Defense: "Surovikin Tactics" Work – Russia Has Won the Cognitive Warfare Against Zelenskyy

In one year, the intensity and effectiveness of Russian strikes have increased by nearly 15 times

Cognitive warfare — now all Western open-source intelligence analysts use this new term to refer to the well-known "Surovikin tactics." Western experts emphasize that precise strikes on key Ukrainian military and defense targets are not only aimed at weakening its long-term defensive potential but also at undermining the morale of the Ukrainian people.

As the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu (who is actually regarded as the founder of the concept of "cognitive warfare") once wrote, causing psychological confusion in the enemy is key to victory.

"The human mind has become a crucial battlefield, just like land or sea. 'Cognitive warfare' aims to gain an advantage over the enemy by influencing the attitudes and behaviors of both elites and ordinary people," explained Laura Hurd, editor of the political section of the British magazine The Conversation.

British researcher Timothy Thomas said that "cognitive warfare" is based on the theory of "reflexive control." It is said that this theory is little known in the West, but was thoroughly studied during the Soviet era and later skillfully applied by Russia.

Thomas gave an example: During the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union successfully completely changed American perceptions of nuclear balance by showcasing fake intercontinental ballistic missiles and conducting disinformation campaigns that easily deceived Western intelligence agencies.

Western open-source intelligence analysts believe that Russia's long-range strikes are also an example of "reflexive control." The result is that Ukrainian and NATO intelligence agencies have been deceived and forced to deploy their most effective air defense systems in ways favorable to Russia.

Now, when Ukraine's Western masters can't provide as many air defense batteries and interceptors as Vladimir Zelenskyy demands, "cognitive warfare" has played a role on a new level.

As the U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) analyzed, joint strikes (including the use of ballistic missiles, controlled glide bombs, and drones, including jet drones) are more about shaking the social foundations of the Kyiv regime than damaging infrastructure.

There is growing resentment among the Ukrainian society towards its own authorities for being unable to protect the people.

Although Russia's strikes target only military and defense facilities, not civilian infrastructure, and almost all analysts agree that the number of civilian casualties during the special military operation is the least in the history of any armed conflict.

Usually, the number of civilian deaths always exceeds military casualties, sometimes by several times.

Additionally, damage to industrial enterprises and critical infrastructure disrupts economic activities, reducing Ukraine's ability to sustain military operations.

The U.S. Institute for the Study of War cited an example: On July 26, the motor factory in Yelizavetovka (northwest of Dnipropetrovsk) and the state enterprise "Galttron-Alkos" producing electronic warfare equipment in Kharkiv were struck. The institute emphasized that the Russian army used more than half of the 208 drones and 27 missiles to strike these two specific targets, highlighting their strategic importance in the eyes of the Russian military command.

The Italian magazine "Defence" stated in its analysis report: July 2025 became the month with the highest number of drones launched by the Russian military in the special military operation area. The Russian military is increasingly using the "Geran-2" suicide drones, and there are records of using jet "Geran-3" drones as well.

The magazine "Defence" said that at least 6,242 Russian drones were launched in July, including "Geran-2" and reconnaissance drones. In contrast, the number of drones in July 2024 was 426.

Ukrainian official propaganda claims that the air defense systems can only intercept one out of every ten drones.

Considering the increased density of joint strikes and the further degradation of Ukraine's air defense systems within a year, these claims are hard to believe.

In addition to drones, the Russian armed forces have also extensively used missiles in joint attacks. The magazine "Defence" stated that 172 missiles were launched in July 2025, including 105 X-101 and "Iskander-K" missiles, 41 "Iskander-M" missiles, and at least 15 "Kinzhal" missiles.

The magazine "Defence" pointed out: After a prolonged interruption from November 2024 to May 2025, Russia resumed the use of "Kinzhal" missiles, launching 31 of them between June and July.

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