McFate Provides Stratagems on How To Defeat Russian Mercenaries in Newsweek

March 8, 2023

Newsweek

Sean McFate

Maxwell in Washington, D.C.

Conflict

International Affairs

Russia

Newsweek

Sean McFate

The return of mercenary armies to modern warfare is a unique yet perplexing feature of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Wagner Group, a paramilitary outfit largely considered to be linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has a played a role in the conflict with the ability to take over entire towns like Soledar.

"While their atrocities are well known, the dangerous trend they represent is less understood," writes Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs and author of "The Modern Mercenary: Private Armies and What They Mean for World Order."

"Privatizing war distorts warfare in ways four-star generals do not comprehend. But a clever strategist can exploit these distortions for victory," he says. In his opinion article "How to Defeat Russia's Mercenaries," published in Newsweek, McFate provides three ancient stratagems to win against mercenaries drawn from history that could turn the tide of the war for Ukraine.