DiscoverInsider: Short of WarProxy Armies and Principal–Agent Problems: A Review of Militias in Eastern Ukraine
Proxy Armies and Principal–Agent Problems: A Review of Militias in Eastern Ukraine

Proxy Armies and Principal–Agent Problems: A Review of Militias in Eastern Ukraine

Update: 2025-10-30
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In this episode, we explore Martin Laryš’ Rebel Militias in Eastern Ukraine: From Leaderless Rebellion to Proxy Army. The discussion unpacks how Russia leveraged local militias in the Donbas through principal–agent dynamics, exposing the risks, costs, and fragmentation that shaped the early Russo-Ukrainian War. We examine how weak social ties, decentralization, and opportunistic leadership contributed to the conflict’s volatility and what these lessons reveal about the future of proxy warfare.

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Proxy Armies and Principal–Agent Problems: A Review of Militias in Eastern Ukraine

Proxy Armies and Principal–Agent Problems: A Review of Militias in Eastern Ukraine

Irregular Warfare Initiative