Modern Warfare Strategies Discussed at MWI War Council, Focus on Cyber Operations, With Exploration of Their Relevance in Conflicts Like Ukraine and Beyond
The war in Ukraine is challenging the traditional assumptions about warfare, with decisive elements occurring on land rather than new technological domains. However, the role of cyber operations in modern large-scale combat operations cannot be overlooked, as evidenced by a recent War Council at West Point.
The event, accompanied by an image from 2d Theater Signal Brigade, brought together a panel of experts, including Dr. Erica Lonergan, Dr. Brandon Valeriano, Dr. Grace Mueller, Capt. Maggie Smith, PhD, Gavin Wilde, and others. The discussion, chaired by Dr. Lonergan, focused on the war in Ukraine and its impact on conflict in the cyber domain.
Cyber operations play a crucial and multifaceted role in modern large-scale combat operations. They are integral to both strategic and tactical military efforts, disrupting enemy command, control, communication, and information systems. This disruption shapes the battlefield and influences broader operational outcomes.
Pre-invasion cyber reconnaissance and attacks were extensive, with Russian cyber forces conducting targeted attacks on government, military, and critical infrastructure such as energy grids and telecommunications providers. These efforts aimed to undermine Ukraine’s digital infrastructure and communication capacity, causing significant early losses in communications that impeded Ukrainian command and control.
Ongoing cyber disruption and the vulnerability of digital infrastructure persist, with Russian attempts to disrupt Ukraine’s internet access by targeting major telecommunications providers. Ukraine, however, has leveraged cybersecurity measures, including the use of SpaceX’s Starlink terminals, to restore communications.
The strategic integration of cyber with conventional military operations is another key point. Cyber operations support kinetic actions by degrading enemy capabilities and creating operational advantages. The synergy between cyber-enabled persistent surveillance, precision strikes, ground maneuver, and unmanned systems has allowed Ukraine to seize operational initiative and disrupt Russian forces systematically.
Cyber operations also encompass information warfare, disinformation campaigns, and influence operations to shape narratives, weaken adversary morale, and justify military actions. Russian cyber activities framed Ukraine’s eastern populations as oppressed, helping to build pretexts for invasion and to undermine internal cohesion.
The panelists emphasised that cyber terrain—including digital networks, communications, and undersea cables—constitutes critical operational terrain that commanders must consider similarly to physical terrain in campaign planning. Hence, cyber warfare is now embedded deeply into the doctrine and practice of large-scale combat operations such as those ongoing in Ukraine.
The panelists also discussed the success of cyber operations at both the tactical and strategic level in the war in Ukraine. They used a unique dataset they created that identifies Russian, Ukrainian, and third-party actors during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
After their remarks, the panelists took questions from cadets, faculty, and staff, further enriching the discussion on the role of cyber operations in modern large-scale combat operations. The image used in this article, credited to William King from 2d Theater Signal Brigade, is a visual representation of this enlightening event.
[1] Lonergan, E., Valeriano, B., Mueller, G., Smith, M., Wilde, G., & West Point War Council (2022). Cyber Operations in Modern Warfare: Insights from the War in Ukraine. West Point, NY: United States Military Academy.
[2] King, W. (Photographer). (2022). West Point War Council on Cyber Operations in Modern Warfare [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.westpoint.edu/
[3] 2d Theater Signal Brigade. (2022). West Point War Council on Cyber Operations in Modern Warfare [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.westpoint.edu/
[4] Lonergan, E., Valeriano, B., Mueller, G., Smith, M., Wilde, G., & West Point War Council (2022). Cyber Operations in Modern Warfare: Insights from the War in Ukraine. West Point, NY: United States Military Academy.
[5] Lonergan, E., Valeriano, B., Mueller, G., Smith, M., Wilde, G., & West Point War Council (2022). Cyber Operations in Modern Warfare: Insights from the War in Ukraine. West Point, NY: United States Military Academy.
- In the discussion at the West Point War Council, experts highlighted the critical and multifaceted role of cyber operations in modern warfare, particularly in large-scale combat operations like those ongoing in Ukraine.
- Cyber operations have been integral to both strategic and tactical military efforts during the war in Ukraine, causing disruptions in enemy command, control, communication, and information systems, as well as framing narratives and shaping perceptions.
- The strategic integration of cyber operations with conventional military efforts, such as kinetic actions and persistent surveillance, has empowered Ukraine to seize operational initiative, disrupt Russian forces, and gain a tactical advantage.
