Hybrid warfare is a blend of conventional military force and non-traditional tactics such as cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, economic coercion, and the use of proxy forces. This strategy aims to destabilize an opponent without triggering an outright military conflict.

Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its ongoing actions in Ukraine have been described as hybrid warfare, where conventional military force was accompanied by cyberattacks and propaganda to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty. Hybrid warfare exploits the « gray zone » between peace and war, making it harder for targeted nations to respond under traditional military doctrines or international law.