Warfare Research Articles

DIGITALIZATION AS A FACTOR OF COMPETITIVENESS IN THE SINGLE INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL MARKET

The article deals with topical issues related to the creation of a single international digital market. The conditions under which the industrial complex of Ukraine should function in the near future are under the influence of globalization. The most influential factors of these processes are digital transformation, pandemic and military conflicts. Brief information on the essence of these processes is provided. It is noted that digitalization is carried out within the framework of economic policy, which in the EU is aimed at creating a single international digital market. The characteristic features of this process are given. The creation of a single digital market is one of the main prospects and challenges of our time. Digitization has created a world without borders, and its implementation requires a new form of management based on its specific properties. This process requires solving a number of practical and political issues in the economic and trade relations of the international community. Ignoring these processes, or biased assessment in approaches to their implementation can lead to catastrophic consequences in ensuring the competitiveness of individual enterprises, regions and the entire country. It is noted that the problem of regulating the single digital market is to ensure the possibility for the single market to work in the digital world in the same way as in the analog one. This means ensuring better access for consumers and companies to electronic goods and services throughout the EU, as well as creating conditions for the development of digital networks and services and maximizing the growth potential of the EU's digital economy.

Regional security and the role of regional players

The article examines the importance and necessity of creating a new international organization designed to take on the role of ensuring regional security. As an example, the Astana process to resolve the Syrian crisis, which was created with the participation of Russia, Iran and Turkey, is considered. Thus, the countries demonstrated the ability to take responsibility for ensuring regional security in the conflict zone. Russia, Iran and Türkiye were able to develop specifi c ways to resolve this crisis situation. Using the experience of the Astana format, such major players as Russia, Türkiye and Iran could find ways to solve other international problems. And here they may be joined by another influential world power — China. The strength of the new international security architecture will depend on these states. China has long played an important role in maintaining global stability. And here we can note the special role of mediation diplomacy, which has recently become the most striking calling card of Chinese diplomacy. Thus, in March 2023, with the participation of China, a historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran took place. In light of the recent escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli confl ict, China has published a position paper on a political solution to the crisis. The document off ers recommendations to resolve the problem, namely, a complete cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians, provision of humanitarian assistance, strengthening diplomatic mediation and the search for a political settlement. The authors come to the conclusion that, taking into account the accumulated experience in fi nding ways to resolve acute regional conflicts, and by joining forces, Russia, China, Iran and Türkiye are able to create an international structure for resolving crisis situations, which will become a guarantor for ensuring international security and stability.

Using a Simulation Center to Deploy a Pre-Evacuation Center

The problems of the modern world are associated with the risks of emergency situations, as well as possible threats of military conflicts and the need to evacuate civilians. It is important to be prepared for the need to quickly deploy assembly evacuation points for collecting, registering and sending the evacuated population to safe areas. To practice the skills of deploying such points, special exercises should be conducted, the platform for which can be a simulation center. The paper presents the experience of deploying a training model of an assembly evacuation point based on the simulation center of the Altai State Medical University.

ASSESSMENT AND CURRENT TRENDS OF ENSURING FOOD SECURITY IN UKRAINE

The research on Ukraine's food security is of paramount importance, as it directly impacts the national agro-food systems. The article delves into the current state of internal food self-sufficiency in the Ukrainian population, conducting an analytical assessment of export-import transactions with agricultural raw materials and food products. The findings reveal a significant trend of increasing food exports in recent years, along with an evaluation of the export-import coverage for the main types of food products. Ukraine's place in the world rating of food security based on the Global Food Security Index was studied. The fundamental problems and reasons that determined Ukraine's decrease in the rating positions and the level of food security of its population were identified. In addition to the military conflict, Ukraine has a low economic availability of food products for the population and a low level of sustainability in the domestic agro-food system. Despite the war's consequences, the agricultural business remains one of the most profitable economic activities in Ukraine. This analysis of individual indicators of the effectiveness of the country's agrarian sector as a basis for ensuring food security underscores the sector's potential. The modern production structure of the main types of agricultural products by categories of producers was studied. The key trends accompanying ensuring food security in Ukraine under modern conditions are summarized. It was revealed that food security in the crop sector is achieved at the expense of the public sector agrarian formations, mainly at the expense of households in the livestock sector. Based on the average values ​​of the actual consumption indicators, the state of providing the population with the main types of food was analyzed. The results showed problematic aspects in providing the country's population with meat and dairy products, fish, fruits, berries, and grapes. The priority directions for ensuring and strengthening food security on a national scale are substantiated. Among the main ones, the following are highlighted: the need to implement sustainable farming and animal husbandry practices, further improvement of the food quality management and control system, protection of biodiversity of ecological agrosystems, optimization and reduction of value chains, increasing the level of social responsibility of food producers and consumers.

Optimisation of recovery policies in the era of supply chain disruptions: a system dynamics and reinforcement learning approach

Incidents like the COVID-19 pandemic or military conflicts disrupted global supply chains, causing long-lasting shortages in multiple sectors. This so-called ripple effect denotes the propagation of disruptions to further elements of the supply chain. Due to the severity of the impact that the ripple effect has on revenues, service levels, and reputation among supply chain entities, it is essential to understand the related implications. Given the unpredictable nature of disrupting events, this study emphasises the value of a reactive development of effective recovery policies on an operational level. In this article, a system dynamics model for a supply chain is used as framework to investigate the ripple effect. Based on this model, recovery policies are generated using reinforcement learning (RL), which represents a novel approach in this context. As main findings, the experimental results demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach in mitigating the ripple effect based on secondary data from a major aerospace and defence supply chain and furthermore, the results indicate a broad applicability of the approach without the need for complete information about the disruption characteristics and supply chain entities. With further refinement and real-world implementation, the presented approach provides the potential to enhance supply chain resilience in practice.

Right to work under martial law: Legislative aspect in Ukraine

The right to work is one of the fundamental human rights guaranteed by international documents and the constitutions of most countries, including Ukraine. However, the conditions and restrictions relating to the right to work under martial law may change. Due to the constant threat to Ukraine’s independence, as well as to the lives and health of its citizens, the regulation of labour relations is substantially different from peacetime, which requires scientific substantiation. The purpose of this study was to outline the key provisions of labour law relating to the person’s exercise of the right to work according to the social and legal vector of the state’s activities under the legal regime of martial law. The study demonstrated the significance of ensuring stability and security under martial law but emphasised the temporary nature of restrictive measures. The importance of maintaining a balance between the interests of employers and employees was substantiated, as well as the development of labour legislation to accommodate the specifics of the situation during a military conflict. Human rights may not be violated in either peacetime or wartime. On the contrary, the state should create conditions for the free development of labour and the fulfilment of human potential. Based on formal legal analysis of wartime legislation of Ukraine, comparison of various regulatory documents and scientific positions, the study highlighted the problematic aspects of observance of the constitutional right to work. The relevant conclusions were formulated, outlining the legal ways to achieve the balance of interests of employer and employee and proposals for improving the legislation were identified. The recommendations proposed in this study may be used by the legislator to improve the current labour legislation of Ukraine

Telesurgery for humanitarian care-Highlighting its potential for improving healthcare in conflict zones.

Telesurgery for humanitarian care-Highlighting its potential for improving healthcare in conflict zones.

Sometimes there is no easy answer: Health care protection in conflict zones

PLEASE NOTE: Section titles are N/A to article type submitted (Letter to Editor). On a global scale, health care providers and facilities are observed to be increasingly exposed to dangers amidst political instability, siege, war. Public health is indisputably at the forefront of saving lives during military operations. In the current climate of global adversity, public health professionals have the responsibility to be prepared at all times and well-informed when responding to medical conflicts. Complex humanitarian emergencies cause great disruption, disabling, damaging, destroying community well-being. Public health sciences are evidently at the leading edge of health services planning and provision in mass casualty incidents. This article draws attention to the critical and current subject of health care and medical workers under attack in war zones. Criminal violence is against the law and an action that requires punishment. Lawful conduct that is part of a legally legitimate military operation must comply with the fundamental principles that govern armed conflict. It is important not to confuse the two action in terms of clarity and purpose. As for the extremely topical and vital issue, this article calls upon all parties in relevant fields to refresh and update their knowledge of the International Humanitarian Law, the Geneva Conventions and the various additional protocols in relation to current crises. Particular emphasis is placed on alerting national and international audiences at this turning point in history. When health care is faced with war-torn ethical damage, it is incumbent upon every professional to understand the context, to refrain from getting caught up in dilemmas, avoid getting carried away by popular tabloid trends.

Stock market effects of military conflicts on defence industry

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the short-term market reaction for the world’s 100 largest listed defence firms at and around the three recent largest threats to the global economy – Ukraine–Russia war, Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis and the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.Design/methodology/approachThe author examine the impact of the three recent largest threats to the global economy in the largest listed defence firms using an event study methodology.FindingsThe results show a positive and statistically significant short-term reaction around the three geopolitical threats. The results also reveal the existence of higher abnormal returns for defence firms with greater weight of defence sales, in line with the captured regulator theory and for firms with higher research and development and capital expenditure intensity.Originality/valueThe effect of the war on stock markets has been relatively little examined in the financial theory. This study intends to fill this gap in the literature through the analysis of the three recent largest threats to the global economy.

International legal standards and practices of European countries in combating domestic and gender-based violence

The relevance of this study lies in the need to improve the legal mechanisms for combating gender-based violence against the background of the increasing number of military conflicts in the world, which create favourable conditions for the latter. The purpose of this study was to analyse the regulatory provisions of international legislation and the practices of certain European countries in preventing manifestations of hatred based on sex and gender and combating domestic violence through criminal law measures. It was stated that legal standards defined by the regulations of international organisations, international treaties, and conventions underlie national and regional standards for combating domestic and gender-based violence. International legal principles of gender equality are defined by the regulatory framework of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Union, and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and other global and European organisations. Human rights provisions recognised by the member states of these organisations through bilateral and multilateral treaties and implemented through ratification are the basis for the formation of national internal standards of the rights of women, children, and persons of all genders. The study concluded that national standards for guaranteeing and protecting human rights in the field of gender equality constitute an implementation of international standards and pan-European provisions, and their implementation in Ukrainian legislation can ensure sufficiently complete and effective implementation of legal measures to combat domestic and gender-based violence. The ideas formulated in this study are aimed at finding more effective criminal law means in lawmaking and law enforcement activities

Estimating the vulnerability of industrial network infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe

Industrial infrastructure has suffered an unprecedented number of attacks in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). This situation can be attributed to many geopolitical factors, including hybrid military conflicts and criminal activity. Industrial networks belonging to the countries that were once under Soviet influence suffer from an elevated risk of cyberattacks. The goal of this work is to propose an easy way to estimate the vulnerabilities of industrial networks to cyber threats on a national level. Since analysis of the industrial vulnerability landscape is difficult, this study proposes an assessment based on the popularity of vulnerable technologies—VPc. This metric is composed of search volume data on keywords related to industrial network technologies and reported security vulnerabilities associated with these words. Data on 116 keywords was analysed and a country-specific VPc index was calculated for twenty states in CEE. The analysis of the popularity of industrial technologies and vendors in CEE reveals interesting information about the industrial security and vulnerability landscape. The results show that some countries (e.g. Estonia) have more resilient industrial infrastructure than others (e.g. Belarus). The results presented in this study are not in conflict with other data and estimation attempts, including the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI). As new vulnerabilities are noted every day, the industrial security landscape changes rapidly. Therefore, a new easy-to-use metric (VPc) can be successfully used for general estimations. This work shows that the VPc score agrees with other estimates and analyses, but as with any other general estimation tool, it must be used with caution.

The Impact Armed Conflict on Economic Growth and Sustainability in South Sudan

Purpose: The study aimed to explore the multifaceted impact of armed conflict on economic growth and sustainability in South Sudan. It sought to understand how the conflict has hindered the country's development and prosperity by examining the complex relationship between armed conflict and economic decline. Methodology: A qualitative approach was utilized, employing thematic analysis to gather and analyze data from various sources, including reports by international organizations such as the World Bank, IMF, and UN, as well as government publications and peer-reviewed journals. This method identified key themes and trends related to the economic impact of the conflict. Findings: The study revealed that the prolonged armed conflict in South Sudan has severely compromised economic stability. Key findings include the destruction of infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals, which impeded economic activities, disrupted supply chains, and increased transportation costs, with rebuilding costs exceeding USD 1 billion. The conflict resulted in significant loss of life, injuries, and displacement, reducing the available workforce and diminishing productivity, leading to an estimated annual economic loss of USD 4 billion. The displacement of over 3.8 million people disrupted local economies, agricultural production, and social structures, causing economic losses of USD 2.5 billion annually due to reduced agricultural output. The conflict also led to a decline in GDP, high unemployment rates, and unsustainable economic practices, with the economy's dependence on oil exports increasing vulnerability to price fluctuations and disruptions. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends prioritizing the restoration and rebuilding of critical infrastructure to revive economic activities and supply chains. It also suggests the implementation of policies to support displaced populations, enhance agricultural productivity, and diversify the economy away from oil dependency to reduce vulnerability. The study contributes to theory by providing a deeper understanding of the relationship between conflict and economic decline, and it offers practical insights for policymakers and international organizations on the necessary interventions to foster economic recovery and sustainable development in post-conflict settings. Additionally, the findings underscore the importance of comprehensive peacebuilding strategies that address both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term economic stabilization and growth.

Care for Seriously Injured People in Military Conflicts

The current war in Ukraine has drawn public attention to the treatment of war injuries. Follow-up treatment in Germany is portrayed the clover leaf of the TraumaNetzwerke DGU, is largely based on the demands of the Federal Ministries for Defence and Health and is intended to enhance resilience in war.The present article presents the special features of the care of severely injured patients during hostilities and should provide insights into the expected results of treatment and the actual procedures. We emphasise the unpredictability of the care of the severely injured during hostilities.On the basis of a search of the literature for the deployment of the German Army in Afghanistan and for the current war in Ukraine, we present the challenges and the typical patterns of injuries. We discuss the factors that can influence the procedures and the quality of the results during hostilities and how these may differ from civil polytrauma care in Germany - which is well established and standardised.Even during deployment of the Federal Army or (as planned) NATO, care of the severely injured is under standardised conditions, as based on the algorithmic ATLS care and which is concentrated on bleeding control. The corresponding equipment and personnel are well established, well prepared and well trained.However, there may be special local conditions or special deployments that make it inevitable that emergency medical care will be more delayed than in the civil system in Germany and can only take place after protracted transport. The objective is always that soldiers in combat should be able to receive medical care that is equivalent to that received by all accident victims in Germany, whatever the time and site of the accident.

Impact of injury mechanism on early wound closure in patients with acute conflict-related extremity wounds: A prospective cohort analysis from two civilian hospitals in Iraq and Jordan.

Gunshots and bomb blasts are important causes of extremity injuries in conflict zones, yet little research exists on the characteristics and outcomes of these injuries in civilian populations. We performed a prospective cohort analysis utilizing data from a randomized trial conducted at two civilian hospitals in Jordan and Iraq in 2015-2019. Adults who presented ≤72h of sustaining an extremity injury were included. We used mechanism of injury (gunshot/bomb blast) as the exposure and wound closure by day 5 as the primary outcome measure. The population predominantly comprised young men (n=163, 94% male, and median age 29years) injured by gunshots (61%) or bomb blasts (39%). Compared with the gunshot group, more participants in the bomb blast group had concomitant injuries (32/63 [51%] vs. 11/100 [11%], p<0.001) and vascular injuries (9/63 [14%] vs. 4/100 [4%], p=0.02). The wounds were larger in the bomb blast group compared with the gunshot group (median area 86cm2 [IQR 24-161] vs. 21cm2 [IQR 7-57], p<0.001). Compared with the bomb blast group, significantly more participants in the gunshot group achieved wound closure by day 5 (74/100 [74%] vs. 16/63 [25%], p<0.001). This difference remained after controlling for confounding factors (odds ratio 4.7, 95% confidence interval 1.6-13.7). In civilians with conflict-related extremity injuries, bomb blast wounds had a lower likelihood of achieving closure within 5days than gunshot wounds, independent of other factors, such as wound size and vascular injuries. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02444598. Registered 14-05-2015, https://classic. gov/ct2/show/NCT02444598.

Pattern of intestinal parasitic infections in children with malnutrition in Somalia

ObjectivesChildren living in conflict zones plagued with adverse climatic conditions often suffer from acute malnutrition. Being coinfected with intestinal parasites could worsen the prognosis if adequate interventions are not promptly instituted. We determined the pattern of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) in children with acute malnutrition in the Bay and Banadir regions of Somalia. MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from August to October 2023 in 222 children with acute malnutrition aged 6-59 months, using a structured questionnaire and stool examination by a trained laboratorian. The prevalence of IPI was estimated and the pattern of IPI was explored. The relationship between the presence of IPI and demographic characteristics was examined with multiple logistic regression at a 95% level of confidence. ResultsThe mean age was 20.4 ± 12.3 months, 125 (56.3%) were females, and 41.9% were internally displaced. The prevalence of IPI was 82.9% (95% confidence interval: 77.4-87.3), Of the infected, 73.9% (136 of 184) had single parasitic infection and 23.4% (43 of 184) had double parasitic infections. Ascaris lumbricoides (46.6%), Giardia lamblia (22.1%), and Entamoeba histolytica (17.6%) were the most common parasites identified. The age of 13-36 months (adjusted odds ratio: 1.13, P = 0.02) and eating once a day (adjusted odds ratio: 1.13, P = 0.06) were associated with being infected with intestinal parasites. ConclusionsThe prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was high in children with malnutrition in the Bay and Banadir regions. Deworming should be extended to all children with malnutrition. Food, sanitation, and water provision initiatives should be improved at the community level.

Coping with Indeterminate Dangers in a Violent Conflict Zone: A Study of Libyan Women Entrepreneurs

Coping with Indeterminate Dangers in a Violent Conflict Zone: A Study of Libyan Women Entrepreneurs

Graphic Paper: Empowering refugee families in transit: the development of a culturally competent and compassionate training and support package.

Refugee parents who fled conflicts suffered violence and traumas and face huge challenges in supporting the health and welfare of their children while in transit. To describe the development of a culturally competent and compassionate training and support package (TSP) for nurses, social and healthcare workers and volunteers, with a focus on parenting needs among unsettled refugees fleeing conflict. The multi-method approach included: a scoping review covering parenting needs of refugees fleeing conflict zones; collection of stories from refugee parents, healthcare workers and volunteers via a mobile application; discussions between team members; a piloted and evaluated curriculum. High levels of family distress and deterioration of parental identity were identified. Informed by these results, the curriculum is articulated along 20 bite-sized learning units, covering four age stages of childhood as well as targeting adults' well-being. Pilot training was evaluated positively, confirming feasibility and usefulness of the TSP. Unsettled refugee parents fleeing conflicts face psycho-social and practical difficulties negatively affecting their parenting skills. The care workforce should be trained in order to provide culturally competent and compassionate support to help these families. Open access digital platforms are promising as autodidactic and self-help tools among hard-to-reach populations.

Supplying the Lithuanian Army with Weapons in War Against Bolsheviks and Bermondt-Avalov Formations in 1919 at the Clash of Interests Between the Entente and Germany

Western political, social and economic support to Ukraine in face of Russian aggression has aroused discussion and actualized historical episodes of weapons supply and military assistance. Historical analysis of weapons supply during military conflicts and wars in the past provides a good opportunity to become more familiar with the problem and may give fruitful insights for understanding this phenomenon in its broader sense. After the collapse of Russian Empire and after the end of the World War I Lithuania fought in wars for independence, and received military assistance consisting of weapons, ammunition, clothes, and food from the two opposing parties and former enemies – Allies and Germany.In the current article, the author analyses the question of the weapons supply to Lithuania through the lens of foreign policy interests of England, France and Germany, and explores to what extent the supply of weapons depends on overlapping foreign policy interests of both appealing and providing country. During the War of Independence, Germany supplied armaments, when it needed to stop Bolsheviks and to counterweigh the influence of Poland in Lithuania, but refused to do that when Lithuania intended to promote its own foreign policy interests to capture Vilnius in 1919. The same happened with Allies, who refused to supply weapons to Lithuania despite its appeals in the first half of 1919, meanwhile, Lithuania received weapons from the Entente when it faced direct threat from the remaining units of German Army, which also became dangerous for the vital interests of France and England in Baltics.

The effectiveness of intraoperative ultrasound control in removing foreign bodies of soft tissues in military personnel with fragmentation wounds at the stage of specialized surgical care

BACKGROUND: The involvement of civilian medical institutions in medical care in military conflicts and counter-terrorism operations has become an important area of the medical support system. Modern methods of surgical navigation make possible minimal invasive, effective and safe removing foreign bodies from soft tissues. Clear understanding of injuries’ character allows better planning of procedures. AIM: Improving the results of treatment of military personnel with fragment wounds by taking into account the character of injury and the use of ultrasound control during removing soft tissue foreign bodies at the stage of specialized surgical care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from 253 case histories who were treated at the State Budgetary Institution RO “Central City Hospital named Semashko”. Indications for the removal of fragments included the size of the fragment over 7 mm, localization near to large vessels and nerve trunks, and an acute purulent process. The patients were been randomized to two groups. Group I (control) included 118 patients in whom surgery was been performed in the traditional way. Group II (main) included 135 patients in whom procedures were performed with ultrasound navigation. The research methods are ultrasound, X-ray, clinical, and statistical. RESULTS: In 164 patients (64.8%), the wounds were of an isolated nature, where fragments were localized in various anatomical areas. 89 patients (35.2%) had combined shrapnel wounds. Of the 118 patients in group I, in whom surgery was performed in the traditional way, 65 patients (55.1%) underwent surgery under local anesthesia, 53 (44.9%) — under general anesthesia (anesthesia is always general). In 135 patients of group II, operations were performed by only one surgeon under local anesthesia. The duration of surgery, surgery invasion and wound infections rate were significantly lower in group II. CONCLUSION: The part of isolated fragment wounds is 64.8%, combined — 35.2%. The use of ultrasound navigation during surgery can significantly improve the effectiveness of surgical treatment of patients with fragmentation wounds: reduce the invasiveness and duration of surgery, blood loss, and the rate of wound infectious complications.

Neglected women's health needs in conflict zones

Neglected women's health needs in conflict zones