The Next Phase in Ukraine’s War With Russia: The Battle for Minds

The New York Times  |  Carlotta Gall, Oleksandr Chubko

Ukrainian military and civilian leaders have launched a new cognitive influence initiative to weaken public support in Russia for the war and disrupt Moscow's mobilization capabilities. Spearheaded by drone pioneer Maria Berlinska through her newly formed nonprofit Victory Neurones, this strategic shift prioritizes psychological operations over purely kinetic drone warfare.

This transition reflects a growing recognition that technological superiority on the battlefield cannot independently secure a decisive victory against a numerically superior adversary. By integrating strategic communications, cyberwarfare, and cognitive specialists, the organization aims to target the psychological vulnerabilities of the Russian populace. Ukrainian planners seek to degrade the Kremlin's domestic stability, restrict its future troop generation capacity, and erode the societal will to fight. Ultimately, this doctrinal evolution treats the cognitive domain as a primary theatre of operations capable of shaping the conflict's final political outcome.

Comment

Cognitive warfare represents the ultimate frontier in modern asymmetric conflicts. Kinetic operations alone cannot break the political resolve of a larger state. Modern militaries must integrate psychological manipulation with technological innovation to achieve strategic victory. This dual approach will define future grey-zone confrontations across the globe.

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