Conflict Zones
Flashpoints, failed states, and weapons sites — the places where geopolitics turns the map into a battlefield.
3 articlesLatest Conflict Zones
Cities56.84 N, 60.61 E
The Endless Ills of Yekaterinburg.
From imperial fortress to Soviet industrial powerhouse to cosmopolitan hub, Yekaterinburg embodied Russia's contradictions. Now Putin's war is dragging this once-vibrant city back into darkness.
Simon WhistlerJune 3, 2026
Disasters17.57 N, 4.00 W
Mali is Speedrunning Towards Total Collapse.
From Tuareg rebellions to jihadist insurgencies and Russian mercenaries, trace Mali's devastating spiral from post-colonial state to failed democracy on the brink of total collapse.
Simon WhistlerMay 18, 2026
Hidden Places24.00 N, 121.00 E
The Islands Where World War 3 Will Start
Just kilometers from mainland China, Taiwan's Kinmen islands sit on a geopolitical tripwire. Discover why these tiny islands could spark World War Three.
Simon WhistlerApril 7, 2026