Energy as a Weapon in a New Generation of Warfare and its Influence on National Defense Capability: Overview of the Ukranian Case [video]
Abstract
Uninterrupted functioning of energy infrastructure, providing of energy supply to consumers is required for a stable development of any country. The government, which cannot secure stability of energy supply, could be taken to responsibility by their nation. Under some conditions, it could seriously undermine country’s capability to resist pressure of adversary. Could the “energy” be used as a weapon to subdue the country?
Through its independent history, Ukraine faced variety of attempts of Russia to utilize energy as a tool to return Ukraine under control. Several times, Russia has even halted the normal functioning of gas, oil and power networks in Ukraine in order to achieve its objectives in its relations with Ukraine as well as with the European Union.
Although some energy policy experts repeatedly stressed this aspect, a large part of the Western political elite and of the industry experts had preferred to interpret the facts exclusively in economic terms without taking into consideration the political reasons of such behavior. However, the Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014 has had a huge impact on the understanding the nature of new generation warfare and the role of “energy dimension” in it.
Incorporation of the “energy dimension” into its hybrid warfare concept gave Russia additional tools to influence Ukraine. Political and economic pressure as actively used by Russia up to 2014 was enhanced by targeted physical actions against energy infrastructure as well as by informational campaign against Ukrainian government focusing public attention on the problems in energy industry and energy supply disruptions.
Destruction, seizing and looting of energy infrastructure, cyber-attacks as well as political, economic and psychological pressure have become the main set of tools of the Russian’s strategy against its Ukraine, demonstrating that energy and critical energy infrastructure damaging is an effective non-military tool of warfare.
The learned lessons of Ukraine prove that protection of critical energy infrastructure should be included into the national defense policy. At the same time, it stresses that the establishment of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and civil-military cooperation are essential for ensuring continuity of government and energy supplies.
Description
NPS Defense Energy Seminar
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
ROBUST CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS—ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS TO COUNTERACT RUSSIAN HYBRID WARFARE: THE CASE OF UKRAINE
Popov, Viacheslav (Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2019-03);Currently, we are living in the time of hybrid wars. States use both conventional and unconventional methods of warfare simultaneously. This thesis presents three key findings: a framework for building and retaining robust ... -
Analyzing the rationales behind Russia's intervention in Ukraine
Thomas, Kevin T. (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School, 2016-03);This thesis examines the rationales behind Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to intervene in Ukraine through the lenses of neoclassical realism and prospect theory. The risk-acceptant decision to employ hybrid ... -
Ukraine's relations with Russia competition or cooperation?
Oswald, Mace James (Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2002-12);Independent since 1991, Ukraine continues to struggle to improve its political stability and economic strength. Because of Ukraine's geographic proximity to and intertwined history with Russia, Ukrainian leaders measure ...