A New Hybrid War Arena: Russia’s Interventions in Ukraine in 2014 and 2022

Year 2024, Volume: 25 Issue: 54, 74 - 92, 30.06.2024

Özlem Demirkıran , Berkay Göktuğ Öner

Abstract

The concept of hybrid warfare is an increasingly important issue in today’s complex security environment. This article first aims to reveal how the concept of hybrid warfare is defined in the literature and then to analyze Russia’s 2014 and 2022 interventions in Ukraine from the perspective of hybrid warfare. Although there is no agreed definition of hybrid warfare, it appears as a complex conflict tactic that uses different tools such as information warfare, cyber attacks, proxy wars in addition to traditional military methods. It is widely accepted that Russia used these different tools extensively in its 2014 intervention. In this article, it is evaluated that, as it was the case in Russia's 2014 intervention that focused on Crimea and Donbas, hybrid warfare elements are being used in a wider area in Russia's 'special military operation', which started on February 24, 2022 with the entry of troops into Ukrainian territory, as in Russia's 2014 intervention focused on Crimea and Donbas.

Keywords

Hybrid Warfare, Russia, Ukraine

Yeni Hibrit Savaş Arenası: Rusya’nın 2014 ve 2022 Ukrayna Müdahaleleri

Abstract

Hibrit savaş kavramı, günümüzün karmaşık güvenlik ortamında giderek önem kazanan bir konudur. Bu makale, öncelikle literatürde hibrit savaş kavramının nasıl tanımlandığını ortaya koymayı, sonrasında ise hibrit savaş perspektifinden Rusya’nın 2014 ve 2022 Ukrayna müdahalelerini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Hibrit savaş, üzerinde anlaşılan bir tanımı olmasa da geleneksel askeri yöntemlerin yanı sıra enformasyon savaşı, siber saldırılar, vekâlet savaşları gibi farklı araçların kullanıldığı karmaşık bir çatışma taktiği olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Rusya’nın 2014 müdahalesinde bu farklı araçları yoğun olarak kullandığı kabul görmektedir. Makalede, Rusya’nın 2014 Kırım ve Donbas odaklı müdahalesinde olduğu gibi 24 Şubat 2022’de askerlerin Ukrayna topraklarına girmesiyle başlayan Rusya’nın ‘özel askeri operasyonu’nda da daha geniş bir alanda hibrit savaş unsurlarının kullanıldığı değerlendirilmektedir.

Keywords

Hibrit savaş, Rusya, Ukrayna

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