Hybrid aggression and civil resistance in Kharkiv in 2014: lessons from the first phase of the Russia-Ukraine war

The article analyzes the events of the first phase of the Russia-Ukraine hybrid warfare, focusing on Kharkiv (the second largest city located 40 km from the Russian border) as an example. The authors argue that during the first weeks of the invasion Kharkiv was supposed to serve as the Kremlin’s “gateway to Ukraine”. The hybrid war strategy includes implementation of “soft power” techniques such as civil unrest and mass social turmoil, information propaganda and blackmail of political elites. During the first phase of the conflict that took place in 2014, the objective was to seize power using the “fifth column” and the so-called “political tourists” deployed to the other side of the border. The article also examines how civil resistance against the pro-Russian groups has been unfolding in the area of Kharkiv. Based on the chronological overview of the events, the authors conclude that civil resistance exemplified by the contributions of civil society, non-governmental organizations and individual activists played a crucial role in the events of 2014. Furthermore, the authors argue that civil resistance and social cohesion could be an effective response with regard to national defense and countering hybrid warfare threats