Cyber Operations during the Russo-Ukrainian War

The Ukraine-Russia war offers a key case study on the role of cyber operations in contemporary conflict. Analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) finds that, although the frequency of Russian cyber activities has increased since the onset of the war, their overall impact and severity have remained limited. This suggests that cyber capabilities may not be fully integrated into Russia’s broader military strategy or may be intended to serve alternative objectives. The report argues that many state-sponsored cyberattacks are primarily motivated by goals of disinformation, disillusionment, and psychological disruption rather than physical destruction. It also highlights contributing factors such as Ukraine’s effective cyber defense, much of which is supported by third-party actors. The authors also note the possibility that larger-scale, physically destructive cyberattacks may still occur in the future. CSIS recommends strengthening public-private partnerships focused on information sharing and interoperability, expanding diplomatic engagement on cyber defense, conducting regular incident response exercises, and advancing research on effective strategies to counter the ongoing information warfare that defines today’s cyber threat landscape.