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Information Operations in Russian Command and Control

Information Operations (IO) has long been central to Russian strategic thinking. Unlike some Western doctrines that treat IO as support to kinetic force, Russia sees it as a battlefield, one that come before, go along with, and outlives conventional conflict. Russia is already competing in the information domain before a crisis is even recognized in Western frameworks and shapes how it organizes command and control (C2) and decision making.

The 2022 invasion of Ukraine renewed focus on Russian IO doctrine. While the campaign challenged assumptions about Russian military effectiveness, its information framework, spanning cyber operations, psychological warfare, disinformation, and reflexive control, remained structured, even if unevenly executed. Even when military performance declines, their IO strategy continues.

This article explains how Russia uses information operations (including cyber attacks, disinformation, and psychological influence) as a central part of its military strategy.