Behind The Lines with Arthur Snell The New Total War: Bob Seely on Russia's Strategy
Dec 17, 2025
Bob Seely, a former MP, soldier, and journalist based in Kyiv, discusses his book on Russia's new form of total war. He reveals how this conflict blends military force with manipulative tactics like psychological warfare and child abduction. Seely shares gripping frontline stories, including those of brave figures like sniper Panushka. He critiques Russia's strategies, emphasizing the importance of understanding their long-term goals against both Ukraine and the West, and warns of the need for NATO to adapt to new warfare technologies.
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Russia's Integrated Theory Of War
- Russia combines military and non-military state tools into a single theory of warfare called a new total war.
- This integrated doctrine likely becomes a template for future authoritarian conflicts against the West.
Three Pillars Of Russia's Campaign
- Russia pursues a three-part strategy: hold with industrial attrition, destroy Ukraine's energy and morale, and fracture Ukraine's Western support.
- These military, economic and political levers work together as components of total war.
Panushka: Sniper Who Lost Her Fiancé
- Irina 'Panushka' is a former Latin teacher turned top Ukrainian sniper who copes with grief by focusing intensely on her work.
- She described losing herself in the moment when aiming, using sniping to process trauma after her fiancé was killed by a double tap strike.
