Hybrid threats and mobile devices : a systems perspective on the use of smartphones in hybrid warfare

english

2025

volume 92, issue 5

cyber operations   digital resilience   electronic warfare   hybrid warfare   mobile devices

Elektrotehniška zveza Slovenije
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

The proliferation of civilian mobile technologies in modern conflict zones has significantly transformed the operational, psychological, and cyber aspects of warfare. The paper employs a systems thinking approach to model the use of mobile devices in hybrid warfare, with a particular focus on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict (2014-2024). Using a causal loop diagram (CLD) based on empirical data, the paper shows how mobile devices serve as both tactical tools and systemic vulnerabilities. It identifies the reinforcing feedback loops that accelerate the integration of mobile devices into battlefield operations, such as enhanced communication, crowdsourced intelligence, and deployment of operational apps, while also recognizing the balancing feedback structures that create friction through cyber threats, disinformation, signal exposure, and psychological stress. The model highlights how trust and psychological resilience serve as critical behavioral levers within the system, susceptible to both positive reinforcement and cascading degradation. This systems-based perspective informs strategic planning and underscores the importance of managing both the technological benefits and the emerging vulnerabilities of mobile device use in modern conflicts.

19.01.2026