THE HYBRID WAR IN UKRAINE OR THE CHANGING REGIONAL POWER ARCHITECTURE

Authors

  • OLESEA ŢARANU Cercetător dr., Academia Română, Filiala Iaşi. Această lucrare a fost realizată în cadrul Proiectului POSDRU 159/1.5/S/133675 “Inovare şi dezvoltare în structura şi reprezentarea cunoaşterii prin burse doctorale şi postdoctorale (IDSRC – doc postdoc)”, cofinanţat de Uniunea Europeană şi Guvernul României din Fondul Social European prin Programul Operaţional Sectorial Dezvoltarea Resurselor Umane 2007-2013

Keywords:

hybrid war, Russia, Ukraine, Crimea

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the evolution of conflict in Ukraine and Russia's behavior, applying a concept that benefits from great attention in the last decade - hybrid war. Beyond the Ukrainian stake and the goal to regain territories lost after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the 2014 conflict is about Russia's position in the region and the change of power architecture. Ukraine, with its geopolitical disadvantages represented a certain victim in the struggle of interest between an indecisive West and a irritated Russia eager for revenge. While the West was sending vague signals, Russia found and applied the best solution to avoid a direct confrontation, circumventing international norms in order to achieve its own goals. After we witnessed the annexation of Crimea and Russia’s unrecognized, but undeniable, immixture the conflict from eastern Ukraine, we ask ourselves – what is next, who could be the next Kremlin’s target and who would be interested to learn and apply the Russian model of hybrid war?

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Published

11-03-2016