School of Social and Political Science

Background

Since 2021, I have been studying influence operations at Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and the World Data Center for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development (WDC-Ukraine). Following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, I volunteered for military service while continuing my research remotely through the University of Edinburgh, where I deepened my focus on critical security studies.

Through first-hand experience, I have observed why many consider Ukraine to be a potential failed state – a perception seen as one of the key factors in Russia’s decision to initiate its invasion. This perception is primarily linked to the vulnerability of national institutions and the population to external influence, stemming from both state actors and organised crime.

My current research project seeks to understand why Ukraine remains susceptible to external influence operations and how these vulnerabilities can be mitigated while upholding democratic values. I approach this issue through the lens of Soviet reflexive control theory, which offers a structured framework for modelling influence operations and remains a significant component of Russian military academic thought. This theoretical perspective facilitates a systematic analysis of how external actors may manipulate decision-making processes within target states.