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Deceived and Deployed: How Russia Lures Foreign Nationals Into Its War in Ukraine
The War That Found Them Russia is drawing foreign nationals from Asia, Africa, and Latin America into its war in Ukraine under false pretenses. They arrive believing they have secured legitimate jobs, university placements, or fast-track residency opportunities. Within days, or in some cases, mere hours, they find themselves on a battlefield they never agreed…
A Tale of Two Campaigns: Domain Dominance and Divergent Doctrines in the War for Ukraine
In recent weeks, Ukraine executed long-range drone strikes that disabled or destroyed over 40 Russian strategic aircraft across bases deep inside Russian territory. These strikes were not symbolic—they were targeted disruptions of Russia’s strike capacity. Meanwhile, Russia continues to fire missiles and drones at Ukrainian cities, hitting apartment buildings, energy infrastructure, and hospitals. These two…
Tripoli Erupts: Power Struggles and Civilian Impact in Libya’s Fragmented Capital
Tripoli is once again in the crosshairs of conflict. A sudden wave of violence swept through the Libyan capital in May 2025 after the killing of a powerful militia commander, disrupting daily life and plunging neighborhoods into darkness, both figuratively and literally. For the city’s residents, power cuts, street battles, and checkpoints are the symptoms…
The Silent Weapon: The Role of Sabotage in Hybrid Warfare Today
In the battles of the 21st century, the frontlines are rarely marked by barbed wire or tank traps. Instead, the decisive blows often land silently, deep inside enemy territory, disrupting logistics, crippling morale, and fracturing trust — all without a single shot fired. This is the domain of sabotage, the quiet engine of hybrid warfare.…
Australia’s Strategic Role in Irregular and Hybrid Warfare Across the Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific has emerged as one of the most contested strategic environments of the 21st century — not through conventional military confrontation, but through the persistent, low-visibility competition that defines hybrid warfare. From maritime militia operations in the South China Sea to cyber intrusions targeting critical infrastructure across Southeast Asia, the tools of irregular conflict…
Why Politicized Militaries Like China’s and Russia’s Are Vulnerable to Irregular Warfare
From the outside, authoritarian militaries project order, strength, and cohesion. Flags wave. Ranks shine. Parades thunder with disciplined force. But beneath the surface of tightly controlled structures like China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Russia’s Armed Forces lies a brittle foundation — one that irregular warfare is uniquely suited to exploit. Despite overwhelming firepower and…
Irregular, Asymmetric, Hybrid, and Guerrilla Warfare: Sorting the Terms That Shape Modern Conflict
The modern battlefield is no longer confined to tanks, trenches, and clearly drawn front lines. Today’s conflicts merge propaganda with cyber attacks, insurgents with drones, and militias with memes. As this environment evolves, so too does the language we use to describe it. Irregular, asymmetric, hybrid, and guerrilla warfare are four of the most commonly…
Much Ado About Drones
Why Unmanned Aerial Systems Are Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary for U.S. Warfare Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department…