WARFARE

Photo: Sergey Okunev / NV Ukraine is currently at the epicenter of radical changes taking place in the way modern wars are fought. However, much of the world is still busy preparing for the wars of yesterday. European armies are only combat-ready on paper, while the invincibility of the United States military is based largely on past victories. The current state of affairs is far from unprecedented. In early 1940, Polish officers tried to warn their French counterparts about

Europe needs to share intelligence and exploit legal “gray zones” to tackle Russia’s sanctions-busting shadow fleet. Russian shadow fleet tanker Kiwala detained off the Estonian coast between the island of Aegna and the port of Muuga, east of Tallinn, Friday, April 11, 2025. Source: Priit Mürk/ERR The fleet, hundreds of ships strong, enables Moscow to circumvent curbs on oil sales and engage in sabotage, particularly in the Baltic, posing security, environmental, and economic

2025 was certainly a bad year to be flying in or out of Lithuania. According to the Ministry of the Interior , 320 flights have been disrupted at Vilnius and Kaunas airports because of cigarette-smuggling air balloons crossing from Belarus, causing sixty hours of closures and affecting 47,000 passengers. But the fallout has been even harsher for around 185 Lithuanian lorries stranded in Belarus over Christmas, after the authorities there barred them from returning home. Alth

Source DJI / CineD When cyberattacks and missile strikes converge on the same targets, infrastructure resilience becomes more than a technical mandate; it becomes a matter of national survival. For Ukraine, this is not a hypothetical future scenario. On the contrary, it has been daily reality for more than a decade. Since 2014, Ukraine’s power grid, banking system, telecommunications networks, and digital infrastructure have faced sustained and increasingly sophisticated atta

Russia will step-up its shadow war on Europe in the New Year, attacking infrastructure and disrupting democracy in a bid to exploit Western disunity. Russian drone on the roof of a barn in Moldova / Source Belcy 24 In 2026, the Kremlin will seek to demonstrate that Russia retains the initiative and remains a great power despite its economic and military decline. This is designed in part to emphasize a country on the brink of historic success and to build on images of Presiden

Russia’s Geran attack drones have morphed from crude versions of Iranian Shahed UAVs into an affordable and flexible strike system, with deadly results. Russia’s Geran 2 attack drone / Source Sergej Flesh Facebook page Moscow’s forces have launched nearly 50,000 Geran/Shahed drones into Ukraine since the full-scale invasion of 2022 and shifted to a near-continuous rhythm of strikes that have overwhelmed defenses, disabled infrastructure, and killed families in their homes.  

Mass grave site discovered in a forest near the Ukrainian city of Izium after its recapture from Russian forces in September 2022 / Source Insider Media The recent Hollywood movie “Nuremberg” provided a timely reminder of the role played by Soviet consent in the creation and legitimacy of the International Military Tribunal established to prosecute Nazi leaders after World War II. The broad outlines of the tribunal had been agreed before the end of the war during the February

While Russia's hybrid tactics are not new, their scale and sophistication in the digital age present unprecedented challenges. By Eitvydas Bajarūnas Executive Summary Hybrid warfare is not episodic, but a permanent feature of Russia’s strategy, rooted in Soviet “active measures” and enhanced by modern tools like artificial intelligence–enabled information manipulation and cyber operations. It exploits the seams of open societies — disinformation, cyber, sabotage, coercion — b

Is the Baltic now a NATO lake? Changing strategic geography, and the accession of Sweden and Finland to alliance membership might make it seem so, but the reality is more fraught. NATO exercise in the Baltic Sea / Source U.S. Navy Eight of the Baltic Sea states are now in NATO, and just one littoral country, Russia, is not. That might seem a mismatch of force — the so-called NATO lake — but appearances can be deceptive, and no one should underestimate the ability of Moscow’

Source: 47th separate mechanized brigade As Europe races to strengthen its defenses against the mounting threat posed by Russian drones, more and more countries are looking to learn from Ukraine’s experience. Speaking in October, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen acknowledged that Ukraine is currently a world leader in drone warfare and called on her European colleagues to “take all the experiences, all the new technology, all the innovation from Ukraine, and put it in

The EU is doing well in some areas but as attacks rise, much more continent-wide cooperation is needed. Prime Minister Tusk confirmed the incident on Warsaw–Lublin railway line was an act of sabotage. Source: Donald Tusk / X/ Press materials The purpose of shadow warfare attacks on European countries by Russia and its proxies is multifaceted: to test the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, to destabilize societies and governments, and to provoke reactions that undermine

Communications systems are being targeted by NATO’s enemies. New technology is needed to ensure decision-makers are not blinded by attacks. A critical fiber optic cable next to a Swedish highway of significant strategic military importance was found cut in several places in October. Such attacks are becoming commonplace — police have investigated around 30 acts of sabotage attacks, mostly along the same road, according to a June report.  The implications are profoundly worry

The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine is among the most technologically advanced wars the world has ever seen. But while the rapid developments taking place in drone warfare tend to attract most attention, the cyber front of the conflict also offers important lessons for international audiences. The Russian state and affiliated groups have been refining their cyber warfare tactics in Ukraine ever since the initial onset of Russian aggression in 2014. In January 2022, Ukrain

Estonia responds to Russian trolling with ridicule. By Edward Lucas Source: Estonian MFA Russia’s Wagner Group mercenaries are not the kind of people you want to see on your doorstep. So it was unwelcome news in Estonia when border guards spotted  the group’s distinctive flag (skull and lightning bolts on black) on a Russian patrol boat on the Narva river. All the more so because Estonia is battling lazy journalism  that depicts its eastern border city as a likely Russian tar

Missiles are not a panacea for air defense. Europe needs a return to guns – they’re cheaper and more practical. Photo: 115 separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine For decades, defense departments and the defense industry have pushed missiles as the solution to target destruction. The tank? Use a missile. The helicopter? Use a missile. And the low-flying MiG-29 or cruise missile? Don’t worry, we have missiles for that.  But this reliance ignores the lessons

A screenshot from the video with a captured Indian national, Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein. (The 63rd Mechanized Brigade / Telegram) As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches the four-year mark, Moscow is facing increasing difficulties replenishing the ranks of its invading army. With fewer Russians now prepared to volunteer, the Kremlin is seeking to recruit more foreign fighters to serve in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s colonial war. A number of recent media

Europe must harness dual-use technology to more swiftly deliver battlefield innovation. Kraken Technology Group picture Dual-use is not new, and Europe has a proud history of commercial-military innovation. In World War I, Renault adapted industrial expertise to create the pioneering FT tank , while in World War II, Ford’s UK plants pivoted to produce tanks, shipyards retooled and Bletchley Park fused government, industry and academia to crack codes and pioneer early computin

Anti-drone nets installed on a highway near Kherson. Photo: IPC-South On October 20, pensioner Larisa Vakulyuk was killed by a Russian drone while tending to her goats in the Ukrainian city of Kherson. The murder of the 84 year old Ukrainian grandmother was a deliberate act carried out by a Russian drone operator using a video camera to hunt his victim. There can be no realistic doubt that he knew exactly what he was doing. One week earlier, Russian drones attacked a United

Political meddling has long hampered German intelligence and security. Not any more. By Edward Lucas Penetrated by the opposition, paralysed by legal obstacles and subject to political interference, Germany’s intelligence services were for decades seen as at best useless, and at worst outright harmful. I remember a British spook in cold-war Berlin in the 1980s joking: “If you want Gorbachev to know something quickly, tell the Germans in strict secrecy: it will be on his desk

Poland’s battle against cyberattacks should be a warning and an example for the West as governments seek to counter their enemies’ hybrid tactics. Source: Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London A hospital was forced to suspend operations. A city’s water network was infiltrated . Dozens of daily cyberattacks are hammering Poland’s municipal systems.   This is the new normal in an era of irregular warfare. Officials report 20 to 50 attacks a day , with most blocked, but s

Russia is holding and torturing Ukrainian civilians, though they are not charged, have had no due process and no release date. Ukrainian warriors of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, and civilians. Most of them had been in captivity since 2022. / Source Volodymyr Zelenskyy Official Facebook Page. Dmytro Khilyuk spent more than three years in brutal conditions in Russian captivity, and marked his 20 years as a journalist while being held at

Russian drone incursions mark an acceleration in the Kremlin's hybrid war on the West. NATO members should study Ukraine's frontline labs to prepare for what comes next. Source: 427th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems "RAROG" The Russia-Ukraine conflict has radically changed the understanding of modern warfare. Aviation no longer has absolute control of the air, and advanced tanks and armored vehicles have had their vulnerability exposed by relatively inexpensive unmanned

What looks like a dream job abroad is, in reality, a conveyor belt into Moscow’s war machine. Influencers generally promote beauty...

As Europe dithers, Russia’s successful drone offensive intensifies. By Edward Lucas Source: Land Forces of Ukraine From Munich to Lviv is...

Screenshot from a video by Belarus 1 TV channel In the early hours of September 10, as swarms of Russian drones entered Belarusian...

The EU’s renewed focus on the Black Sea has created an opportunity for Romania, Turkey and Ukraine to shape a stronger defense against...

Source: Land Forces of Ukraine About two months before a mortar killed him, 19-year-old Ukrainian soldier Daniel shared a cigarette with...

Source: EUvsDisinfo Russia and Belarus conducted large-scale military exercises in mid-September as the Kremlin sought to put on a show...

RAF Typhoons / Source: Royal Air Force Summer is usually quiet for members of the United Kingdom’s defense and national security...

The continent must leverage its strong industrial base to catch up with the introduction of high-energy laser weapons. Iron Beam /...

Allowing army officers to order the kit they need, when they need it, has revolutionized Ukrainian procurement and dramatically improved...

A Taiwanese M1A2T Abrams US made main battle tank. / Taiwan Military News Agency Over the past few years, discussions on Taiwan’s...

Russia’s propaganda and threats are spooking potential investors in the Baltic States. NATO members should offer a financial backstop to...

Photo: Land Forces Of Ukraine Facebook page Western leaders were in upbeat mood on Monday evening following their unprecedented White...

Gasoline prices soared to record highs in Russia this week amid growing reports of fuel shortages due to an escalating Ukrainian bombing...

A quickfire series of agreements are blazing a trail for future transatlantic defense cooperation. The XQ-58A Valkyrie first flew on 5...

The Ukrainian military claims to have conducted a groundbreaking local offensive in early July 2025, using exclusively robotic systems...

Russia is now blending cyber interference, underwater sabotage, and manipulation of maritime law to gain tactical advantage without overt...

Putin may think bombardment will force Ukrainians into capitulation, but surveys show something very different is happening. Source:...

Drone incursions have sparked growing concern across the Baltic States as Moscow and Minsk prepare for military exercises. By Eitvydas...

In late June, a 30-year-old German-American volunteer crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border to begin combat training with Ukraine’s armed...

Source: The State Emergency Service of Ukraine Official web portal Russia’s July 4 bombardment of Kyiv was reportedly the largest of the...

The continent is at risk. The demand to do nothing is not a rational response. Source: Official Facebook page of NATO - the North...

Many historians agree that school history textbooks shouldn’t cover current events – some historical distance is usually necessary to...

The West’s private sector has still not understood the threat posed by Russian cyber intelligence groups. That’s foolish. Source:...

North Korea has agreed  to send thousands of additional construction workers and engineers to Russia in the latest indication of...

The alliance’s credibility rests on a strong deterrent on its home continent, not with ventures on the other side of the world. US and...

Israel’s campaign against Iran is extensive, effective, and (much like imaginative Ukrainian tactics) represents a serious warning to the...

A defense deal signed by Turkish and Romanian arms companies shows a route to enhanced industrial cooperation across Europe. Source:...

Source: Atlantic Council As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues, the Kremlin is also rapidly escalating its hybrid war...