Russian Strategic Information Attack Framework

This technical report outlines the concept of Russian Strategic Information Attack (SIA) as a non-kinetic method employed by the Kremlin to inflict significant damage on adversaries during strategic conflicts, particularly in scenarios defined as 'large-scale war'. The report details two primary components of SIA: psychological attacks, which involve strategic influence operations aimed at destabilizing an adversary's internal political situation, and technical attacks, which focus on cyber operations targeting national critical infrastructure (NCI). It explains that while Russia has not yet conducted an SIA against adversaries, the potential targets align with past Russian information attacks on critical infrastructure in the West. The report emphasizes the importance of understanding these strategic capabilities within the context of Russia's conflict escalation management strategy, which aims to leverage non-kinetic means to achieve desired outcomes in conflict situations. Furthermore, it discusses the implications for Western cybersecurity efforts and the need for preparedness against both psychological and technical aspects of Russian SIA.