This scholarly article by Associate Professor Leszek Sykulski, Ph.D., published on June 25, 2021, explores the concept and strategy of grey zones in hybrid warfare. It highlights how conflicts are waged using non-military means across social, political, cultural, religious, and economic spheres that remain below the threshold of open war. The article traces the genesis of this strategy to the 1960s with Colonel Yevgeny Messner, who emphasized civilian combat, the role of terror, and denationalization of war. Hybrid warfare combines classic military actions with psychological, informational, economic, diversionary, and sabotage operations to destroy the enemy state’s structures covertly, eroding morale and confidence. It further discusses involvement of local rebels, mercenaries, private military companies, oligarchs, organized crime, radical activists, and ethnic groups in executing these strategies. The piece underscores the cumulative effect of these actions in exhausting enemy states economically and militarily without formal war declarations.

This scholarly article by Associate Professor Leszek Sykulski, Ph.D., published on June 25, 2021, explores the concept and strategy of grey zones in hybrid warfare. It highlights how conflicts are waged using non-military means across social, political, cultural, religious, and economic spheres that remain below the threshold of open war. The article traces the genesis of this strategy to the 1960s with Colonel Yevgeny Messner, who emphasized civilian combat, the role of terror, and denationalization of war. Hybrid warfare combines classic military actions with psychological, informational, economic, diversionary, and sabotage operations to destroy the enemy state’s structures covertly, eroding morale and confidence. It further discusses involvement of local rebels, mercenaries, private military companies, oligarchs, organized crime, radical activists, and ethnic groups in executing these strategies. The piece underscores the cumulative effect of these actions in exhausting enemy states economically and militarily without formal war declarations.