Mick Ryan
Mick Ryan is a retired major general who served in the ADF for more than 35 years. He is the Senior Fellow for Military Studies at the Lowy Institute. He is the author of the 2024 book, The War for Ukraine.
Opinion
Russia-Ukraine war
Putin’s chilling nuclear threat has one strategic target
Vladimir Putin’s nuclear sabre-rattling is spooking many in the West, but its main purpose may be to shape the approach of the incoming US president.
- by Mick Ryan
Latest
Opinion
Russia-Ukraine war
North Korea has joined Putin’s war effort. A timid West must respond
So far, it’s been a strategic shoulder shrug from the US and NATO, but an “avoid World War III” strategy could make authoritarian aggression more likely.
- by Mick Ryan
Opinion
Russia-Ukraine war
The US wants to avoid World War III, so Ukraine has no choice but attack
Since the end of the Cold War, Western nations have largely been able to assume a posture of strategic timidity. Ukraine doesn’t have that choice.
- by Mick Ryan
Opinion
Russia-Ukraine war
Two years on, Ukraine’s moral courage shames fickle West
As Russia elevates its war effort to an industrial scale of horror, the US, Europe and Australia have been slow to respond. They could learn a thing or two about will from Ukrainians.
- by Mick Ryan
Opinion
War
Why Australia is less ready to face a more dangerous world in 2024
The year ahead is likely to be more unstable and violent than 2023. We need to be battle-ready.
- by Mick Ryan
Opinion
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
What would a ‘crushing victory’ actually look like for Netanyahu?
Victory is an important concept in our understanding of war, but at the same time can be very difficult to define.
- by Mick Ryan
Opinion
Russia-Ukraine war
The village that repelled Putin in the first digitised people’s war
The brave village of Moschun is an emblem of Ukraine’s resistance and an illustration of its success in mounting a 21st century people’s war.
- by Mick Ryan
Opinion
Russia-Ukraine war
Why Ukraine’s new strike strategy has Putin on the run
The Ukrainian strategic strike campaign is part of a co-ordinated series of campaigns that, in totality, are placing increasing pressure on Russia.
- by Mick Ryan
Opinion
Russia-Ukraine war
Putin’s enemies don’t die of natural causes, but good riddance to the monster Prigozhin
Few will shed tears for Prigozhin. He was a brutal monster who thought nothing of having his own soldiers murdered by sledgehammer, or having them sent in human waves to die on the battlefield.
- by Mick Ryan
Opinion
Defence
In preparing for future warfare, there are no risk-free approaches
The amazing people of the ADF understand they are subject to an unlimited liability in the service of their nation. Unfortunately, we have just learnt what that can mean.
- by Mick Ryan
Opinion
Russia-Ukraine war
Why doubling down on Ukraine would be the worst outcome for Vladimir Putin
The short but epic advance on Moscow by a mercenary gang has significant implications for Russia, its leader, and the Ukrainian conflict.
- by Mick Ryan
Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/by/mick-ryan-p53648