The war in Ukraine and its implications for Sweden - lessons from Ukraine and the future of digital warfare

More than two and a half years have passed since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war has featured both traditional warfare such as the massive use of artillery and tanks as well as the use of new technology, including e.g. drones. In parallel, the use of information technologies, smart phones and social media have launched an information war, in which both state and non-state actors spread competing narratives and combat propaganda. New technologies therefore add a complex layer to the ongoing war and imply new challenges on the battlefield.

The war in Ukraine has had significant repercussions on the European security order, leading to Sweden seeking membership to and becoming a member of NATO. Ukraine has received large support in the form of material from the European Union and the United States among others. How has this impacted the war and what does it mean for the long-term situation on the ground in Ukraine? What are some of the lessons learnt from the war from a Swedish perspective?

Russia’s war strategy in Ukraine has been characterised by a combination of conventional military tactics and hybrid warfare techniques, including disinformation campaigns. How has this shaped the understanding of the war in Ukraine and internationally – and what can we expect from the war this year and the coming years?

As we have seen in Ukraine, the internet will not be switched off in wartime. The use of smart phones permits citizens to stay instantly updated on current events, but also provides unprecedented opportunities to record and document scenes and evidence from the war and share information real-time. This digital warfare highlights a new dimension to the war and blurs the line between civilians and combatants.

In addition, private technology such as Starlink and state affiliated private military companies such as the Wagner group have also played a role in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Autonomous weapons and the continued development of artificial intelligence emphasise the importance of discussing and understanding the future of warfare, including how conventional and new technology can interact.

These developments impact not only countries such as Ukraine but also has global effects. What will the new battlefield of tomorrow look like, how will artificial intelligence impact the future of war and how will the development of non-state actors be in the future? Is broad international cooperation – or legislation – possible in combating new technologies?

These and many more questions will be discussed in the seminar. Welcome!

This seminar is co-hosted with the Swedish Defence University.

Programme

13.00 Welcome remarks

Robert Egnell, Vice-Chancellor, Swedish Defence University

Maud Holma von Heijne, Secretary-General, Folk och Försvar

Introduction

Pasi Huikuri, Program manager for security policy, Folk och Försvar

Lessons from the war in Ukraine and the long-term impact in Europe

Jack Watling, Senior research fellow, Land warfare, Royal United Services Institute

Carolina Vendil Pallin, Deputy research director, Russia and Eurasia, Swedish Defence Research Agency

Dara Massicot, Senior fellow, Russia and Eurasia program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Future warfare – Implications for Sweden

Matthew Ford, Senior lecturer, Associate professor, Swedish Defence University

The digital battlefields of future wars

Kristin Ljungkvist, Associate professor of war studies, Swedish Defence University

Hanna Linderstål, CEO, Earhart Business Protection Agency

Carl Fredrik Wettermark, Senior director, National Security Council, Prime Minister’s Office of Sweden

Joakim Paasikivi, Independent defence analyst

15.00 End of seminar