INFORMATION WARFARE AS AN INTRODUCTION TO RUSSIA-UKRAINE ARMED CONFLICT
INFORMATION WARFARE AS AN INTRODUCTION TO RUSSIA-UKRAINE ARMED CONFLICT

Author(s): Dejan Vuletić, Miloš Milenković
Subject(s): Communication studies, Security and defense, Military policy, Russian Aggression against Ukraine, Russian war against Ukraine, Fake News - Disinformation, Secret Service / Secret Police
Published by: Institut za strategijska istraživanja
Keywords: Russia; Ukraine; armed conflict; hybrid warfare; information warfare
Summary/Abstract: After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine was the area where and around which the interests of Russia and Western powers, primarily the US and NATO, clashed. Two ”colour revolutions” in the 21st century best illustrate the dynamics of political balance changes and the influence of external factors in this European state. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, particularly after the Russian annexation of Crimea, is viewed as a ”hybrid warfare”, whose significant component is, among others, ”information warfare”. This paper considers the characteristics of the information warfare that preceded the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine. Russia has been preparing for a long time and has shown great efficiency in information warfare in the period until the beginning of the current armed conflict. The Russian sphere of influence was global. Various forms of information warfare (cyber, psychological propaganda, electronic, intelligence, etc.) have been combined. The action in information space was characterized by the integration of various resources, dynamism and flexibility of their use. The Russian information operations in Ukraine can be characterized by a high level of sophistication and their complex character. In the confrontation with Ukraine, Russia had numerous advantages from the aspect of controlling information space: technical tools, vast experience, as well as long-term practice in conducting information operations. The lessons learned in the conflict with Georgia in 2008 were particularly useful. On the other hand, Ukraine proved to be unprepared for information warfare and the undertaken measures were, for the most part, reactive. The impact of social networks, various mechanisms for compromising information infrastructure, as well as unmanned platforms, were very significant.

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