Strategic Role of Critical Infrastructure in the Russo-Ukrainian War

Abstract

Attacks on critical infrastructures are not new in wars, but in the Russo-Ukrainian war their scope, sectoral diversity, and the extent of the attacks highlight their strategic role. Attacks on energy production and distribution systems, transportation and communication facilities, water supply and water facilities fundamentally influence the outcome of the war. It has become a strategic issue how the defending country can compensate for the loss of these facilities and organize their reconstruction. Ukraine’s economic operation and the supply of the population are also fundamentally dependent on this. This publication aims to present the strategic significance of these vital infrastructure elements and the attacks they have suffered, highlighting the importance of resilience.