The Moral Limits of Sabotage – The War in Ukraine –
The Moral Limits of Sabotage – The War in Ukraine –
Author(s): Vlad-Andrei SkowronskiSubject(s): Security and defense
Published by: Centrul tehnic-editorial al armatei
Keywords: sabotage; morality; ethics; collateral damage; Ukraine;
Summary/Abstract: The war that began in February 2022 with the invasion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine currently presents all the characteristics specific to total war. This fact reveals Russia’s commitment to conduct a war of attrition, atypical for the 21st century, to achieve strategic objectives at any cost. In this context, an upward trend has been noted in the frequency of the use of sabotage actions by both states, through which the enemy’s defence capacity is attempted to be damaged through kinetic, punctual actions. New technologies have been integrated into old doctrines regarding sabotage, and the results have been remarkable in making military operations more efficient. Sabotage fits perfectly into the military activities specific to the grey area, where the boundary between morality and immorality is very sensitive, and for this reason, a comparative analysis of the most representative sabotage activities identified in the conflict in Ukraine is required. Following the analysis, different degrees of morality are attributed to sabotage missions, which are positioned hierarchically, depending on the principledness and military necessity.
Journal: Romanian Military Thinking
- Issue Year: 2025
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 58-77
- Page Count: 20
- Language: English