Did Syria Prepare Russia for Hybrid Warfare in Ukraine?

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you! In this episode of At the Boundary, Tad Schnaufer, PhD, speaks with John Pennell, PhD, a Senior Diplomacy Fellow with Narrative-Strategies, Senior Strategic Advisor with Pax Strategies LLC, Senior Practitioner with the Irregular Warfare Center, and author of Assessing Russia's Actions in Ukraine and Syria, 2014–2022: Implications for the Changing Character of WarPennell breaks down Russia’s military and political strategies in two key theaters, Ukraine and Syria, and the implications for NATO, the United States, and global security.Their discussion covers:Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics in Ukraine prior to the 2022 full-scale invasion, including “Little Green Men,” the Wagner Group, and local proxy forcesHow Russia’s disinformation campaigns, strategic plausible deniability, and cyber warfare shaped operations in Crimea and DonbasThe 2015 Syrian intervention was a testing ground for drones, electronic warfare, and emerging military technologyThe debate over terminology used to describe the conflict: hybrid warfare vs. new generation warfare vs. full-spectrum conflict, and why these distinctions matter in military strategy and geopoliticsLessons for NATO, the U.S., and allies from Russian military operations between 2014–2022The Kremlin’s shift from destabilizing Ukraine to pursuing regime change, and the information warfare narratives used to justify itImplications for future conflicts and how the U.S. and partners can counter hybrid threats effectivelyLinks from the Episode:• Cyber Bay Registration Link • Read The Latest GNSI Newsletter• 2025 Notes from Cambridge Blog• Assessing Russia's Actions in Ukraine and Syria, 2014–2022: Implications for the Changing Character of War by Dr. John A. PennellGNSI on X GNSI on LinkedinGNSI on YouTubeAt the Boundary  from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida,  features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus. The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.