Russia’s hybrid warfare : strategic use of agents of influence and resources in the pursuit of objectives

This research employs the concept of hybrid warfare, which delineates Russia's strategic integration of military and non-military instruments, particularly non-military elements such as propaganda, informational operations, and economic leverage. Conventional analyses often depict Russian influence as a centralized initiative orchestrated by the Kremlin. Recent research elucidates the concepts of the utilization and impact of agents of influence. This framework focuses on the role of semi-autonomous groups that spread pro-Kremlin ideas around the world through media, financial support for movements, and digital networks. These groups often work on their own but still support the Russian state ideologically. A mixed-method approach used (which includes the use of digital tools like Ahrefs, SimilarWeb, and SE Ranking to look at traffic and backlinks, narrative analysis, and OSINT). I will also look at earlier studies and research of pro-Russian agents in Europe (including media), official strategic centers reports, which show how people who are targeted can spread Kremlin messages.