Given the fast changing political, social and economic landscape both inside and outside of Russia, first hand empirical research on the state of Russian civil society, its capacity for resistance, recruitment of new members, communication with broader publics is paramount for policy-makers in the Baltic Sea region, Europe and the world. During the last three years, research field focusing on the Russian civil society has changed dramatically: the access to the field became somewhat of a black box for many as security services started to pay extra attention to academics travelling into Russia for data collection as well war time censorship paralysed public opinion research. At the same time, a new group of researchers who both still have access to the field as well as use more agile research methods, entered the scene and manage to provide so much needed analysis of today’s situation inside of Russia. As conditions change fast, a constant monitoring of the situation is paramount for timely and precise decision making process. This is exactly what this network is set to do: collect, analyse up-to-date data and provide policy recommendations during two network meetings connected to two larger events which will gather decision makers and funders in Stockholm in September 2025 and Winter 2025-2026.