Asymmetric Cyberwarfare Strategy in International Relations: A Study in Theory and Application of the Russian-Ukrainian War

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to explore the understanding and interpretation of cyber war strategy and the controversy surrounding it, particularly its strategic overlap with concepts such as asymmetric warfare. It employs realist theories of international relations to provide explanations for the Russian-Ukrainian asymmetric cyber war strategy under study.

Methods: Given the novelty and complexity of the phenomenon with its multiple dimensions, this study relies on the inductive approach to examine the asymmetric Russian-Ukrainian cyberwarfare.

Results: The study concluded that the dynamic nature of the asymmetric Russian-Ukrainian cyber war highlights the inability and imbalance of the international system to address this type of conflict. This is particularly evident in the absence of a legal framework and a lack of international consensus on its classification, legitimacy, and legal adaptation—whether as "military" or unarmed armed conflict. As such, this war is uniquely complex, combining fifth-generation warfare, including cyber wars, and kinetic military action.

Conclusions: As states increasingly view cyberspace as integral to their political and strategic interests, the major divisions within new realism in international relations offer varied interpretations of states' intentions, interactions, and global policies. The study discusses the transformation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict within the context of the new geopolitical and geostrategic order, providing realistic interpretations of the war strategy, its implementation tactics, legitimacy, and international positioning, along with its implications for international relations.