The Plot to Destroy Ukraine

War looms over Europe. As Russian troops mass around Ukraine’s borders there is a palpable sense of crisis. In Ukraine, however, there is a combination of resignation and grim determination to survive. If Russia invades, Ukrainians will fight.1 But the real threat to their country is viewed as multifaceted and enduring. Ukrainians must not only deter military aggression, but survive the political, social and economic war that Russia is waging against their country. The multiple strands of Russia’s assault on Ukraine have been widely discussed in terms of the activity that Russia undertakes – cyber attacks being a prominent example2 – and in debates about the ends sought,3 but rarely are these actions and intentions framed in operational terms. This Special Report seeks to outline what Russia is trying to achieve in Ukraine, and how it is operationalising that intent through the synchronised application of state power.