Resisting Russian information warfare: Lessons from Ukraine

Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine has tested its doctrine and capabilities for engaging in cyber and information warfare. Just as in the conventional campaign, widespread expectations for a swift and crushing Russian victory were misplaced. A combination of thorough preparation, international government and corporate support, and strong participation from civil society has ensured Ukrainian resilience in the cyber and information domains. Given that many democracies have been affected by cyber and information warfare, this expert panel will explore and what lessons can be drawn by other countries from the successful Ukrainian defence to be become more resilient and better prevent election interference. Questions to be discussed include: How can democracies better protect elections from malign interference? Drawing from Chatham House recent research paper, what key lessons can countries take from the cyber and information war on Ukraine, and how can they be applied? By contrast, which Ukrainian successes are not transferrable, because they are specific to this conflict? What new issues have arisen as a result of private sector engagement? What pre-emptive steps can other states take in order to set conditions for success in cyber and information defence? This event examines the forces that will shape 2024 and what that means for international relations.