Violent Resistance in Occupied Ukraine: Assessing Network Capabilities

As NATO continues to integrate unconventional warfare capabilities within its defensive strategy, assessment of resistance networks operating in Russian-occupied territory provides unique insight into their utility within a contemporary operating environment. In the case of Ukraine, while geographic dispersion and attack methodology demonstrate a broad range of network capabilities and access, disproportionate targeting of Russia’s illegitimately installed government over conventional military objectives has reduced their overall utility. To fully realise their potential within Ukraine’s ‘active defence’ strategy, resistance activity should be synchronised with conventional plans to create tactical and operational opportunities for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to exploit.