“Hybrid Warfare” as a Threat to the Security of the Union State of Belarus and Russia

Introduction. The world order today is experiencing serious overloads and is undergoing g significant structural transformations related to the security sphere. Challenges and threats are becoming increasingly multi-layered. One of the most relevant and complex among them is the “hybrid warfare”, the content and essence of which continues to be actively discussed. In modern conditions, it poses a significant danger not only directly for Russia, but also for a fundamentally important integration format – the Union State of Belarus and Russia. The purpose of the study is to determine the specifics of the perception of a “hybrid warfare” against the Union State of Belarus and Russia and its member countries in the context of trends in the evolution of the current geopolitical situation and Russian – Belarusian integration. Methods. The research is based on situational and system analysis. The methods of traditional and formalized study of documents, comparative analysis, and political diagnostics were used. Results and Discussion. The features of the “hybrid warfare” are revealed in theoretical and conceptual terms and in practical terms – in relation to the totality of actions of the collective West against the Union State. The general and distinctive points in the positions of representatives of the political community of the Union State are shown. The main manifestations of the “hybrid warfare” and the measures of response to them from Russia and Belarus have been identified. Conclusion. The negative consequences of the “hybrid warfare” for different levels of interaction of international actors are emphasized. The necessity of in-depth integration within the framework of the Union State and new opportunities for promising union construction in the current situation and for the future are noted.