Europe

Analyzing how irregular warfare defines Europe's security environment, from national resilience and societal defense to lessons from the front lines of hybrid conflict.

IWI Europe Leads Featured in Euromaidan Press: The "Accidental" Hardening of Ukraine

In a recent article for Euromaidan Press, authors Dr. Olga Chiriac (Director, Europe Focus Area) and Nicholas Krohley (Resistance Hub Lead) examine how two decades of Russian hybrid warfare unintentionally transformed Ukraine into a uniquely resilient state. While Moscow's long-term campaign of political interference, economic pressure, and sub-threshold

Fireside Chat: Ukraine & the Future of European Security

What lessons has Russia learned from the war against Ukraine, how might this shape their near-term statecraft, and what does this mean for Europe? Overview European security discourse focuses on the threat of Russian "hybrid warfare," and the attendant need to build resilience, enhance preparedness, and reconstitute deterrence.

Drone Warfare in Ukraine: Myths and Reality

The European Programme of the Irregular Warfare Initiative is proud to present another episode of the Notes from the Eastern Front: Lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War series. The discussion is hosted by Ukraine Hub Lead, Armenak Ohanesian, and Dr Olga R. Chiriac, Europe Programme Director. Our guest is Ivan Grys,

Northern Approaches: Finland, Sweden, and the Growing Opportunities for Allied Irregular Warfare

“Irregular warfare enhances posture and options to counter an adversary’s gray zone activities and their counterintervention strategies” -Senate Armed Services Committee testimony of former Assistant Secretary of Defense Christopher Maier and GEN (R) Bryan Fenton, 10 April 2024 Galvanized by Russia’s war of conquest in Ukraine, the two

NATO’s Latest Doctrine on Security Force Assistance: What’s New?

Editor’s Note: Readers will be aware of the latest tensions surrounding NATO following recent U.S. statements on tariffs and alliance commitments. This article was drafted and edited before those developments emerged, and therefore does not address them directly. In August 2025, NATO published the second edition of the

Iran, Ukraine, and the Realities of “Resistance” & “Regime Change”

This article, published in Small Wars Journal in mid-2025, examines the limits of externally driven regime-change strategies through a comparative analysis of Iran and Ukraine. Drawing on Ukraine’s experience of bottom-up resistance, the authors argue that durable political transformation depends on long-term civic mobilisation rather than state-centric or decapitation-focused

The Northern Ireland Peace Process: From Armed Conflict to Brexit, by Eamonn O’Kane

Editor's Note: This article is a book review of The Northern Ireland Peace Process: From Armed Conflict to Brexit by Eamonn O’Kane, examining the author’s analysis of how peace in Northern Ireland has evolved long after the Good Friday Agreement. When did the conflict in Northern

Understanding Hybrid Threats: Insights from the Belgian Cyber Force Commander

This IWI Project Europe Fireside Chat examines Belgium’s perspectives on hybrid warfare, with a particular focus on cyber-attacks and information warfare. To do so, we welcomed one of Belgium’s key figures in the cyber domain: Major-General Pierre Ciparisse. Appointed in September, General Ciparisse serves as Commander of the

Pirates or Proxies? The Uskoks of Senj and Their Lessons for Irregular Warfare

The Uskoks were Christian refugees who transformed into maritime raiders operating on behalf of the Habsburg Empire, though often only loosely controlled by it. While they certainly were pirates in the classic sense, they were also strategic actors in an early modern proxy conflict between the Habsburgs and the Ottoman

Sabotage as a “New Normal”

“Efforts will be made in such countries to disrupt national self-confidence, to hamstring measures of national defense, to increase social and industrial unrest, to stimulate all forms of disunity.” -George Kennan, The Long Telegram Since 2022, there has been a spate of high-profile sabotage attacks across Europe: a suspicious fire

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Bridging the gap between irregular warfare scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.

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IWI in Europe Program examines how irregular warfare defines the continent’s security environment and connects practitioners and academics to shape practical responses. Our mission is to bridge the gap between theory and practice, fostering a shared understanding of the unconventional threats facing Europe today.

Through our Resistance Hub, we study the foundations of national resilience and societal defense, drawing on the diverse experiences of European states that have adapted to deter and resist hybrid threats. Our Ukraine Hub provides insight into the ongoing conflict, generating lessons on irregular and hybrid warfare at the frontlines of Europe’s defense. Together, these hubs create communities of interest that advance both scholarship and applied strategies.

IWI in Europe Program hosts fireside chats, workshops, and publications that bring policymakers, scholars, and military professionals into conversation. These forums provide candid, forward-looking dialogue on the irregular dimensions of deterrence, competition, and war in Europe.

By convening across borders and disciplines, IWI Europe delivers value as a connector: turning academic research into practical insight, and practitioner experience into shared lessons that strengthen Europe’s collective resilience.

Meet the Team

Dr. Olga R. Chiriac Dr. Olga R. Chiriac Director, Europe
Armenak Ohanesian Armenak Ohanesian Ukraine Hub Lead, Europe
Doug Livermore Doug Livermore Board Member, Special Advisor, Europe
Dr. Martijn Kitzen Dr. Martijn Kitzen Special Advisor, Europe
Dr. Nicholas Krohley Dr. Nicholas Krohley Resistance Hub Lead
Elizabeth Gallagher Elizabeth Gallagher Europe Liaison
Jahara Matisek Jahara Matisek Special Advisor, Europe
Jon Armstrong Jon Armstrong Advisor, Europe