Tetyana Lohvynyuk
Ph.D. of Historical Science,
Associate Professor at the Department of History and Culture
of Ukraine and special historical disciplines,
Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav,
Pereiaslav, Ukraine
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0892-2993
DOI: 10.17721/2522-4611.2025.51.11
COLLABORATIONISM IN THE RUSSO-UKRAINIAN WAR
(2014–2022)
The article is dedicated to the analysis of collaborationism in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war (2014 – 2022), specifically examining its unique forms and aspects within the framework of modern hybrid warfare. The study focuses on the socio-political, economic, and cultural motives that led certain Ukrainian citizens to collaborate with the Russian occupation regime. Collaborationism, traditionally viewed as a form of treason, has acquired new dimensions in the context of information warfare, hybrid conflicts, and technological innovations.
The article explores historical parallels with collaboration during other wars, particularly under the Nazi and Soviet occupations of Ukraine, and examines how the contemporary phenomenon of cooperation with the aggressor differs due to the use of new technologies and manipulation techniques. Special attention is given to social and economic factors leading to collaboration, including fear, material benefits, political beliefs, and the influence of external aggressors.
The author provides a detailed analysis of collaborationist activities in the occupied territories, specifically in Crimea and Donbas, where manifestations of collaborationism range from cooperation with the occupiers' administrations to participation in military actions on the side of Russia. At the same time, the article discusses the legal response to these processes in Ukraine, particularly the introduction of criminal liability for collaboration, as well as the challenges in legally assessing the actions of participants in aggression during a prolonged war.
One of the key aspects is the analysis of the socio-psychological aspects of collaborationism, especially the dynamics of national identity changes under the influence of the aggressor's propaganda and the social, political, and cultural transformations within society. Particular attention is paid to the issues of reintegrating territories after liberation from occupation and the state's measures to counter this phenomenon through legislative and legal mechanisms.
The article also examines the practical consequences of collaboration for Ukrainian citizens who cooperated with the enemy, including repression, public condemnation, and criminal penalties. The study emphasizes the importance of developing a policy to counter collaborationism in the context of modern warfare, as well as the significance of legal norms that ensure the protection of Ukraine's national security and sovereignty.
Key words: collaborationism, russo-ukrainian war, hybrid war, information warfare, Crimea, Donbas, occupation, national identity.
Received by the editorial board: 21.03.2025.
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