Use of genocide by the Russian Federation in the conduct of hybrid activities and warfare in Ukraine

Abstract

Both the Russian hybrid activities and warfare include the use of genocide to strengthen the Krem­lin’s position and overcome Ukrainians. It can be observed within many spheres, but mainly as the Russian Federation falsely accuses Ukraine of committing genocide against Russians and claims that the West supports it. Russians commit war crimes that fulfil all the requirements to be considered genocide. The Kremlin uses genocide as a part of cognitive warfare, trying to influence not only the way the Ukrainians are thinking but also how they are behaving. In unofficial channels, there is much content showing Russian violence to generate fear and diminish the resilience of Ukrainians. Bearing in mind how much Russia has already lost with respect to the hybrid war in Ukraine, it is more and more likely that the Kremlin will focus in the future on hybrid activities and will try to exploit the potential of the threats that have already materialised. Principally, the hybrid warfare potential of genocide has been explored by Russians to various extend. This work addresses chosen aspects of the use of genocide by the Russian Federation in the conduct of hy­brid activities and warfare in Ukraine from 2022, as well as the motivation behind it.

Keywords

• genocide
• hybrid activities
• hybrid warfare
• cognitive warfare
• the war in Ukraine
• Russian Federation