In recent years, Russia has significantly altered the global landscape through its aggressive conduct in various conflicts. Employing hybrid warfare tactics, Russia has merged conventional military operations with psychological warfare strategies, recognizing the potent influence of psychological manipulation.
This study delves into Russia's utilization of psychological warfare tactics preceding conflict, focusing specifically on the cases of Georgia in 2008 and Crimea in 2014. The objective is to enrich the broader academic discourse by enhancing comprehension of Russia's behavioral patterns and facilitating the early detection of Russian psychological operations.
The findings reveal that Russia extensively employed psychological warfare strategies before the conflict, primarily targeting the adversary's populace to instill doubt and foster division between the people and their leadership. Furthermore, Russia directs substantial efforts toward neutral parties to legitimize its actions and dissuade them from supporting the opposing side.