O conflito entre Rússia e Ucrânia (2022-2025): efeitos sobre combatentes e civis

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the cognitive and behavioral impacts caused by the actions undertaken by Russia between 2022 and 2025 in the context of the Hybrid War waged against Ukraine. The research focuses on the effects generated on the human factor, both in civilians and combatants, through the deliberate exploitation of the social domain. The theoretical foundation is based on the concepts of Hybrid Warfare, as developed by Frank Hoffman, MCDC, and Hybrid CoE, and on references from Behavioral, Cognitive, and Social Psychology. Based on the analysis of events such as compulsory passportization, the change in the behavior of the population of Kharkiv in reaction to the bombings, the imposition of Russian identity in the occupied territories, the manipulation of Russian public opinion, and the dehumanization of Ukrainians, the systematic production of cognitive and behavioral effects through the coordinated use of Russian instruments of power was identified. The data collected includes official documents, international reports, media articles, and evidence on the behavior of affected populations. The analysis shows that typical actions of a Hybrid War resulted in the reconfiguration of perceptions, reinforcement of dysfunctional beliefs, social conformity, deindividuation, and internalization of new identities. The relevance of the study lies in offering theoretical and empirical support for understanding how contemporary conflicts shape human behavior, providing elements that can guide strategic analyses within the Brazilian Navy related to training personnel for complex threats typical of a Hybrid War.