CLOAK AND CABINET

The battlefield is changing faster than most military planners ever expected. In Ukraine, drones have become the most important weapon of the war. They dominate the air, the sea, and the land. Long range drones strike targets deep inside Russia, sometimes thousands of kilometres from the front lines. Ground drones evacuate wounded soldiers and deliver ammunition and supplies. At sea, Ukrainian drones have forced Russia's Black Sea Fleet to pull back and limit its operations. A country that does not have a navy has succeeded in beating the Russian navy!  This raises an important question. Should countries continue spending billions on tanks, fighter jets, and warships if cheap drones can destroy them in minutes? Have the world's most expensive weapons become obsolete? This week, we examine whether the era of traditional military hardware is coming to an end.   THE END OF THE AGE OF BIG PLATFORMS? For decades, military power has been measured by the number of tanks, fighter jets...

Warfare has changed dramatically over time. In World War I, tanks were introduced and soldiers relied heavily on trenches and artillery. In World War II, aircraft, missiles, and nuclear weapons transformed the battlefield. Today, warfare increasingly involves drones, robotics, cyber systems, and artificial intelligence. In this blog post, we will look at the ethical questions surrounding robots and artificial intelligence in modern warfare, especially as these technologies become more capable of making decisions that affect human lives. DRONES AND ROBOTS We have already discussed at length how drones have changed the front lines in Ukraine. When the war began in 2022, fighting mostly involved tanks, trenches, artillery, and missile strikes. Over time, however, drones became one of the most important tools on the battlefield. Today, both Russia and Ukraine use aerial drones for surveillance, reconnaissance, and attacks. Civilian areas far from the front lines have also become vulnerable...

This week, I want to take a closer look at the war in Ukraine, with a particular focus on the occupied territories. The situation in these areas remains deeply concerning, and it is important that we continue to talk about it. The war has now lasted for more than a decade since Russia’s initial intervention in 2014, and there is always a risk that people outside the region begin to look away. That must not happen. In this post, I will look at which areas are occupied, how civilians are reportedly being treated, and why the future of these regions remains central to any discussion of peace. UKRAINE’S OCCUPIED AREAS Russia currently controls roughly one-fifth of Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory. This includes most or all of Crimea, large parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and occupied areas in the south, including parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Cities such as Mariupol have also been under Russian control since earlier stages of the full-scale invasion. Life in th...

In this blog post, I want to shed light on the immense suffering endured by Ukrainian civilians at the hands of the Russian army — both in the occupied territories and across Ukraine. According to the Geneva Conventions, all warring nations are obligated to protect civilians and minimize harm to them during armed conflict. However, Russia has repeatedly violated these principles, showing blatant disregard for international law. Inflicting pain and fear on civilians has become a deliberate tactic — one aimed at spreading terror, breaking morale, and sowing chaos in hopes of weakening Ukraine’s resistance and forcing an end to the war on Moscow’s terms. " HUMAN S AFARI " DRONE ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS In Kherson, which was liberated by Ukraine in 2022 after months of brutal Russian occupation, there have been reports that Russians deliberately hunt down and try to kill innocent civilians walking on the streets. Investigative reports and witness accounts show that this is a systemat...

We know that drones play a huge role in the war in Ukraine, on both sides. Some even say this conflict—and the tools being used—have completely changed the way wars are fought. In some ways, that’s a good thing: drones allow munitions to be deployed without putting soldiers directly in harm’s way. But it also means warfare has become even more deadly. And what about autonomous robots and drones? Should machines really be allowed to decide whether someone lives or dies? In this blog post, I want to take a closer look at the ethical side of using drones and robots on the battlefield.  WHAT TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY CAN WE FIND IN WAR?   Modern warfare is no longer defined solely by soldiers on the ground or tanks rolling across battlefields. Today, technology sits at the heart of nearly every military strategy. Drones are one of the most visible examples—deployed for surveillance, precision strikes, and even resupplying troops. Yet they represent only a fraction of the technological ar...

These days, wars are waged both conventionally and unconventionally. Major powers often target smaller nations in efforts to assert dominance. Yet, smaller countries today hold a significant edge compared to just a few decades ago. With the rise of hybrid warfare, cyber operations, drones, and other technological tools, asymmetrical warfare has become a realistic and effective strategy for underdogs facing much larger foes. In this blog post, we’ll explore what asymmetrical warfare entails and examine some current real-world examples. Finally, we’ll consider whether this approach is a smart strategy for less advantaged nations—and why. WHAT IS ASYMMETRICAL WARFARE? Asymmetrical warfare refers to conflict between groups or nations with vastly different military capabilities or strategies. Instead of meeting larger, more advanced forces head-on, the weaker side uses unconventional tactics to exploit vulnerabilities. These can include guerrilla warfare, cyber attacks, misinformation campa...

Drones have firmly established themselves as a staple of modern warfare, accounting for a significant portion of battlefield casualties and effectively serving as a pseudo flying infantry. The ominous buzz of drones overhead instills fear in soldiers hunkering down in foxholes, a testament to how drone technology has drastically reshaped modern combat. However, traditional drones remain vulnerable to electronic warfare, as they can be easily jammed. Enter fiber optic drones—tethered aerial systems connected to ground stations via fiber optic cables. These drones provide uninterrupted communication, secure data transmission, and extended operational time, making them invaluable assets in combat scenarios. This blog post explores how fiber optic drones work, their advantages and drawbacks, and their expanding role in modern military operations, particularly in active war zones like Ukraine. An example of a HIGHCAT tethered drone ( Picture credits: HIGHCAT) HOW FIBRE OPTIC DRONES WORK Fib...

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a game-changer in various fields, and modern warfare is no exception. With its ability to process vast amounts of data and make decisions at lightning speed, AI is reshaping the battlefield in unprecedented ways. In this blog post, we will explore five key areas where AI is transforming warfare and delve into the ethical implications that come with its integration. 1. AUTONOMOUS DRONES AND ROBOTICS The impact of AI on the battlefield has become prominently evident through the emergence of autonomous drones and robots. These AI-powered machines have proven to be invaluable assets for military forces worldwide, boasting advanced sensors and cameras that offer real-time surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, providing crucial intelligence on enemy positions and movements. Beyond their surveillance capabilities, these autonomous drones are also adept at executing precision strikes, thereby minimizing collateral damage and significantly reduci...