Ukraine's Digital conflict analysis: Insights into cyber warfare
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has persisted for fourteen months, has seen a significant role played by cyber warfare and digital information operations. Since Russia's invasion in 2014 and the seizure of Crimea, as well as backing proxy forces in the eastern Donbas region, these digital domains have functioned as extensions of physical military actions and psychological influence campaigns.
In a recent episode of the Irregular Warfare Podcast, Gavin Wilde, a senior fellow in the Technology and International Affairs Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Jason Kikta, a former US Marine Corps member with over twenty years of service including seven years at United States Cyber Command, discussed the role of cyber warfare in the war in Ukraine, lessons on cyber resilience, and differences in Russia's and the US's approach to cyber activities.
Since 2014, cyber operations have targeted Ukrainian government, energy, and military infrastructure, aiming to degrade Ukraine’s operational capabilities. Disruptions have been attempted on power grids and military logistics, while both sides have engaged in campaigns to influence domestic and international perceptions, spread propaganda, and undermine morale through information warfare and misinformation.
Ukraine's Intelligence Directorate has also conducted offensive cyber operations, striking Russian critical infrastructure such as Russian Railways services to disrupt troop movements and logistics. From this experience, several lessons on cyber resilience have emerged.
Firstly, cyber capabilities should be closely integrated with conventional military efforts and intelligence to provide defense in depth against hybrid threats. Secondly, rapid detection and response are crucial, with the ability to swiftly detect breaches and malicious activities, isolate affected systems, and mobilize defensive and offensive cyber units being key to effective cyber resilience.
Public awareness and information verification are also vital. To combat fake news and cyber-enabled fraud, public vigilance and official communication channels are essential to maintain societal cohesion and trust. Lastly, international cooperation and knowledge sharing are beneficial. Partnerships with Western cyber security experts have helped Ukraine defend against sophisticated Russian cyber techniques and conduct retaliatory operations.
The strategic importance of cyber and digital information domains in modern conflict is clear, and the need for adaptive, multi-layered defenses that encompass technology, operational integration, and public resilience against influence operations is highlighted by Ukraine’s cyber resilience. However, the conflict's cyber component has often been absent from public discussions about the war.
The image in this article is credited to Tim Snell (adapted by MWI). The podcast can be listened to on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It can also be shared on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, emailed, or printed.
- The role of cyber warfare in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has been significant, with both sides targeting government, energy, and military infrastructure, aiming to degrade operational capabilities.
- Ukraine's Intelligence Directorate has conducted offensive cyber operations, striking Russian critical infrastructure, demonstrating the importance of cyber capabilities being closely integrated with conventional military efforts and intelligence.
- Public awareness and information verification are crucial components of cyber resilience, with public vigilance and official communication channels being essential to combat fake news and cyber-enabled fraud.
- The strategic importance of cyber and digital information domains in modern warfare is highlighted by Ukraine’s experience, with the need for adaptive, multi-layered defenses that encompass technology, operational integration, and public resilience against influence operations being emphasized.
