Russia’s Hybrid Warfare against Ukraine in 1917—1921 and 2014—2019 and Ukrainian Governments’ Activities for Overcoming the Results of the Aggression

Abstract

The article discloses key ways and methods of conducting hybrid wars by the communist Russia against Ukrainian governments during the Ukrainian revolution period, and by the Russian Federation in the territories of Crimea and Donbas since 2014. At the present stage, the development of mass media contributed to the emergence of the hybrid warfare as a political phenomenon. These wars, aimed at the liquidation of the Ukrainian statehood, used separatist movements. The status of the hybrid warfare stipulated preservation of diplomatic relations. During the information war, Bolsheviks successfully used propaganda for disseminating their ideology to succeed in military actions. The “fifth column” had also significantly contributed to the victory and inculcation of the Bolshevist order, facilitating the advance of Russian forces and success in the war campaign. Nevertheless, Central Council, Ukrainian State of Pavlo Skoropadskyi, and the UPR Directorate undertook steps to alleviate the political, propagandistic, financial, and cultural communistic pressure. The members of the Ukrainian governments of 1917–1921 considered Ukrainian national idea the core of counteraction and consolidation of the Ukrainian nation. Ideological paradigms of the Russian Federation’s hybrid warfare in Donbas and annexation of Crimea stemmed from the propaganda of the “Russian world” idea. Unfortunately, the information impact of V. Putin’s ideology on the Ukrainian society is well-thought and planned. International law considers hybrid warfare beyond any international norms and conventions.