A very timely, relevant, and important book - with a compelling explanation of the true nature of Russia's 'hybrid warfare,' including eye-opening details of the lengths Russia went to orchestrate the 2014 annexation of Crimea, as well as illuminating examinations of earlier actions that offer insights, as well. DeBenedictis establishes convincingly that Russian 'hybrid warfare' is best understood as the modern application of traditional Soviet political warfare practices, such as active measures, maskirovka, and disinformation - and such understanding is critical in the contemporary era of renewed great power rivalries. * General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, U.S. Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan and former Director of the CIA *
The book offers an important contribution to understanding Russia's threat perceptions, and it provides a good overview of the Crimean case. The variety of sources, including original language sources, enrich the depiction of each case. Illustrating the Crimean viewpoint, the author adds a degree of depth that has been absent from previous analyses. ... This book is a good source for those unfamiliar with Soviet and Russian security environment theories and those seeking to understand Russia's actions. ... [And] will be of interest to students of geopolitics and strategic studies. Both policy-makers and academics can acquire a better understanding of the ongoing war in Ukraine by considering it through the lens offered in this book. * International Affairs *
A brilliant analysis of modern war by a young, yet seasoned, Army leader. Kent DeBenedictis thoughtfully dissects the 'hybrid warfare' conducted by the Russians in Ukraine and shows that while it is explosively effective, it is not new to Russian strategy, or to warfare in general. Success, even survival, may depend on our ability to both understand, and to master it. * General Stan McChrystal, US Army (Ret.), former Commander of Coalition Forces in Afghanistan and Joint Special Operations Command *
This is a timely and highly relevant analysis that deserves careful consideration by all those who intend to commentate on the threat * General Sir Nick Parker, UK Advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Defence 2016-2019 *
Why does the West keep getting surprised by Russia? Partly, it is because we do not use the past properly to understand the future, and this impressively researched study precisely addresses that, placing the 2014 seizure of Crimea in the context of Moscow's past adventures, an exercise of value to scholars and policy-makers alike. * Prof. Mark Galeotti, author of 'We Need To Talk About Putin: How the West gets him wrong' *
This excellent new book makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of Russian political warfare, challenging existing assumptions and prevailing narratives. Extensively researched, it reveals continuities between historical Soviet political warfare practices and Russia's 2014 intervention in Crimea. * Dr Tracey German, King's College London, UK *
DeBenedictis' monograph is measured and exceptionally insightful. * National Security Institute, The SCIF *
Extremely well-organized and clearly written ... an invaluable source ... provides an excellent starting point for any analysis of Russian strategy in the current [Ukraine] conflict. * International Journal of Russian Studies *
