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EDITOR'S CORNER: Asymmetric Warfare

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These days, wars are waged both conventionally and unconventionally. Major powers often target smaller nations in efforts to assert dominance. Yet, smaller countries today hold a significant edge compared to just a few decades ago. With the rise of hybrid warfare, cyber operations, drones, and other technological tools, asymmetrical warfare has become a realistic and effective strategy for underdogs facing much larger foes. In this blog post, we’ll explore what asymmetrical warfare entails and examine some current real-world examples. Finally, we’ll consider whether this approach is a smart strategy for less advantaged nations—and why. WHAT IS ASYMMETRICAL WARFARE? Asymmetrical warfare refers to conflict between groups or nations with vastly different military capabilities or strategies. Instead of meeting larger, more advanced forces head-on, the weaker side uses unconventional tactics to exploit vulnerabilities. These can include guerrilla warfare, cyber attacks, misinformation campa...
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EDITOR'S CORNER: Is Democracy Dead?

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Is democracy dead, or is it on its way out? Why should we even care? In an era where right-wing politics and authoritarian regimes are rapidly gaining ground, these are not just rhetorical questions—they're crucial ones. Democracy is just one political system among many, but it’s the one the Western world swears by and actively promotes across the globe. Why is that? In this post, we’ll take a closer look at what democracy really is, why it has been so highly valued, and why Western countries so fervently advocate for it. We’ll then explore the meteoric rise of right-wing ideologies and authoritarian figures, and finally ask ourselves: is this the direction we want to be heading in, or are we slowly dismantling the very freedoms we claim to cherish? WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHAT ARE ITS ROOTS?   Democracy is a system of government where power lies with the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives. It’s built on core principles like political equality, individu...
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UKRAINE: Operation Spiderweb and Drone Wars

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Over the past several weeks, Ukraine carried out one of its most daring and innovative operations yet—Operation Spiderweb. This meticulously planned strike targeted Russian airfields deep inside enemy territory, showcasing not only Ukraine's increasing technological prowess but also its capacity for strategic surprise. More importantly, it revealed the vulnerabilities of supposedly secure military assets within Russia's own borders. In this blog post, we’ll explore the details of Operation Spiderweb and what it teaches us about the future of warfare. What lessons can NATO, global defense analysts, and even civilians learn from this? And what does it say about the next era of military technology? A still from drone footage showing the point of impact INSIDE OPERATION SPIDERWEB Operation Spiderweb was the result of 18 months of careful planning and execution by Ukraine’s SBU (Security Service of Ukraine). Though many operational details remain classified due to ongoing missions, ...
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RUSSIA: A Glimse into the Notorious Cheka

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When the Bolsheviks took power in Russia in 1917, things were chaotic. They had just overthrown the Provisional Government, World War I was still dragging on, and civil war was brewing. The new leaders knew they had enemies—lots of them. So they created a special force to deal with these threats. This group was called the Cheka, and it became the first of many secret police organizations in the Soviet Union. In this blog post, we will look at the history of this notorious organization that was the root of the infamous KGB, which later led to the FSB we know today. WHY WAS IT CALLED CHEKA? The full name was a bit of a mouthful: The All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage ( in Russian  Vserossiyskaya chrezvychaynaya komissiya po bor'be s kontrrevolyutsiey i sabotazhem ). Most people just called it the Cheka or VeCheka . It was formed in December 1917, just weeks after the Bolsheviks seized power. They were the " sword and shield " ...
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UKRAINE: The Horrors of Captivity

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Unfortunately, Russia continues to torture and brutally mistreat Ukrainian prisoners of war. These atrocities aren't limited to captured soldiers—they also include civilians taken from their homes. Today, I want to shed light on the story of a journalist who disappeared in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. After a year of silence, her body was found—mutilated, missing organs, and bearing clear signs of torture. What happened to Viktoriia Roschyna? In this post, we’ll explore her case and the broader plight of thousands of Ukrainians held in captivity. Their lives are marked by relentless suffering—beatings, torture, and, in many cases, pressure to take their own lives.   BRAVE BUT BEATEN DOWN Viktoriia Roshchyna was a young Ukrainian journalist who dedicated her life to uncovering the truth—even in the darkest and most dangerous corners of Russian-occupied Ukraine. She reported from deep inside enemy-held areas, documenting war crimes, human rights abuses, and the suff...
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NATIONHOOD AND IDENTITY: Motherland vs. Fatherland

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The terms "motherland" and "fatherland" are powerful words that can evoke deep emotional ties to one's homeland. Although in English, we can switch between them interchangeably, the terms carry different cultural, historical and linguistical significance. It is also dependent on what country and language you use and come from.  Understanding the roots and meanings of each of these terms provides deep insight into a country's national identity.  In this blog post, I want to look at the roots of these words, the cultural heritage and what kind of patriotism it evokes in the citizens using it.  ETYMOLOGICAL AND TRADITIONAL ROOTS   The distinction between "motherland" and "fatherland" originates from symbolic associations and traditions in the language around the world.  "Motherland" often reflects the nurturing, life-giving qualities associated with the feminine archetype. In many cultures, the land is seen as a maternal figure tha...
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EDITOR'S CORNER: Fighting for Democracy and Order

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This week has been a whirlwind of events that highlight just how fast and fractured the world has become. From a surprising election win in Romania to a tense phone call between Trump and Putin, and Netanyahu’s alarming announcement on Gaza, the news cycle is relentless—and it reveals deeper, unsettling shifts beneath the surface. These headlines aren’t isolated incidents; they’re symptoms of a global order unraveling before our eyes, and a democracy under siege from populism, nationalism, and growing instability. With all of this happening, I thought it was a good moment to take a step back and look at the bigger picture — the deeper issues behind these headlines: global order and the state of democracy. We'll explore the growing threats to democratic institutions, and the increasing sense of global instability.   WHAT TOOK 80 YEARS TO BUILD FELL IN MONTHS What many of us — the general public, experts, and global leaders alike — are beginning to openly acknowledge is that the glob...
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