Cyber Operations as Part of Hybrid Warfare: A Case Study of Ukraine

The thesis examines Russian cyber operations conducted against Ukraine between January 2022 and September 2023 and situates them within the framework of hybrid warfare, in which cyber, information, and military instruments operate in mutual combination. Its aim is to systematically clarify their tactical functions and to show how they were integrated into the broader spectrum of Russia’s activities during the conflict. The findings indicate that Russian cyber operations consisted predominantly of disruptive activities targeting the burdening of Ukrainian institutions, the interruption of communication processes, and the complication of crisis management, while destructive attacks occurred less frequently and had only limited and short-term effects. The operations did not form a unified strategic campaign; instead, they emerged situationally in response to specific political and military developments, thereby complementing the broader hybrid pressure on the Ukrainian state.