Russian Approaches to Regulating Use of Force in Cyberspace

Discussion in the United Nations on how international law applies to cyberspace has lasted more than two decades. Initially, the issue was raised by Russia and gained little attention by Western States; today, however, the question of state responsibility, applicability of humanitarian law and thresholds of intervention, use of force or armed attack have become a high priority for all digitalised States. Debate on the matter has, in many aspects, polarised and one of the divides occurs between Russia and Western States. This Chapter analyses the Russian approach to the applicability of international law to state behaviour in cyberspace from the perspective of Russian approaches to international law in general. In doing so, the Chapter aims to explain the sometimes-controversial positions taken by a State that is at once a world power, one of the most active cyber-actors and often in an adversarial position. Special focus is put on the Russian approach to use of force in the ICT environment.