Countering Russian disinformation and hybrid warfare
Expert Panel
Tuesday, 17 March 2026 5:30pm - 7pm
Wellington
Rutherford House Lecture Theatre 1 (RHLT1), Pipitea Campus, Victoria University of Wellington—Te Herenga Waka
The Centre for Strategic Studies and the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (Wellington Branch) invite you to a panel on Countering Russian disinformation and hybrid warfare.
Ukraine has been subjected to the full spectrum of Russian hybrid tactics—coordinated information operations, cyber activity, psychological warfare, political subversion, economic pressure, and the integration of these tools with conventional military force. This experience has generated hard-won, practical insights that are directly relevant to modern defence planning, resilience, and strategic communications. Many of the same Russian tactics have been directed against Ukraine’s neighbours such as Poland. The panel will discuss Russian disinformation campaigns and lessons learned for countering them, as well as implications for the Indo-Pacific region.
Confirmed speakers
Natalia Solieva is the former press secretary for the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, D.C. (2017-2022) and an expert on Russian disinformation operations. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and is an alumna of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (2016).
Vasyl Myroshnychenko is the Ambassador of Ukraine to New Zealand and Australia. Prior to joining the Foreign Ministry, the Ambassador was a founder and partner at CFC Consulting, advising companies on corporate and investor relations as well as business and governmental interaction. He graduated from the Institute of International Relations at the Taras Shevchenko National University, as well as studying at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and at Lehigh University in the United States.
Patryk Błaszczak is the Ambassador of Poland to New Zealand, a career diplomat and a member of the Polish Foreign Service since 2008. He worked in numerous managerial positions at Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including as Deputy Director of the European Policy Department responsible for Central and South-Eastern Europe, and as National Visegrad Cooperation Coordinator.
Professor David Capie (Chair), Director, Centre for Strategic Studies.
All welcome, but please register to attend.
Contact the Wellington branch
FOR ANY WELLINGTON BRANCH AND MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES OR WELLINGTON EVENT INFORMATION PLEASE EMAIL
nziia.wgtn.membership@gmail.comThe Centre for Strategic Studies and the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (Wellington Branch) invite you to a panel on Countering Russian disinformation and hybrid warfare.
Ukraine has been subjected to the full spectrum of Russian hybrid tactics—coordinated information operations, cyber activity, psychological warfare, political subversion, economic pressure, and the integration of these tools with conventional military force. This experience has generated hard-won, practical insights that are directly relevant to modern defence planning, resilience, and strategic communications. Many of the same Russian tactics have been directed against Ukraine’s neighbours such as Poland. The panel will discuss Russian disinformation campaigns and lessons learned for countering them, as well as implications for the Indo-Pacific region.
Confirmed speakers
Natalia Solieva is the former press secretary for the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, D.C. (2017-2022) and an expert on Russian disinformation operations. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and is an alumna of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (2016).
Vasyl Myroshnychenko is the Ambassador of Ukraine to New Zealand and Australia. Prior to joining the Foreign Ministry, the Ambassador was a founder and partner at CFC Consulting, advising companies on corporate and investor relations as well as business and governmental interaction. He graduated from the Institute of International Relations at the Taras Shevchenko National University, as well as studying at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and at Lehigh University in the United States.
Patryk Błaszczak is the Ambassador of Poland to New Zealand, a career diplomat and a member of the Polish Foreign Service since 2008. He worked in numerous managerial positions at Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including as Deputy Director of the European Policy Department responsible for Central and South-Eastern Europe, and as National Visegrad Cooperation Coordinator.
Professor David Capie (Chair), Director, Centre for Strategic Studies.
All welcome, but please register to attend.
Membership
NZIIA membership is open to anyone interested in understanding the importance of global affairs to the political and economic well-being of New Zealand.