understandings of strategic deterrence from the 1950s to present day. The article, "From Nuclear Proliferation to Hybridity: The Evolution of Russian Understandings of Strategic Deterrence," traces seven distinct periods in Russian military thinking, analyzing over 250 Russian-language military documents to reveal how deterrence concepts have transformed from nuclear proliferation strategies to contemporary hybrid strategic deterrence approaches.

This research was conducted as part of the "21st Century Strategic Deterrence Frameworks" project led by the NSI Team. The study emphasizes critical findings for Western policymakers, including Russia's persistent attachment to nuclear status compensating for conventional weaknesses, the significant misperception risks created by differing Russian and Western views on missile defense systems, and the imperative to understand that deterrence conceptualization varies across strategic communities based on cultural context. The publication contributes vital insights for reducing miscommunication risks and preventing accidental escalation in international security relations.