Journal articles on the topic 'Armed Forces – Operations other than war'

<div><p class="Els-history-head">Joint Defense Regional Command I (Kogabwilhan I) is the Operation Main Command (Kotamaops) of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI or Tentara Nasional Indonesia) which is directly under the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. Kogabwilhan I’s task is to act as an initial follower and restorer in the event of a conflict in its territory, both for War Military Operations (WMO) and Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW) as well as a deterrent in the event of a threat. The current phenomenon is that the organizational readiness of units in the Natuna area is not yet ideal, the readiness of human resources, especially the Indonesian National Armed Forces units in the Natuna area, is still limited, and the support for facilities and infrastructure of the Indonesian National Armed Forces units in the Natuna area is not adequate, and the implementation of operational activities in the Indonesian National Armed Forces units in the Natuna area. Natuna is not optimal. The purpose of this study is to provide government input on the implementation of Joint Defense Regional Command I (Kogabwilhan I) policies in supporting the national defense. This study uses a qualitative method which is an understanding of social phenomena from several participant perspectives. The results achieved are by the theory of Policy Implementation related to Resources, Communication, Disposition, and Bureaucratic Structure, a strategy is needed to revamp the bureaucratic structure and recalculate budget resources. </p></div>

There is no further regulation regarding the role played by Special Operations Command Of The Indonesian National Armed Forces in eradicating the Crime of Terrorism through Military Operations Other Than War as stated in the TNI Law Article 7 paragraph (2) letter (b) number 3 through the main tasks of the TNI through OMSP to overcome acts of terrorism, so that there is a legal ambiguity in it and raises a question about the role and authority of the Special Operations Command Of The Indonesian National Armed Forces in the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism, as well as to what extent the Special Operations Command Of The Indonesian National Armed Forces can be deployed in the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism. Using normative legal research with statute approach and conceptual approach. This study explains that the role and authority of the Special Operations Command Of The Indonesian National Armed Forces in the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism is as an auxiliary task. In the context of terrorism crimes, the Special Operations Command Of The Indonesian National Armed Forces is involved in the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism which is carried out as an auxiliary task and there are limitations in the involvement of the Special Operations Command Of The Indonesian National Armed Forces in the Eradication of Terrorism Crimes such as the situation and conditions, place, time, and the level of threat that the Special Operations Command Of The Indonesian National Armed Forces can take action to the field in combating terrorism operations

The collaborative efforts involving the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), Indonesian National Police (POLRI), government, and the local community in managing floods in Pekanbaru, Indonesia have been ongoing for an extensive period. These efforts require sustained attention, particularly during the prevailing rainy conditions. The military campaign approach comprises a series of joint operations executed to achieve strategic and operational objectives within specific spatial and temporal constraints. This military campaign involves Military Operations for War (MOW) and Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW). The objective of this study was to describe and analyze the synergy among the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), Indonesian National Police (POLRI), the government, and the local community in addressing floods in Pekanbaru through a military campaign strategy. This strategy involved TNI units with distinct branches and functions. The approach undertaken by the TNI (specifically those from KODIM 031 Pekanbaru) in flood disaster relief operations included collaboration with the Regional Disaster Management Agency of Pekanbaru to mobilize all available TNI and POLRI forces within the vicinity of Pekanbaru. This collaborative effort involved various stakeholders, such as TNI, POLRI, the government, NGOs, youth organizations (Karang Taruna), and other relevant entities. These activities took place in the East Labuh Baru, Payung Sekaki District, particularly along Arjuna Street. This effort is expected to establish an effective synergy among these groups, foster closer ties with the community, and manage floods by addressing issues related to drainage systems, canals, and overgrown vegetation.

Purpose of the study: The position of Indonesia at the point of three plates of the earth and its location in the tropics makes it vulnerable to disasters. To face the possible disaster, Indonesia Armed Force following its mandate based on Law No. 34 of 2007, synergize with the National Board of Disaster Management to design disaster management cooperation through joint exercise training routinely until 2015. Methodology: The research used a qualitative method, with primary data in the form of interview and observation, and secondary data were obtained from related documents, such as meeting notes and data on the deployment of troops to the disaster area. Main Findings: The results show that the synergy between two institutions through the cooperation of personnel training, considering the strengths of each institution that can be mutually reinforcing in disaster management is very important to be continued. Applications of this study: This study which about military operations other than war (MOOTW) can be useful in every country because of this research look at the synergy between the military and other institutions in disaster management, Social Science, Security Studies and Social Science. Novelty/Originality of this study: Research on military operations other than war generally looks more at how the military serves as peacekeepers in conflict-prone areas. Very little research has examined the synergy of the military and other institutions in tackling natural disasters.

Operational deception (Maskirovka) as a Russian capability to surprise the enemy The aim of the article was to present the characteristics of operational deception used by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and to broaden the understanding of the evolution of operations using Maskirovka. Particular attention was paid to examples of its use in contemporary wars and armed conflicts - primarily in the conflict in Ukraine and in the Five-Day War in Georgia. The analysis led to an identification of trends regarding the use of deception in contemporary and future conflicts and activities other than war. It shows that the maskirovka will be increasingly used to achieve strategic goals and shape international opinion. One of the most important areas of its application will be cyberspace, enabling more effective disinformation and propaganda activities, including information warfare. Considering the dynamic development of technology and capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the field of operational masking, it is justified to conduct further research in the Maskirovka area. Keywords: deception, operational deception, disinformation, concealment, simulation, imitation, Maskirovka, The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, War in Georgia, Conflict in Ukraine. Celem artykułu było przedstawienie charakterystyki maskowania operacyjnego stosowanego przez Siły Zbrojne Federacji Rosyjskiej oraz poszerzenie wiedzy na temat ewoluowania działań, w których stosuje się maskirowkę. Szczególną uwagę poświęcono przykładom jej wykorzystania we współczesnych wojnach i konfliktach zbrojnych – przede wszystkim w konflikcie na Ukrainie oraz w wojnie pięciodniowej w Gruzji. Na podstawie przeprowadzonej analizy wskazano tendencje dotyczące posługiwania się maskirowką we współczesnych i przyszłych konfliktach oraz działaniach innych niż wojenne. Wynika z niej, że maskirowka będzie coraz częściej wykorzystywana do osiągania celów strategicznych oraz kształtowania opinii międzynarodowej. Jednym z najważniejszych obszarów jej stosowania stanie się cyberprzestrzeń, umożliwiająca skuteczniejsze prowadzenie działań dezinformacyjnych i propagandowych, w tym wojny informacyjnej. Ze względu na dynamiczny rozwój technologii, jak również potencjał Sił Zbrojnych Federacji Rosyjskiej do działań z zakresu maskowania operacyjnego należy kontynuować badania dotyczące maskirowki.

In the late 80s and early 90s of the twentieth century, Armenia openly made territorial claims to the historical lands of Azerbaijan and launched a military aggression against our country. At that time, taking advantage of the chaos in Azerbaijan, Armenia occupied 20% of our lands, and as a result of the policy of ethnic cleansing pursued by Armenia, more than 1 million Azerbaijanis were expelled from their native lands. The process of negotiations on the elimination of the consequences of military aggression against Azerbaijan and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884, which lasted about 30 years, did not yield results due to the destructive position of Armenia. On September 27, 2020, the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia again grossly violated the norms of international law. There were dead and wounded among civilians and servicemen. It has launched counter-offensive operations by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan to prevent and neutralize real and potential military threats to the national security of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Thus, part of the Republic of Azerbaijan was liberated by military means, and the other part of the lands occupied by the Armenians was liberated peacefully on the basis of the commitment of the defeated Armenia, the Declaration of November 10, assessed for the Republic of Armenia as an “act of capitulation”.

The purpose of this study is to find out about the setting of the authority of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) overcoming the armed separatist movement, armed insurgency, and acts of terrorism in Law NRI Number. This research is normative legal research using the statutory approach, historical approach, comparative approach, philosophical approach. The analysis technique is done by qualitative juridical analysis. The results showed that the legis ratio of regulating the authority of the Indonesian National Army in overcoming armed separatist movements, armed insurgency, and acts of terrorism in RI law number 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian National Army was departed from the desire to abandon the dual function model of ABRI, namely as a security and security forces and as a social-political force. As a social and political force, ABRI at that time had a role as a stabilizer, a dynamist, as a pioneer, and as an implementer of Pancasila democracy. With the enactment of RI law number 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian National Army, changing the Indonesian National Army as a means of defense of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, which is tasked with implementing a state defense policy to uphold national sovereignty, maintain territorial integrity, and protect national security, carry out military operations for war and military operations other than war, and actively participate in the task of maintaining regional and international peace

This article reflects a journalist’s personal experience of reporting on the UK military, analysing the relationship between senior military figures and the Ministry of Defence (their political masters) and the media. Topics covered include manipulation of the media and the popularity of the armed forces, as well as unpopular, ill-planned, military operations, notably Iraq and Afghanistan. The author also examines other operations, notably the wars in the Falklands and Kosovo, the 1991 Gulf War and the Scott Arms-to-Iraq Inquiry. The article goes on to explore leaks by frustrated military; tensions between military commanders and ministers; the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review; military chiefs not speaking truth to power; ministers jealous of the military’s close relations with journalists; and the Defence Advisory Notice Committee. The author reveals how official secrecy is honoured more in the breach than in its observance, especially concerning the special forces.

The role of the Military Resort Command in disaster management is a form of implementation of the Indonesian Armed Forces’ tasks, namely the task of Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP) in accordance with the mandate of Law Number 32 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI). Disaster management in the regions carried out by the the Military Resort Command involvement of government agencies and other stakeholders. Between the the Military Resort Command, government agencies and stakeholders in disaster management. Related to the role of the the Military Resort Command, this research was conducted with the aim to study the the Military Resort Command 043/ Garuda Hitam’s Strategy for disaster management in Lampung Province. This research uses a qualitative method using case studies. In addition, researchers conducted interviews, observations and documentation studies to collect data and analyzed. The Military Resort Command 043/ Garuda Hitam in disaster management is by coordinating and communicating with government agencies and other stakeholders as well as facilitating Territorial Development (Binter) activities which are one of the tasks of the Military Resort Command 043/ Garuda Hitam in Lampung Province.

This updated issue of the professional publication Bulletin of the Slovenian Armed Forces is dedicated to the question of the Slovenian commitment to finding peaceful solutions to conflicts. As Commander­in­Chief of the Defence Forces of the Republic of Slovenia, I find this subject not only necessary but also entirely essential. There are many reasons for this. The historical experience of the Slovenian people has not always been pleasant regarding the preservation of national identity, manifested in the language as well as in the cultural and national tradition. Despite different repressive and denationalising measures taken by many foreign authorities, our ancestors managed to preserve the Slovenian nation through much wisdom, deep national awareness and political skill. The importance of consistent compliance with the provisions of international law in crisis situations, including wars, was seen in 1991. Slovenia won the war, not only in a military sense but also by complying with all legal norms, thus soon becoming recognised as a young European democratic country founded on high legal and moral principles. The lessons of war in 1991 increased the resolve of the Slovenian people for clear rejection of the use of force in finding solutions to any kind of conflict. For this reason, my pleasure at being invited to write about the topic of Slovenian people in the service of peace is that much greater, in part also due to the fact that I spent a large part of my professional life, from 1992 to 2005, working in the United Nations, first as the ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, later as UN Assistant Secretary­General. In both functions I dealt with peacekeeping operations to a considerable extent. United Nations peacekeeping operations were in full swing at that time and underwent great development on the one hand, but also bitter disappointment and moments of deep doubt on the other. However, they continued to develop to the current extent. The topic of the Bulletin is presented in truly deep, scientific, theoretical and practical ways, from strategic and tactical levels, considering the evolutionary and transformational characteristics of peacekeeping operations, and deriving from historical experience. The most respected authors in the Slovenian professional field have thrown light upon important conceptual changes in the area of peacekeeping operations, which result from numerous factors, in particular from important geopolitical changes in the world. We must not disregard the increasing cooperation of regional organisations in the implementation of peacekeeping operations, which has indirectly brought about a different understanding of the term “peacekeeping operation” and opened technical discussions in the area of terminology as well as in the technical fulfilment of obligations, all the way to the question of the necessity of a preliminary UN mandate. These deficiencies can also be seen in Slovenia and point to the need for conducting a deep technical discussion as soon as possible and unifying the understanding of both the structure of the Slovenian Armed Forces and the broader defence and security system. The introductory and in particular the more theoretical parts of the Bulletin may be taken as important contributions in this regard. Some of the articles offer interesting historical insight into the cooperation of Slovenian men, and later women, in various endeavours for peace launched by individual great powers and international organisations. Although it is difficult to understand the military intervention of European forces on the island Crete in 1897 as a peacekeeping operation, the objective which is still in the forefront of contemporary efforts of the international community in this area was achieved for at least some time. This intervention ensured an armistice between the parties involved in the conflict and enabled a diplomatic solution on the island without unnecessary victims. The confidence that the highest political and military authorities in the Austro­Hungarian Empire had in the 2nd Battalion of the 87th Infantry Regiment from Celje was truly special. This was particularly the case because the military unit was mainly composed of Slovenes, and at the time of deployment in Crete its commander was a Slovene as well. However, we need to emphasise that such thinking is unconventional. By studying the literature on peacekeeping operations we see that such operations were first mentioned around 1919 in connection with peace conferences after the end of World War I and with managing various border issues in Europe, different plebiscites and other situations which, besides political and other diplomatic action, also required the protection of security and were followed by military operations intended for this particular purpose. History tells us much about peacekeeping operations intended to maintain truces. In these operations, coalition forces were deployed to an area in which a truce already existed and had to be maintained among well organised and disciplined armed forces. Today, the status of armed forces is quite different. We have to look at all of history and every aspect of international military engagement which is not armed combat by nature but a military presence with various aspects of employment of military force and the constant readiness and capability of peace forces to defend themselves effectively and be prepared to use weapons to fulfil their mandate. If today we see peacekeeping operations as valid in this respect, it is clear that we have to be familiar with history and evaluate what we can learn from past experience and how we are obliged to consider the present. Of course, we must consider the present. If we look at the status of peacekeeping operations today, we see how important this military activity is for the modern world. I will only dwell upon the United Nations, which from the standpoint of peacekeeping operations is the most important organisation operating today. Approximately 140,000 soldiers participate in peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the United Nations. No other military force has that number of uniformed personnel operating abroad. These people are assigned to eighteen currently active peacekeeping operations, each costing the organisation about seven billion dollars. This is the largest component of the budget of the United Nations. However, this expenditure is small in comparison to other kinds of military deployment outside the UN, to operations which are not peacekeeping operations by nature. Peacekeeping operations have become very multidimensional. The latest such operations, established in Africa (Darfur, Chad, Central African Republic), have been among the most demanding from the very beginning. We can thus conclude that peacekeeping operations are becoming increasingly more complex, which also results in a higher degree of risk. In 2007, 67 members of UN peacekeeping operations lost their lives. Looking at individual operations we see that six people died in Lebanon alone that year. Ever since peacekeeping operations have been in existence, Lebanon has been one of the most dangerous areas. Today, however, it is somewhat outside the sphere of interest. This may be due to the fact that there is a peacekeeping operation active in the area, on account of which a state of relative peace can be better maintained. Peacekeeping operations are both dangerous and multidimensional, multidimensional because they are no longer focused merely on keeping belligerent parties apart. Modern peacekeeping operations include both standard and supplemental functions. Providing a secure environment for political normalisation, humanitarian activity and development is a comprehensive task, requiring the engagement of peacekeeping forces in operations that are far from being common types of military deployment. This raises different questions about the training and competence of peacekeeping forces. We also have to ask ourselves how we can fully consider the lessons learned from previous peacekeeping operations and organise a system of command, particularly in organisations such as the United Nations, while at the same time making sure that national contingents do not lose their identity. There are thus two lines of communication, one through channels established by international organisations and the other through those established by national systems of armed forces. How to balance this and achieve efficient functioning? How to ensure the operation of different cultures, members and levels of competence in a way that facilitates the success of peacekeeping operations? These are always important questions to consider. In recent years the question of interest has pointed to the complexity of modern peacekeeping operations. Peacekeeping operations are frequently required to facilitate an environment in which elections can be conducted and assist in the establishment of a legal order and institutions to maintain that order. Both tasks are extremely demanding. The establishment of a safe environment for conducting elections in a country with poor communications, with no tradition of elections and with violence linked to every political event, is an extremely difficult task. The establishment of a legal order in areas with no such tradition or adequate infrastructure is even harder. There is often a need to include the civilian police, whose tasks in peacekeeping operations are very demanding. Civilian police have a number of other particularities besides problems connected to the aforementioned multidimensionality. It is necessary to adapt to the local environment in order to facilitate effective police performance. How to facilitate this in an environment such as Haiti, for example, with its difficult past? How to facilitate this in linguistically demanding environments such as East Timor until recently and in other difficult circumstances? These are all extremely demanding tasks. However, there is not much understanding with regard to all the details and problems arising from their implementation. The international political community is often satisfied merely by defining the mandate of a peacekeeping operation. For many people this signifies the solution to the problem, considering that the mandate is defined and that the deployment of forces will occur. However, this is where real problem solving only begins. Only then does it become obvious what little meaning general resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and other acts by which mandates are defined have in the context of actual situations. Therefore, I am of the opinion that we have to take a detailed look at experience from the distant past as well as the present. When speaking of the civilian police we also have to consider the fully human aspects that characterise every peacekeeping operation. Once I spoke to a very experienced leader of civilian police operations about the need to send additional police officers to the mission in Kosovo in the spring, when winter is over and people become more active, which also results in a higher crime rate. He explained that this is not only a problem in the area of this mission but elsewhere in Europe. In spring, the crime rate rises everywhere. Therefore it is difficult to find police officers during this time who are willing to leave their homeland, where they are most needed, and go to a mission area which is just then facing increased needs. I mention this to broaden understanding of the fact that the deployment of peacekeeping forces, both military and civilian police, is not only a matter of mandates and military organisation, but sometimes of the purely elementary questions that accompany social development. I have already mentioned that memory of the past is a very important component of considering present peacekeeping operations. I would like to conclude with another thought. I believe the manner of organising the knowledge of peacekeeping operations is of great importance to all countries, especially those that are new to cooperating in peacekeeping operations. This knowledge cannot be gained from books written at universities, but only from monitoring and carefully analysing the previous experiences of others. It is very important that this knowledge be carefully organised, that these experiences be carefully gathered and analysed, and that a doctrine be developed gradually. This doctrine is required for a country like Slovenia, which is new at conducting peacekeeping operations, to be able to manage well and define its role in international peacekeeping operations properly. To achieve this objective, a new country must cooperate with those countries which have been conducting peacekeeping operations for a long time and therefore have a richer experience. The neighbouring Austria is known to have one of the longest and most interesting systems of experience in peacekeeping operations within the United Nations. Ever since it joined the UN, Austria has been active in numerous activities linked to peacekeeping operations. Its soldiers and the civilian police have participated in a number of peacekeeping operations. Experience gained in this way is of great value, and using this experience is necessary for successful planning of and operating in future peacekeeping operations. The future will be complicated! At one time, when the members of peacekeeping operations numbered approximately 80,000, the United Nations thought that nothing more could be done, and a larger number of members was unthinkable. Today the number of members is significantly larger, development will most likely still continue and conditions will become even more demanding. I do not wish to forecast events which have not yet taken place. However, I would like to strongly emphasise that the history of peacekeeping operations is not over yet and that the future will be full of risks and challenges. I would also again like to stress the importance of this issue of the Bulletin of the Slovenian Armed Forces, which is entering a new decade, and express my pleasure at being able to note down a few thoughts. Let me particularly emphasise that as Commander­in­Chief of the Slovenian Defence Forces I will continue to devote special attention to achievements in the area of cooperation in peacekeeping operations in the future, having a special interest in these experiences. I thank the authors of the articles of this important issue of the Bulletin for their scientific and professional contributions – and I greatly respect those who have already done important work in the name of the Republic of Slovenia with the Slovenian flag on their shoulders, with the hope that they continue to fulfil their obligations in accordance with the rules.

The article analyzes the ways of development of missile troops and artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Modern examples of the development of missile troops and artillery of the armies of NATO and the United States are given. These shortcomings in the development of RVIA of Ukraine and ways to correct them. Methods of further improvement of RViA of Ukraine are also offered. The Ukrainian-Russian war changed NATO’s attitude toward artillery and missile forces. As a result, the United States is already improving its artillery. Ukrainian missile and artillery forces must make a significant qualitative leap in three key areas – mobility, accuracy and range, as well as manufacturability. Today, only the 26th separate art brigade has a 152-mm ACS with a range of up to 30 km. The missile troops and artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as other components of our army, met the beginning of the Ukrainian-Russian war in a difficult situation. 2014 was preceded by numerous «reforms», the essence of which was to reduce these troops. Yes, in 21 years, more than 20 compounds and units have been disbanded and only partially reformatted. These are, in particular, the Elbrus missile systems (popularly known by the NATO classification as Scud) with a range of up to 700 km, which were completely disposed of in 2011. Ukraine is left with only operational and tactical missile systems «Point-U» with a range of 120 km, the number of which in the Armed Forces also decreased. There was a reduction of jet and barrel artillery. Ukraine inherited too many different weapons from the Soviet Union, including artillery and various missiles. But large-scale reductions reflected the attitude that high-intensity interstate war does not threaten our country. Therefore, there is no special need for artillery if the priorities are peacekeeping missions, the fight against instability and terrorism. Artillery is a means of fire support to ground units in an offensive or defense in a large-scale war. And we could not need it, the developers of the Military Doctrine of 2012 believed. And at a critical time, in March 2014, there were only 2 separate artillery brigades (26th and 55th) in the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the Msta-S / B, Hyacinth-S / B, and Pion systems, 1 brigade with «Point-U» (19th), as well as 3 artillery regiments (27th, 15th and 107th), which were armed with MLRS «Hurricane» and «Tornado». Separate mechanized and tank brigades had so-called brigade artillery groups (systems «Carnation», «Acacia», «Hail»). At the same time, the paratroopers not only did not have tanks, but also serious artillery to support their forces with fire. Keywords: missile forces, artillery, development, modernization.

Background. ‘Forward psychiatry’ was introduced by the French Army in 1915 to stem the loss of troops to base hospitals. Also known by the acronym PIE (proximity to the battle, immediacy of treatment and expectancy of recovery, including return to duty), it was subsequently used by the British and Americans in both World Wars. The US Army used PIE techniques in Korea and Vietnam. Although widely accepted as an effective intervention, forward psychiatry is not amenable to random-controlled trials and only one controlled outcome study has been conducted.Method. All 3580 soldiers with shell shock admitted to 4 Stationary Hospital between January and November 1917 were recorded. Unit details, military experience, length of stay and outcomes were analysed. Soldiers were categorized into combat, combat-support and non-combatant groups. Admissions were correlated with military operations to compare the impact of defensive and offensive phases of warfare.Results. Rates of admission for shell shock rose significantly during offensives when physical casualties escalated. Combat troops were disproportionately represented. Over 50% of admissions had less than 9 months service in France and 21% broke down within 3 months of going overseas. Less than 20% returned directly to combat units, most going to other hospitals, convalescent depots or base duties.Conclusions. Forward psychiatry was not effective in returning combat troops to fighting units but, by allocating soldiers to support roles, it prevented discharge from the armed forces. Uncertainties remain about relapses, including other routes that servicemen used to escape from a combat zone.

The spread of COVID-19 has been declared a non-natural national disaster, and it is recognized as a genuine non-military threat that necessitates collaboration among various institutions, particularly within the context of non-military defense, which falls under the purview of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). Responding to COVID-19 falls under the government’s responsibility, which includes the establishment of the COVID-19 Response Acceleration Task Force. The collaboration between civilian institutions and the TNI as elements of the unit is expected to demonstrate a streamlined and effective command line, aiming to uphold and safeguard the nation’s security effectively. This paper aims to analyze the role and capacity of TNI in addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic as a non-military threat by measuring the impact of various determinants on the implementation of the role and capabilities of TNI. The research employed a mixed methods approach, incorporating both sequential and concurrent models. Additionally, it involved an in-depth qualitative analysis of each determinant utilized in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Generally, the primary elements in the COVID-19 Response Acceleration Task Force are civilian institutions based on the category of disaster and its societal impact. Nevertheless, the involvement of TNI through Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP) can expedite COVID-19 management through aid and humanitarian operations. Non-military defense operations strategically establish control command between ministries/agencies and local governments. The optimization of TNI’s capabilities in crisis management involves deploying personnel across Indonesia, with a central command under the TNI Commander and the establishment of command centers in crisis-affected areas. The success of TNI’s performance can be evaluated by examining its strategic leadership and patterns of civil-military cooperation in a systematic and deliberate manner.

Unlike other civilian leaders, Xi Jinping pushed ahead with sweeping military reforms after taking office as General Secretary of the Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. This was a reaction to the situation in which the chairman had not been able to secure control of the military since Deng Xiaoping. Through anti-corruption, Xi Jinping eliminated high-ranking officials who used the military as a tool for personal gain, and tried to eliminate trafficking of official posts and factions within the military. In addition, through structural reorganization, the power of command of the military commander, who had been ineffective, was clarified. The 4 headquarters that interfered with the commander's command system were dismantled and reconstituted as an organization that assisted the military commission. The defense- oriented 7 military districts were also reorganized into 5 theater to prepare for both peacetime and wartime. And the army was established to break the grand army principle, strengthen the status of other forces necessary for modern warfare, and rearrange the composition of troops for them. The theater is not just a defense system, but a system responsible for operations. Accordingly, the eastern theater was responsible for Taiwan, the southern theater was responsible for the South China Sea and Vietnam, the western theater was responsible for India and Central Asia, the northern theater was responsible for the Korean Peninsula, and the central theater was responsible for the mission of the strategic reserve force. In general, it is evaluated that the risk of war in the Taiwan Strait, which is in charge of the Eastern Front, is the highest. However, the area where the largest number of troops are actually deployed is in the Western Front. There are two group army, as well as Xinjiang and Xizang military district. This is because west operation area is vast and its borders are very long, even though China has continuously pushed for weapon modernization. In addition, India is the only country that China does not have a border agreement with, and continues to confront each other across the LAC. In addition, the region should be responsible for operations in Central Asia in case of emergency. Therefore, west are organizing units and distributing weapons with the possibility of a small-scale armed clash or conflict rather than a large-scale war. In fact, it is judged that the possibility of an armed conflict in this area is much higher than in the Taiwan Strait.

An increasingly intensive activity has been noticed recently at the international level with regard to the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and associated resolutions. More and more international events regarding women, peace and security are being organised every year, education and training programmes as well as a conceptual framework of the gender perspective are being developed, and system solutions in both international organisations and national structures are being put forward. One of such solutions is the appointment of ambassadors for women, peace and security, as well as of gender advisors on gender perspective. Last year, a full-time advisor position in this field was set up at the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces. Being a subject matter expert for the area of gender perspective in the Slovenian Armed Forces, I am pleased that the importance of the agenda regarding women, peace and security has been recognised and that a publication has been issued at the academic level by involving experts and gaining support from the leadership. I am grateful to my international colleagues for their papers, for having kindly responded to the invitation to share their views, solutions and experiences with us. This is indeed the main value of this publication: sharing is caring. The set of topics demonstrates to what extent the Resolution and the gender perspective are implemented, ranging from the international level, through national solutions and to the realisation in international operations and missions. Although Resolution 1325 is extensively explained in individual papers, I would like to introduce several key factors linking the Resolution and the gender perspective, to proffer a better understanding of the topic and emphasise why the integration of the gender perspective is vital for both Slovenian and international landscape. The basis for this discussion are conceptual solutions of international organisations and my participation in the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives. Actions like this are vital for they aim to develop the said area and encourage new ways of thinking,thereby highlighting compound gender-related topics and informing the practices of Slovenian Armed Forces. Resolution 1325 is a milestone for the role of women in conflict prevention and resolution, in peace processes, humanitarian response and in post conflict reconstruction. It underlines three interlinking factors, i.e. women, peace and security. There is no security without peace, and no peace without a safe and secure environment. Moreover, there is no peace and security without addressing the entire population. In the past, women were frequently excluded from peace processes. If solely one perspective is included, the expected result can be partial. In 15 years since the adoption of Resolution 1325, the increased asymmetric threats in a complex security environment have resulted in the need for more comprehensive approaches to ensure security and peace around the world. During this time, many facts which were ignored in the past have been seriously discussed at the international level with the aim of finding solutions. Armed conflicts and the post-conflict period affect women differently than men. Boys and girls too are affected differently, in relative terms. Importantly, acts of men and women in such circumstances can be either different or the same, but due to socially constructed perceptions they are accepted differently. More particularly, it should be stressed that socially constructed is their gender, which is a concept that this introduction defines as social and cultural characteristics associated with a given sex (whereas sex refers to biological differences between males, females, and intersex persons, and is assigned at birth). Gender as such materialises in our reality: for example, while during armed conflicts the majority of men are recruited for combat tasks, women stay at home with children or are forced to leave their homes. That is why they make up the majority of internally displaced persons and refugees both on refugee routes and in refugee camps. Their safety is compromised in such circumstances; they are often targeted by groups of combatants, kidnapped, enslaved or abused. It should also be noted that girls and boys are not exposed in the same way: girls can be subject to pre- mature and forced marriages, boys to early recruitment into combatant groups. As regards the general recognition of the role of men and women in armed conflicts and beyond, the most common perception is of women as victims and men as combatants. However, the truth is that women also are combatants and strong actors for peace, and men are victims of intentionally committed acts. Furthermore, a serious problem in contemporary conflicts is sexual and gender-based violence. This is an alarming issue. This form of violence is predominantly inflicted against women, although also girls, boys and men suffer from it, either in the form of torture or as a weapon of war. It could be said that the gender perspective in relation to international operations and missions has, on the one hand, developed for the purpose of implementing Resolution 1325 and, on the other hand, resulted from militaries’ experiences. Central to the gender perspective in international operations and missions is making women’s and men’s experiences and concerns integral to operation processes, whilst taking into account the different security-related situations these individuals face in line with their gender. As it has been argued, there is evidence that women and men, boys and girls, face different security risks - a process underpinned by the way their masculinities and femininities are perceived in a given culture and society, i.e. gender. Being able to recognise and understand the entire security situation as broadly as possible is crucial for operational effectiveness. Recognising the routes of women, which are usually different from routes used by men due to their individual gender roles, can affect the execution of an operation. Such information influences the provision of security, force protection and operational success. Therefore, the integration of the gender perspective into every process at all levels and in every stage of action is of extreme importance; comprehensive information on situation in the area of operation contribute to decisions of those in command. Experiences gained in international operations and missions have led to observations on certain limitations in the execution of tasks, particularly at the tactical level, for example as regards the exclusion of women from the local environment, particularly in those areas of operation where women are not allowed to communicate publicly with unknown men and where the structure and personnel are predominantly male. The inclusion of the gender perspective into task accomplishment has thus become a necessity to which international organisations, such as UN, NATO, the EU and other have drawn attention. In their structures, the contemporary armed forces need both female and male members at all levels and on different duties. This holds true for the fulfilment of tasks in international operations and missions and for the execution of tasks in domestic environment. International organisations tend to increasingly emphasize the importance of the inclusion of women into all structures; however, questions regarding women in armed forces keep appearing in the military, particularly as regards gender equality, physical performance of women and removal of restrictions in relation to the fulfilment of certain duties for women. There are growing tendencies to implement the gender equality principle, whereby a risk of equating equality with sameness may appear in the militaries. However, to perceive equality as sameness can lead to unilateral or too general solutions. Concerns, for example, that taking into account the biological differences between men and women in setting the standards could mean lower criteria and poorer performance actually lead to more important question: are standards really defined according to the requirements of individual duties or are they too general, and are they also established on the basis of the inclusion of gender perspective? It is crucial to understand that different tasks require different competences and preparedness of an individual. Indeed, the truth is that men and women will never be the same. There is variety between males and females which should be recognised as an advantage and not as a weakness. Failing to include the spectrum of gender, the wholeness cannot be reached; the inclusion of both male and female perspective on the same issue leads to integrity by bringing together the diversity. Due to changing security environment, we all are faced with new challenges, requiring even stronger networking of organisations both at the national and international levels in order to ensure comprehensive and effective solutions. Meteorological changes causing large-scale destruction call more often for the engagement of the armed forces in search and rescue tasks. Last year, mass migration from conflict zones, the Middle East and Africa to Europe required the involvement of the armed forces into tasks at home. Similarly as in fulfilling the tasks in international operations and missions, the armed forces and other government and non-government organisations dealing with refugees and migrants were faced with different cultures, where socially determined roles of men and women have great significance. Such circumstances promote further knowledge about the integration of gender perspective in new directions. The fundamental fact that the society is made up of women and men, girls and boys, remains, just as the diversity which, in its integrity, should bring us all towards ensuring security and peace. I wish you a pleasant reading of papers hoping they will help broaden new horizons and encourage new thoughts.

Dear readers,You are looking at a new edition of the Contemporary Military Challenges, which includes contributions by the authors employed in Slovenian defence system; all except for one work in the Slovenian Armed Forces. This continues our tradition that the last issue in a year includes Slovenian military authors.The previous, thematic, issue devoted to hybrid threats was published entirely in English. It drew different responses from the readers, although some articles have also been published in Slovene on our website. We have received a letter from a reader, who specifically highlighted the problem of publishing a Slovenian pu-blication in English. He agreed that his letter be published on the website of the Contemporary Military Challenges, where our reply is also published (in Slovene). The reader mainly underlined his concern about the preservation and development of Slovene military language. Indirectly, he listed a few hesitations for which we believe deserve a few explanations related to the publication of the Contemporary Military Challenges.Within the framework of developing military professional literature, which is imposed by the Defence Act, the Slovenian Armed Forces publish several different periodicals, such as Vojaškošolski zbornik (Military Education Journal), Vojaška zgodovina (Military History) and other occasional publications (Prava smer, Prvi, Modri, etc.). The Ministry of Defence, on the other hand, also publishes a biweekly Slovenska vojska (Slovenian Armed Forces).Among all the publications published by the Slovenian Armed Forces, the Contemporary Military Challenges are the only publication ranking among scienti-fic and professional publications. It is included in the Slovenian Research Agency’s list of magazines. One of the quality conditions for publications to be included in this list is that one of the four issues in a year be published in English. In line with the higher education legislation, the publication of articles in a periodical of such rank provides authors with habilitation points. Therefore, the authors take this as a form of motivation, both, for external scientists and experts as well as for those employed in Slovenian defence system. The importance of developing quality Slovenian military scientific and professional subjects has been discussed in several articles by many Slovenian authors1. As for the younger generations, a number of experts and scientists from various faculties and other institutions have cooperated with our Editorial Board. Since the publication was indexed in an international database, the interest of foreign and Slovenian authors to publish in our publication has increased. All in all, the number of quality writers in Slovenian defence system has been increasing, which is evident from the articles and statistics published on our website. The Editorial Board has developed links and cooperation with various command and staff schools in the EU and NATO. We exchange experiences, knowledge and new findings. We wish for other military experts and scientists to be able to publish their articles in the Slovenian Armed Forces publication, but our main wish is for other people from partner countries to be able to learn about our knowledge and experiences. A value added undoubtedly lies in the exchange of articles with foreign military scientific and professional publications, and cooperation among editorial boards2. We have developed cooperation with the institutions such as Center for Civil-Military Relations from Monterey, USA; European Center for Security Studies George C. Marshall from Germany; Research Institute for European and American Studies from Greece and others. Different experts take part in the process of developing Slovenian military literature, including proofreaders and translators. The cooperation of both has resulted in the publication of several Slovenian terminology handbooks and dictionaries3. We can thus write with an easy conscience that, we, at the Ministry of Defence and the Slovenian Armed Forces are doing our best to provide for quality development of Slovenian military literature and terminology. However, it is true that a lot remains to be done. Of course, the above-mentioned facts are not perceived as a reason to rest on our laurels. International security environment is a very dynamic one and the Slovenian Armed Forces constitute a part of it. Our daily routine in this environment represents a constant challenge and demonstrates a need for confirming our quality. Personally, I am convinced that the Slovene language with a long tradition in the Slovenian Armed Forces is under no threat. I believe that today’s membership and the role of our country in international structures differs a great deal from the one from our former common country. The proofreaders and translators, who have been supporting the making of the Contemporary Military Challenges for thirteen years, perceive the development of their domain as an every-day challenge rather than a problem. On the other hand, it also represents an excellent opportunity for the print media, the development of Slovenian military science and professional literature, and the exchange of knowledge with others. The opinions of our readers are a precious stimulation for the reflexions about the accuracy of our goals and, of course, about the best way to attain them. In addition to other factors, our decisions have lately also been largely influenced by the financial aspects of publishing our publication. As usual, we kindly invite all who would like to contribute to the development of military subjects to participate in the making of the Contemporary Military Challenges. You are, of course, welcome to contribute polemics and comments; however, professional and scientific articles written in line with the “Instructions for the Authors of Papers”, which we publish at the end of our publication, are a better way of developing the quality of military literature. In this issue of the Contemporary Military Challenges, Tanja Pečnik introduces a subject entitled Geopolitical Determination of the Slovenian Armed Forces – Formation of Multinational Forces in the Area of Western Balkans. Her aim was to verify the possibility of Slovenia or any of other former Yugoslav republics thinking about expanding their geopolitical influence by building closer military relations. Comprehensive operations planning in NATO has been discussed by Jože Grozde who claims that the resolution of crisis in post-Cold War conflicts by using military force has proved ineffective, since it does not guarantee significant improvements in the security situation. NATO has introduced comprehensive operations planning in support of the comprehensive approach of the international community to the resolution of complex crises. In his Command and Control Paradigm in the Enforcement of Military Discipline, Vojko Obrulj discusses military discipline from two aspects, i.e. as an individual’s attitude towards military discipline, and as a behavioural discipline. Regulations or Code of Conduct and Behaviour for the Providers of Education and Training in the Slovenian Armed Forces is a subject which stimulated the writing of Mojca Pešec. The providers of education and training are obliged to attain the highest competence standards and to respect the values regulating mutual relation-ships of the participants. She therefore proposes the adoption of such a document.In his article entitled Views of Slovenian Armed Forces Members on Postings to International Duties Abroad, Branko Podbrežnik presents the results of a research he conducted among these service members. He has found that, in this respect, the latter have to cope with various challenges concerning them personally, their life and work, as well as the life of their families. Finally, the author discusses the way the defence system provides its support.The Challenges of Development Strategy Regarding Information and Communications Technology Services have inspired the writing of Mihael Nagelj. According to his findings, the experiences regarding the implementation of business strategies in modern organisations had shown that strategies can only be implemented by using advanced information technologies.We wish you pleasant reading. Perhaps the above-mentioned subjects will inspire an idea for a new or an already familiar subject which could be presented to others in a new or a different way.

Abstract The preferable implementation of article 47 of the First Geneva Convention 1949 is conducting activities in the format of military training and exercises rather than seminars. The contents, methodology as well as the instructor should be in accordance with military operations that will be encountered by the soldiers. “do what you have trained and train what you will do”. The implementation of article 47 GC I is related to article 82 and 87 AP I. Furthermore, within Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) it is related with the formation of “the professional soldier” as enshrined in Article 2 section (4) of the Law No. 34 of 2004 of TNI. In addition to the increased awareness, some additional achievements related to operational and training aspects were also achieved in the period of 1998 – 2015. These include the issuance of Technical Guidance on the Implementation of international humanitarian law and human rights into the Training, the three standing ROEs and the TNI Commander decree on Prohibition of Torture. These all doctrinal impact are resulting from the dissemination program that may have influence on the betterment of the TNI operations in the future. However, some further improvements are required, among others, to improve the skills of the concerned officers to draft appropriate ROEs and to complement the legal unit with an operational law / international humanitarian law section. Moreover, the challenge for Indonesia in the future is to improve its enforcement mechanisms i.e. to enhance the military justice system to be more reliable and independent in line with the spirit of article 49 GC I. Keywords: international humanitarian law, armed conflict, military academy, dissemination program, laws of war. Abstrak Pelaksanaan Pasal 47 dalam Konvensi Genewa Pertama 1949 adalah melaksanakan aktivitas dalam format aktivitas pelatihan dan militer dibandingkan dengan melakukan seminar. Isi dari pelatihan, metodologi dan instruktur harus sesuai dengan operasi militer yang dihadapi oleh seorang prajurit, “lakukanlah apa yang telah dilatihkan kepadamu dan latihlahlah apa yang akan kamu lakukan”. Pelaksanaan pasal 47 Konvensi Genewa Pertama 1949 berkaitan dengan Pasal 82 dan 87 dari Konvensi yang sama. Lebih lanjut lagi, dalam Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI), berkaitan dengan pembentukan “prajurit profesional” seperti yang disampaikan dalam Pasal 2 ayat (4) Undang-undang No. 34 tahun 2004 mengenai TNI. Dalam rangka untuk meningkatkan kewaspadaan, beberapa capaian tambahan berkenaan dengan aspek operasional dan pelatihan juga dicapai dalam periode 1998-2015. Hal ini termasuk mengeluarkan Panduan Teknis mengenai Implementasi Hukum Humaniter Internasional dan HAM dalam pelatihan, dan tiga pilar ROEs dan keputusan Panglima TNI tentang Larangan Penyiksaan. Semua doktrin ini lahir dari dampak diseminasi dalam program pelatihan untuk melahirkan prajurit TNI yang lebih baik dimasa yang akan datang. Meskipun demikian, sejumlah peningkatan terhadap pengetahuan mengenai hukum humaniter telah tumbuh dikalangan prajutit TNI. Tantangan selanjutnya adalah mendorong peningkatan mekanisme pentaatan, misalnya mendorong sistem pengadilan militer untuk lebih indeoenden dan dapat diandalkan sejalan dengan semangat Pasal 49 Konvensi Genewa Pertama 1949. Kata kunci: hukum humaniter, konflik bersenjata, akademi militer, program diseminasi, hukum perang.

Every year, the first issue of Contemporary Military Challenges is published in May. This year, May is particularly important for Slovenia and especially for the Slovenian Armed Forces. Thirty years have passed since the first training of Slovenian military recruits on Slovenian territory. The beginning of this training additionally enraged the then authorities, especially the Yugoslav People's Army, and led to what is today known as the Pekre events. The first victim of the independence process fell, and the tensions due to the events that followed grew. They escalated into an armed conflict and a war, which fortunately did not last long. The independence process, however, began much earlier, before May of 1991, and ended with the departure of the last soldier of the former Yugoslav army from Slovenia in October of the same year. The thirtieth anniversary of Slovenian independence is an important milestone in Slovenian history. Unfortunately, this year it will not be commemorated as it should be as the COVID-19 pandemic has severely restricted us from socializing and celebration. It has also brought new circumstances and insights in many areas, where the resilience of the society and security should be particularly emphasized. The understanding and functioning of our national security system has been greatly influenced by the European migrant crisis in 2015, illegal migration, which is still underway, and the pandemic that has no end in sight. In the second semester of this year, Slovenia will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. All of the above brings challenges as well as opportunities. We have learned a lot from the above, one of the most important findings being that self-sufficiency and the ability to take care of oneself are good. In a situation where all countries, not just EU members, are facing problems, it is very useful to be autonomous and independent of others. The various mechanisms of the European Union, NATO and some other international security organizations operate on the principles of solidarity, assistance and burden-sharing. However, it is very hard to share when everybody is lacking in something. The challenge for the future is certainly to anticipate trends, especially in security, to prepare accordingly, to own as much of what you need for yourself and for the functioning of your country, and, if possible, help other countries as well. It is the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union that requires more investment in the security and defence of countries, as well as in strengthening our common resilience. This has been included in several directives and other documents of the European Union, continually pointed out by its representatives; yet, according to the facts there is still a steady decline in this area. Perhaps Slovenia's Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the right opportunity to pay more attention to this topic. This year, May is also important for the Contemporary Military Challenges. Following last year’s indexing of the publication in the Crossref database, all articles that are available from the Digital Library of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia will, as of May 2021, also be available from the Military and Government Collection of the EBSCO database and in Air University Library Index in Military Periodicals. This will enable a greater exchange of views, opinions and ideas between Slovenian and foreign authors in the security, defence and military domains. In the Slovenian Armed Forces, a Military Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia is being drafted, and the now retired Brigadier General Branimir Furlan is writing a book on military strategy. Hence, there will be more than enough opportunities for interesting military-related reading. The issues of our publication will contribute to this as well. In this issue, Pavel Vuk writes about the Evolution of the concept of strategy and its relating with the politics. He begins by explaining the historical aspect, when military leaders still consider the combat strategy to be a necessary concept, and gradually moves into the strategy as a way of shaping the public policy and reflecting the political will of the ruling elite. More on how successful countries are in implementing their strategies can be found in the article. Valerija Bernik writes about the Perspectives and challenges of Slovenian military education system. In her article, we learn a lot about the latest changes in the Slovenian Armed Forces in this regard. The author participated in the process of establishing the Higher Military Vocational School (NCO College) and acts as its Head. However, the establishment of the school is not the end, but the beginning of a new path and new opportunities for military education. In her article Activities of the Slovenian Armed Forces during the COVID-19 epidemic, Tanja Kremžar Kovač writes about the experiences of the Slovenian Armed Forces in these exceptional circumstances. The mission of international operations and missions continues despite the epidemic and the various restrictions on movement and travel bans. The armed forces must remain active and effective regardless of the various obstacles. Her article describes in detail how the Slovenian Armed Forces have managed to achieve this. Marjan Horvat focused on an ever-topical issue. Leadership in the Slovenian Armed Forces touches upon some new, as well as some already known topics. Leadership is an area that has never been sufficiently researched and which, despite continuous training and many years of practice, can never be mastered enough. Therefore, every effort dedicated to making progress in leadership is a good investment in every organization, especially in the Slovenian Armed Forces. The COVID-19 epidemic prevents us from properly commemorating the 30th anniversary of our country's independence this year, so we may do so on some other occasion. However, remembering important events and personalities is essential for a nation’s consciousness and patriotism. Jerica Pavšič and Zvezdan Markovič write about this in their article Forms of collective remembrance of General Maister, where they establish how we have been remembering this important figure, his actions and consequences that mainly reflect in the territorial integrity of our country.

Abstract Introduction The majority of the published literature on contemporary military medicine contradicts the concept of austere. Operational medicine is part of every armed conflict around the world, while armed forces of most countries internationally have limited medical resources especially in the front line. The aim of this review is to identify the particularities of a truly austere environment and present a short guide of preparation and action for military medical personnel internationally. Materials and Methods An exhaustive search of the existing English literature on operational and military medicine in austere environments was carried out in EMBASE and PubMed databases. Results This review included seminal and contemporary papers on the subject and synthesized a multiperspective short guide for operational medical personnel. Discussion Experience from forward surgical teams of the U.S. Army and humanitarian teams of physicians in war zones who work under precarious and austere circumstances has shown that the management of casualties requires different strategies than in higher levels of combat casualty care and in a civilian setting. A number of factors that must be controlled can be categorized into human, environmental, equipment-related, and socioeconomic. Surgeons and other medical personnel should have knowledge of these aspects beforehand and be adequately trained in peacetime. Physicians must master a number of essential skills and drugs, and be familiar with dosage regimens and side effects. Conclusion The military surgeon must be specially trained and prepared to use a wide range of skills in truly austere environments in contemporary conflicts.

National defense is a government function that is carried out through a universal defense system. Defense is functioned to deal with urgent threats to national security and defense not only limited to space and time, but also to the strategic environment at the global, regional, and national levels. The conditions faced by the COVID-19 pandemic have weakened several sectors. Through the program of military operations other than war (OMSP), the Indonesian National Armed Forces together with related institutions are trying to strengthen each other in actions to stabilize the country. For this reason, it is very important to prepare the defense budget in optimizing personnel and material capabilities. This research is focused on knowing the effect of the defense budget and minimum essential force in facing non-military threats partially or simultaneously. This research method uses a survey with data collection through questionnaires. This research is associative quantitative research which aims to find the influence or relationship between variables. The sample used is 76 respondents. Data processing using SPSS 21.0 analysis for the data quality test process, classical assumption test, and multiple linear regression test. The results achieved in this study include, (1) the defense budget and the minimum essential force simultaneously have a positive and significant effect in dealing with non-military threats, (2) the budget has a positive and significant effect in dealing with non-military threats, (3) the minimum essential force has an effect on positive and significant in dealing with non-military threats.

We can observe signs of development of civilization processes in Ukraine everywhere on a daily basis. Such achievements of mankind as computers, smart phones, digital photography, tablets, etc. are becoming common and natural. Along with the positive signs of the development of civilization, we see many achievements that are difficult to grasp by the mind of an ordinary person. In particular, along with the positive achievements of mankind, we must learn to recognize and counter the new inventions used by some states to wage aggression in time.The article highlights the visible aspects of a new type of modern war, which the state of Russia, is waging against its neighbors, including Ukraine, whenever it is convenient to them. These are the so-called «hybrid wars», which Russia is testing on the neighboring countries.In the article it is pointed out, that Russia never starts aggression openly; it always covers its intentions with «peaceful» rhetoric. As usual, Russia’s victims are those neighboring countries that are unable to show power and information confrontation. It has become a tendency that when the time comes, the Russian leaders begin aggression, and their armed forces act according to a motto deduced by Machiavelli and later applied by the Bolsheviks in the 1920s: «You’re either with us, or against us». Starting aggression, Russia continues to declare tales about friendship and peace to the whole world.In the main part of the article, the author emphasizes that all the wars that Russia is embarking on with neighboring countries have a common feature - the geographic location of these states, easily accessible to the Russian armed forces. The author of the article implicitly emphasizes the aggressive features of the historical path of Russia, in particular, the period when it began to transform from Muscovy to Russia. In the article, the author emphasizes that Russia by its behavior, in fact, convinces many prescient people that it is the heir to the robbery mind, which it adopted back in the XIII century from the Golden Horde. Actually, the Russian leadership inherited the habit of stealing another’s living space and another’s territory from Batu Khan’s Horde. This habit gradually gained importance of the national feature of the Russians.One of the most dangerous methods that precedes Russia’s use of firearms is intensification of the war in the information space. As usual, Russia’s aggression against the nations it has sacrificed is a sign of interference with the humanitarian sphere of these peoples’ lives. In other words, in the Russian version, information war is a mandatory prelude to the start of an actual war.An example of one of the anti-Ukrainian special operations of information war against Ukraine is given in an article by a famous historian from Ukraine, Serhii Terno, in which he reveals the purpose of an information war, which became quite evident after analyzing the content of a class book for fifth grade students recently published in Ukraine. Serhiy Terno convincingly, by demonstrating examples and evidence, proves that the information war that Russia is imposing on Ukraine has a final goal - the complete assimilation of the Ukrainian ethnos and the transformation of the Ukrainian living space into a «Russian dimension». Usually, such behavior in Russia precedes an armed attack, and it always happens if the victim of Russian aggression refuses to obey Russia’s orders.In the article, the author indirectly helps the reader to recognize that there are new and improved old methods of waging war in the modern evolutionary development of world civilization processes.Experts specializing in the study of the development of interethnic relations, only after the open military aggression of Russia, which began in 2014, acknowledged that Russia is waging an aggressive war against Ukraine, which political scientists called «hybrid». One of the aspects of “hybrid” war is the war in the information space, and the battle for historical memory is at the forefront of information battles. Revealing this aspect, it would be appropriate to clarify the explanation of the term «historical memory» with an expanded explanation of the right to interpret national history, which we understand with the help of historical knowledge.By way of conclusion, the author cites vivid examples of participation in the information war of the representatives of the aggressor state to emphasize the importance of so called «battles» in the information space. The Ukrainian intellectuals’ struggle for the right of young people for historical memory and justice is described in a convincing and successful way. Much attention is given to the Ukrainian historians’ assessment of the value of research and study of historical memory. The article provides incontrovertible evidence that historical knowledge is a type of information weapon, which in many cases is more effective than a firearm. If we treat «historical memory» as one of the modern information weapons, the article covers examples of the use of these weapons in the context of the information war.Finally, quotes of influential scholars on how they assessed the importance of informational influence on the well-known historical figures are stated in the article: the queen of the Russian Empire, Catherine II and the German propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels.

Communication of military organizations outside the battlefield in the Indonesian National Military (TNI) organization is manifested through TNI social communication. Implemented through Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP). The Indonesian Army formed the Citarum Harum task force after the Citarum River problem became an international concern. This study aims: 1) Model to analyze the communication of the Indonesian Army in building public awareness to restore the sustainability of the Citarum River; 2) Revealing the communication of the Indonesian Army Armed Forces to the public so that the Citarum Harum program can be achieved; 3) Revealing the form of cooperation between the Indonesian Army and the mass media in the Citarum Harum program. Research is based on the philosophy of post-positivism. Type of qualitative research. The nature of descriptive research. Case study research method. The technique of studying data is through data triangulation. Checking the correctness of data or information obtained by researchers from various points of view. The results of the study: 1) Military communication skills for regional officials are needed; 2) To create an understanding with the community, it is necessary to focus on listening to the aspirations of the community by living in people’s homes and providing examples of working to protect the environment; 3) Collaborating with journalists to always actively publish in mass media and online media. Conclusion: 1) Organizational organization, internal communication organization is very important to support organizational activities. 2) TNI social communication functions to take a persuasion approach and increase public understanding of military organizations. 3) The communication strategy carried out by the Siliwangi Military Regional Command provides information and publication of the Citarum Harum Program every day to the mass media and facilitates to facilitate the coverage process.

The article analyzes the peculiarities of the development of the Ukrainian paramilitary movement in the camp of Ukrainian prisoners of war Wetzlar (Germany) in 1916 – the first half of 1918, which began with the founding of the gymnastic society «Sich». Quite soon it turned into a paramilitary structure with a relatively small number of its members with a developed national worldview. Its members jointly performed gymnastic exercises accompanied by an orchestra, performed night duty in the camp, keeping an eye on fire safety. The turning point in the history of the society was December 1917, when the newly elected leadership of «Sich» took decisive measures to normalize the situation in it. The most important of his decisions was the creation of the 1st «Sich» Petro Doroshenko regiment, the appointment of centurions, chicken officers and chief of staff, the organization of training classes, ordering the regimental flag. It is obvious that the establishment and further development of the camp «Sich» was authorized by the German authorities, who hoped to strengthen their combat resources at the expense of Ukrainians, primarily in frontline operations against the Russian Imperial Army. However, these hopes were unfounded, and although some of the Sich-man was indeed enrolled in German military service, this category of campers served their time in military command posts in the Volyn lands occupied by Germany. At the same time, two transports were formed from the number of «Sich» activists and Ukrainian activists from other camp organizations, which were incorporated into the Syn’ozhupanna Division. The most significant merit of the Wetzlar «Sich» was the national awareness and organizational training of more than a thousand of its members, who were instilled with strong patriotic feelings. The «Sich» organization of captured Ukrainians in Wetzlar and the 1st «Sich» Petro Doroshenko regiment formed here became one of the foundations for the creation of the armed forces of Ukraine in the most necessary period for it – during the Ukrainian national liberation struggle of 1917–1921.

Abstract The history of the development of military aeronautical charts began immediately before the First World War. The first charts created at that time did not differ much from topographic maps. Air planes were fairly slow back then and had a small range of action, which meant that the charts were developed at the scale of 1:200,000. When speed of aircraft increased, it soon turned out that this scale was too large. Therefore, many countries began to create charts with smaller scales: 1:300,000 and 1:500,000. The International Map of the World 1:1,000,000 (IMW) was frequently used for continental flights prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, while 1:3,500,000 and 1:5,000,000 maps were commonly used for intercontinental flights. The Second World War brought a breakthrough in the field of aeronautical chart development, especially after 7 December 1941, when the USA entered into the war. The Americans created more than 6000 map sheets and published more than 100 million copies, which covered all continents. In their cartographic endeavours, they were aided foremost by the Brits. On the other hand, the Third Reich had more than 1,500 officers and about 15,000 soldiers and civil servants involved in the development of maps and other geographic publications during the Second World War. What is more, the Reich employed local cartographers and made use of local source materials in all the countries it occupied. The Germans introduced one new element to the aeronautical charts – the printed reference grid which made it easier to command its air force. The experience gained during the Second World War and local conflicts was for the United States an impulse to undertake work on the standardization of the development of aeronautical charts. Initially, standardization work concerned only aeronautical charts issued by the US, but after the establishment of NATO, standardization began to be applied to all countries entering the Alliance. The currently binding NATO STANAGs (Standardization Agreements) distinguish between operational charts and special low-flight charts. The charts are developed in the WGS-84 coordinate system, where the WGS-84 ellipsoid of rotation is the reference surface. The cylindrical transverse Mercator projection was used for the scale of 1:250,000, while the conformal conic projection was used for other scales. The first aeronautical charts issued at the beginning of the 20th century contained only a dozen or so special symbols concerning charts’ navigational content, whereas currently the number of symbols and abbreviations found on such charts exceeds one hundred. The updating documents are published every 28 days in order to ensure that aeronautical charts remain up-to-date between releases of their subsequent editions. It concerns foremost aerial obstacles and air traffic zones. The aeronautical charts published by NATO have scales between 1:50,000 and 1:500,000 and the printed Military Grid Reference System (MGRS), while the aeronautical charts at scales between 1:250,000 and 1:2,000,000 contain the World Geographic Reference System (GEOREF). Nowadays, modern military air planes are characterised by their exceptional combat capabilities in terms of speed, range and manoeuvrability. Aside from aircraft, contemporary armed forces make increasingly frequent use of aerial robots, drones and unmanned cruise missiles. This is why, there has been a noticeable increase, especially in NATO, in the amount of work devoted to the standardization and development of aeronautical charts, as well as deepening of knowledge of navigation and aeronautical information.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has defined corporate social responsibility (CSR) as "a management concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and interactions with their stakeholders. CSR is a way in which companies achieve a balance of economic, environmental and social imperatives". Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has emerged as a crucial aspect of business operations worldwide, with companies recognizing their responsibility to contribute positively to society. In India, the CSR landscape has witnessed significant growth and transformation since the introduction of the Companies Act, 2013, mandating qualifying companies to allocate a portion of their profits towards CSR activities. This research paper delves into the CSR expenditure in India, aiming to analyze the trends, impact, and challenges faced by corporations in fulfilling their CSR commitments. The study employs both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including data analysis, case studies, and interviews with key stakeholders to gain comprehensive insights into the subject matter. The paper sheds light on the effectiveness of CSR initiatives and provides valuable recommendations for enhancing CSR practices in India. Since the enactment of CSR provisions in April 2014, companies have spent nearly 1.27 trillion rupees or 1.27 lakh crore rupees in a span of seven years as per the data available on the National CSR Portal based on the disclosures made by companies. This money has been spent across 29 different sectors such as health, education, environment, welfare, development, and others. From over Rs. 10,065 crores spent in 2014-15, the CSR expenditure in India has increased to Rs. 25,715 crores in 2020-21 registering a 2.5-times increase in the seven years of implementation. With nearly Rs. 36,815 crores, the education sector received 29% of the CSR expenditure between 2014-15 and 2020-21. The health sector comes next with 20% of the CSR expenditure of Rs. 25,391 crores. More than Rs. 12,300 crores were spent in Rural development projects which accounted for 9.7%. The three sectors are the only ones to receive more than Rs. 10,000 crores each of CSR expenditure and together accounted for nearly 59% of the total CSR expenditure incurred in the country in seven years. Environmental sustainability, malnutrition, hunger and poverty, livelihood enhancement projects, central government funds including PMNRF, sanitation, art & culture, and vocational skills received more than Rs. 2000 crores each and together contributed to another 29.4% of the expenditure. Safe drinking water, women empowerment, natural resources conservation, gender equality, animal welfare, orphanages, armed forces (veterans, war widows, etc.), special education, SwachchBharathKosh, sports, technology incubators, senior citizens welfare, agroforestry, slum area development, and socio-economic inequalities are the other sectors in which CSR amount is used. These sectors accounted for <9% of the CSR expenditure. For the remaining expenditure (~3%), companies have not disclosed the details of the projects.

The article characterizes the state and development of the security policy of NATO and the EU in the 21st century. The main provisions of the EU security system are disclosed. Attention is focused on the key aspects of the formation of a strategic partnership in the specified period. Challenges to European and global security that consolidate NATO and EU efforts to deepen cooperation are outlined. There are terrorism, Russian aggression, hybrid, and now full-scale war in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea, the strengthening of the role of China, Brexit, climate change, 5G, cybercrime, the global remilitarization race, increasing defense budgets, the coronavirus pandemic, and others. It is noted that both the EU and NATO are looking for adequate tools for responding to these challenges and tools for adapting to the new state of affairs. It was emphasized that Russian aggression and an attack on a sovereign democratic state have become the biggest threat to European security. The modern architecture of European and world security largely depends on whether a collective action will be able to provide support for Ukraine, protect values and stabilize the existing world order. Documents, official publications, statements of leaders, etc. were analyzed. The main principles and directions of NATO-EU cooperation in the field of security, as well as the priorities of political-strategic and diplomatic cooperation, which ensures the coordination of plans, have been accumulated. The strategic partnership is based on strengthening cooperation on crisis management, enabling NATO to support the EU in crisis management and operations through the sharing of resources, operational planning and management. It was concluded that the closer convergence of EU and NATO security policies in 2016 was activated by the EU policy, which was aimed at strengthening Europe’s collective security through cooperation with its strategic partners, starting with NATO. It was noted that one of the key principles of cooperation between the EU and NATO is a single set of forces. This means that joint member states do not have separate armed forces for NATO and separate ones for the EU. That is why the EU and NATO are working to streamline the priorities and bring together the processes of defense planning, cooperation in civil and military operations, military exercises and the development of the defense industry. The senior leadership of the EU and NATO also coordinates political activities and diplomatic matters to ensure a coherent and common approach in the Euro-Atlantic community. A separate important item in the list of joint measures between the EU and NATO is the improvement of military mobility, which should significantly contribute to the increase of joint defense capabilities. It is revealed how the intention to strengthen the partnership is reflected in the NATO 2030 development strategy and in the new strategic concept of NATO – 2022. It is concluded that according to the Strategy, the EU acts as an important and unique partner of NATO and that these organizations play a complementary, harmonious and mutually reinforcing role in maintaining international peace and security. Neither NATO nor the European Union has all the tools needed to respond to Russia’s malign activities or to challenges involving other non-military threats. Faced with these threats, they need to work together and have many tools, political, diplomatic, economic, military, which facilitate countermeasures. And despite the existence of different views on the role of the EU and NATO in the implementation of security policy, their mandates in the sphere of security and defense coincide and complement each other more and more. However, it is obvious that there are more common themes for NATO and the EU in the defense sphere than dividing factors.

<p>Michalis P. Liberatos, The Greek Communist Party and the SlavophonesMinority in West Macedonia during the German Occupation (1941-194</p><p>The existence of a Christian Slavic-speaking population in West Macedoniaafter the exchanges of populations in 1923-1924 and its confrontationwith Greek residents affected not only the relations between Greeceand the neighbouring Balkan countries but also determined the attitudeof KKE towards the Greek political stage and its relations with the otherpolitical parties. Especially during the German Occupation in Greece thecontroversies were enforced because of the existence of Bulgarian occupationalauthorities in the region and the attempt of Germans to treatethnic differences as an instrument of oppression. On the contrary, theGreek resistance forces that acted in Macedonia attempted to avert theaccession of Slavophones to Bulgarian nationalism and tried to compromisethe contradictions between the minority and the Greek population.The main resistance movement in the region, EAM, an organisationthat included KKE as the stronger part of it, had the advantage thatit was acceptable to the minority. On the other hand, other Greek organisations,like PAO, caused a feeling of fear, insecurity and mistrust tothe minority as representatives of Greek nationalism. KKE, because of itspolitical attitude towards the defence of the social rights of the minorityin the Inter-War period, had gained the confidence of that population,something extremely useful for the purposes of the liberation struggle.Nevertheless, the other political forces in Greece suspected that KKEhad returned to its attitude about the «Autonomy» of Macedonia fromthe Greek State, which KKE had declared in the decade 1925-1935. Thatwas a great obstacle for a political party that for a long period exerteditself to prove that it had abandoned that policy and especially in relation with EAM, which was based primary on its patriotic character. In orderto avoid the charges that it favoured the Slavophones separatists andthe possibility of an internal crisis that might have dissolved the politicalalliance of EAM, KKE pursued to incorporate the Slavophones into theGreek liberation movement on purpose to create a state of mutual confidencebetween the two populations. At the same time, it tried to isolatethe minority from the propaganda of Bulgarian separatists and destroythe corresponding armed groups.The problems regarding the relations between the minority and theGreek resistance movement became more complicated because of theinvolvement of Tito's regime in Yugoslavia. Tito and his partisans attemptedto use their ideological connection with EAM as a means to persuadeGreeks to accept the existence of minority as a cause of a new arrangementof the borders between Greece and Yugoslavia in the post Warperiod. On the other hand, the leaders of EAM tried to avoid Tito's accusationsthat Greeks impeded the development of a Balkan resistanceco-operation against Axis and strove to confine the massive accession ofSlavophones to the Yugoslavian resistance army by incorporating membersof the minority in organisations of EAM. It was a very difficulttask and often caused more problems than it resolved.</p>

According to the results of scientific research and analysis of guiding documents, according to the authors of the article, the concept of maintaining the combat capability of formations (military units) of the NSU should be understood as the activities of commanders, headquarters, management bodies, moral and psychological support structures regarding their ability to put on alert, conduct hostilities, perform combat missions by maintaining the quality of management to ensure the readiness of units (military units) to perform tasks for purpose, provision of their weapons and military equipment, material means, maintenance of personnel, available forces and means of the MPZ of the moral and psychological state, its mental stability and psychological readiness for an equal level that ensures the fulfillment of the tasks. The improvement of the means of armed struggle and the complication of hostilities led to an increase in combat losses. All this exacerbated the problem of maintaining the combat capability of the troops because the combat capability of formations (military units) should first of all be maintained when put on alert, training and conducting combat operations, and secondly, if necessary, quickly recover to a level that ensures the successful completion of tasks. The experience gained in past wars to maintain the combat capability of troops basically retains value in modern conditions. But at the same time, many new circumstances have arisen that greatly complicate the solution of this problem. This is primarily due to the emergence and widespread development of the means of mass destruction, as well as systems of high-precision weapons, which can be used suddenly on a massive scale both during training and during combat, to simultaneously hit all elements of the combat order ‒ not only the first, but also the second echelons, reserves, rear units and units, regardless of their distance from the front line. Today, the likelihood of instant destruction of certain elements of the combat order of a unit and a unit, violation of the control and communication system, combat, technical, logistics support, as shown by the experience of war in the Persian Gulf, other conflicts, wars in the Middle East, Yugoslavia and especially combat operations in Ukraine, is becoming a reality. Of course, these circumstances make it extremely difficult to implement support measures, and if necessary, restore the combat capability of units, in many respects change their nature and methods of conduct. In the practice of combat activities, they are divided into tactical and special. They are reflected in the decision of the commander to battle, in setting up combat missions for units, organizing interaction and comprehensive support. When maintaining the moral and psychological state of the personnel, their mental stability and psychological readiness at the level that ensures the fulfillment of the tasks set, it is necessary to take into account the fact that in addition to losses from the influence of the enemy, the loss of combat capability is also affected by physical and nervous exhaustion, hunger, cold, etc. For this purpose, if necessary, the rotation of units (military units) should be carried out. At the same time, as the experience of the Israeli army's participation in hostilities shows, it should be borne in mind that the maximum period before the onset of nervous exhaustion for an experienced and motivated unit is about 30 days, and sleep should be no later than 48 hours. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that most of all it demotivates and frightens such stress factors as: light ‒ tracers, flashes of explosions, fire; smells – the smell of burning and burnt meat; noise – explosions, whistles, roars; shouts – commanders, wounded, dying. Therefore, when maintaining combat capability, during preparation for combat operations, it is important for commanders and their deputies to work with personnel to at least partially prepare servicemen for these stress factors (light, smells, noise, screams) so that they are not distracted from their combat missions and work, despite the unnatural and dangerous environment.

In 2015, in Athens, a decision was made that the upcoming conference of military historians under the auspices of the Partnership for Peace programme in the Conflict Studies Working Group (CSWG) would be hosted by Slovenia. In cooperation with the Ministry of Defence and with its support we established an organisational committee, consisting of four institutions: the Military Museum in the name of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, Institute of Contemporary History, Faculty of Social Sciences, and the French Ministry of Defence, represented by the Veterans and War Victims Office. We would like to thank the Minister of Defence Andreja Katič and Brigadier Milko Petek for their assistance with the organisation, financing, and understanding of the role of the Republic of Slovenia in the international scientific community. This understanding and complete support were crucial for the realisation of a successful international consultation, where we managed to confront an overabundance of experiences and present numerous challenges, as well as ensure that all the participants left Ljubljana with plenty of good impressions and new knowledge, also about the Slovenian defence system and our history. Regarding the selection of topics, which the researchers from more than thirty countries would research and then present at the annual conference, we agreed that this time we would focus on a topic that was not as distinctively military: war veterans. Why veterans? We, military historians, far too often concentrate on important conflicts, battles and wars, where the most important roles are in the hands of military commanders, political decision-makers, and coalitions of forces. With great zeal we study tactics, operations, strategies, and analyse the impact of every possible more or less important factor that influenced either the course of the conflict in question or its results. We analyse and interpret the consequences of engagements, battles and wars by means of various archive materials, revealing layers of secrets involved in what may already be numerous conventional facts... However, when the weapons fall silent, as the stage is once again taken over by politicians and as normal life in its myriad of ways resumes (as war and its consequences are undoubtedly abnormal circumstances), the elimination of the consequences of war comes to the forefront. Everyone focuses on the restoration of devastated cities and infrastructure as well as on the revitalisation of state economies. The militaries of the victorious as well as – even more so – the defeated side retreat to the background. Soldiers, perhaps especially those who cannot continue working in the military structures due to the consequences of wars, become even less visible. Precisely these consequences of wars leave permanent scars on the soldiers. They can alter the soldiers' personalities irreversibly and completely, and often change the way of the former soldier's lives forever. Unfortunately it frequently happens that the soldiers' societal, social and general status takes a turn for the worse as well. Precisely for this reason a number of various veteran organisations have been established, whose purpose is not only to maintain contacts between the former soldiers but also to represent them, their status and their rights, and bring the attention to their unequal position in the society. One would expect that the status of veterans would thus be addressed properly and that further potential marginalisation of the former members of the armed forces would no longer be an issue, but unfortunately that is not the case. Although the attitude of the state towards the veterans in fact reflects its maturity, sensitivity to the vulnerable, and respect of its most meritorious citizens, this issue is often not settled in a manner that one would expect. The reasons for this situation can be found on both sides: on the side of the decision-making elites, which far too eagerly assign top priority to other, possibly more pressing issues; as well as on the side of the veteran organisations themselves, which should certainly operate in such a way as to represent a direct and tougher negotiator when it comes to the status of veterans. During the economic crisis, when the negative consequences almost as a rule affect the lowest social strata most adversely, the situation of the veterans is not much different. The cutbacks of national and consequently defence budgets result in the diminished resources available for the veterans. Most often the veterans are where the financial cuts actually begin. For this reason the discussion about the status of veterans is a very pressing topic, even today. At the same time the veteran organisations are the ones that represent a live historical memory of extreme efforts and great sacrifice. As such they are a living reminder of what wars and post-war events represent. The decision-makers should learn so much from them... And perhaps these sorts of discussions will contribute to changes in these relations. Esteemed veterans, we should thank you, pay our respect to you, and endeavour to maintain the sincerest possible relations with you. As it is, it is a fundamental characteristic of every veteran that they have put their nation as a whole before their own interests as well as before the interests of their loved ones and those of other groups. For this noble goal they have been prepared to sacrifice everything: their lives. For this reason it is only proper and decent that the highest possible quality of life be ensured for our veterans by means of sincere relations and by including the veterans in all aspects of life in the modern society.

Background: Having lived for several centuries in areas with a polyethnic population, Croatian Rusyns and Ukrainians have repeatedly found themselves on the path of interethnic confrontation between Serbs and Croats. The events of the Serbo-Croatian War (1991–1995) were one of the peak moments of such confrontations in the Yugoslav state. The Serbo-Croatian War is the most favorite topic of Croatian historiography of the entire period of independence. However, the question about the state of the Croatian national minorities during the war was covered only by few researchers. Local researchers actually don't raise the issue of collaborationism in the 1990s. Purpose: to assess the extent of collaboration of Rusyns and Ukrainians with self proclaimed Serbian Krajina, to find out the nature, motives and causes of this phenomenon. Results: The Serbo-Croatian War of 1991–1995 was caused by the disintegration of the SFRY, Croatia's desire to secede from the Federation, and the presence of a large Serb minority on its territory that did not share that desire. Because of military campaigns at the end of 1991, Croatian Serbs completely sepa-rated from Croatia, taking a quarter of its territory under control, and proclaimed the formation of the Republic of Serbian Krajina. It occupied the territory where a large part of the non-Serb population lived. In particular, most of the descendants of immigrants from Ukrainian lands were in a city Vukovar, villages Petrovci and Mikluševci (Eastern Slavonia). The non-Serb population of Serbian Krajina (including Rusyns and Ukrainians) found itself on the path of a “Serbisation” policy of the occupied territories. So an occu-pation regime was established for Rusyns and Ukrainians of this region. Destruction, looting, rape, beatings, damage to the Greek Catholic Churches, “ethnic cleansing”, bru-tal killings of particular families – this is the list of actions of the new government. Territorial Defense headquarters were organized in each settlement occupied by the YPA and insurgent Serbs, which included individual Rusyns and Ukrainians who sympathized with official Belgrade. Due to active collaboration with Serbs, some Rusyns from Mikluševci lived well under Serbian authority. They opened shops, hotels, businesses. Individual Rusyns from Mikluševci, at the behest of local Serbs, tortured fellow villagers and helped to deport them. According to the expelled locals, the hardest thing for them was not to ac-cept the Serbian occupation itself, but the betrayal of their compatriots. There was also a forced collaborationism. Due to the compact location of Ukraini-ans in the border areas between Serbia and Croatia, during the war a large number of Ukrainian men were mobilized to the YPA or the Croatian forces, depending on the place of residence. In 1995, Croatia regained considerable territory during its armed operations. The return of Eastern Slavonia, where most Rusyns and Ukrainians lived, was to be done gradually and under the control of the UN Transitional Administration. During the process of reintegration a complex process of return of refugees and exiles, psychological normalization of social relations, and adaptation of people to new circumstances, has continued. After the reintegration of the Danube region, Croatia has failed to establish an effective mechanism for punishing war criminals. The so-called “Mikluševci’s process” gained considerable resonance. The case was directed against those who deported 98 and killed four people from Mikluševci in the spring of 1992 (all the victims were Rusyns). The investigation was constantly delayed, and the number of defendants decreased due to the deaths of suspects or lack of evidence. At the announcement of the sentence, only three ethnic Rusyns were present (other convicted had fled to Serbia and were inaccessible to the Croatian judiciary). So it turned out that only Rusyns were actually convicted for the war crime of genocide against the Rusyns. Thus, during the Croatian-Serbian war, the policy of the so-called Serbian Krajina, aimed at implementing the “Greater Serbia” plan, left Ukrainians no choice as to whom to support. However, even under such conditions, there were cases of collaboration between the Rusyn-Ukrainian diaspora and the Serbian occupation administration. If we omit forced collaborationism (mobilization into the ranks of the Serbian armed forces), then voluntary cooperation had various reasons: the desire to regain power lost as a result of the 1991 elections; nostalgia for socialist Yugoslavia and stability; as a means of resolving domestic conflicts and settling accounts with neighbors. Voluntary collaborationism among the inhabitants of Mikluševci and Petrovtsi did not become widespread. It was much less common among Ukrainians than among Rusyns – but this can also be explained by the much larger number of the Rusyns in the region. After the reintegration of the Danube, Croatia did not prosecute anyone for collaborationism, but mostly Ruthenians were convicted for “genocide” and “crimes against humanity”. However, this rather indicates the imperfection of the Croatian judiciary. Key words: Croatia, Rusyns, Ukrainians, Serbs, collaborationism, terror, Serbo-Croatian war. Biki, Đ., 2001. Rusyns of Mikluševci in the Homeland War of 1991. Mikluševci. (In Croatian) Burda, S., 1998. From the work of the Crisis Staff of the Union 1991–1993 (2). New opinion, 106, pp.43–45. (In Croatian) Bičanić, J., 1998. News about the return of expelled citizens of Petrovci. New opinion, 104, p.20. (In Ruthenian) Crime in Mikluševtsi, 2016. Documents. Center for Combating the Past. [online] Avialable at: https://www.documenta.hr/hr/zločin-u-mikluševcima.html [Accessed 15 july 2021] (in Croatian) Furminc, J., 1990. At the co-working of coexistence. New opinion, 88, p.2. (In Croa-tian) Jolić, S., 1993. “I have to find my sons grave”. New opinion, 98/99, p.13. (In Rutheni-an) Jurista, M., 1991. We have yours on guard. New opinion, 90/91, p.10. (In Croatian) Kiš, M., 1997. UNTAES Mandate and Reintegration. New opinion, 101/102, pp.7–8. (In Ruthenian) Kostelnik, V. and Takać, G., 2008. 40 years of the Union of Ruthenians and Ukraini-ans of the Republic of Croatia. Vukovar. (In Ruthenian) Lipovlyanians on the front line, 1992. New opinion, 92/93, pp.18–19. (In Ukrainian) Liskyi, B., 2002. Anton Ivakhniuk is a great Ukrainian–Croatian patriot. In: S., Burda and B., Gralyuk, eds. Ukrainians of Croatia: materials and documents. Zagreb, pp.62–73. (In Ukrainian) Malynovs’ka, O., 2002. Ukrainian diaspora in the South Slavic lands. In: S., Burda and B., Gralyuk, eds. Ukrainians of Croatia: materials and documents. Zagreb, pp.6–20. (In Ukrainian) Marijan, D., 2000. Yugoslav People's Army in the aggression against the Republic of Croatia 1990–1992 years. Journal of Contemporary History, No. 2, pp.289–321. (In Croa-tian) Pap, N., 2015. The suffering of the Ruthenians in the 1991/92 Homeland War. Vuko-var. (In Croatian) Perić Kaselj, M., Škiljan, F. and Vukić, A., 2015. Event and ethnic situation: changes in the identity of national minority communities in the Republic of Croatia. Studia ethnologica Croatica, 27 (1), s.7–36. Avialable at: https: //dx.doi.org10.17721/2524-048X.2018.11.8-27 [Accessed 1 august 2021] (In Croatian) Radoš, I. and Šangut, Z., 2013. We defended the homeland: members of national minorities in the defense of Croatia. Zagreb: Udruga pravnika “Vukovar 1991”. (In Croa-tian) Simunovič, J., 1995. Rusyns and Ukrainians in the Republic of Croatia – immigration and the situation before 1991]. In: S. Burda, ed. Rusyns and Ukrainians in the Republic of Croatia (1991–1995). Zagreb, pp.25–29. (In Croatian) Szekely, A. B., 1996. Hungarian Minority in Croatia and Slovenia. Nationalities Pa-pers, 24 (3), pp.483–489. Takać, G., 1991. Miklushevtsi's military chronology (1). New opinion, 92/93, p.11. (In Ruthenian) Takać, G., 1992a. Miklushevtsi's military chronology (2). New opinion, 92/93, pp.20–23. (In Ruthenian) Takać, G., 1992b. Miklushevtsi's military chronology (3). New opinion, 92/93, pp.9–12. (In Ruthenian) Takać, G., 1992c. Miklushevtsi's military chronology (4). New opinion, 92/93, pp.5–9. (In Ruthenian) Takać, G., 1992d. Petrovtsi fell among the last (1). New opinion, 92/93, pp.24–27. (In Ruthenian) Takać, G., 1992e. Petrovtsi fell among the last (2). New opinion, 92/93, pp.13–18. (In Ruthenian) Takać, G., 1992f. Petrovtsi fell among the last (3). New opinion, 92/93, pp.10–13. (In Ruthenian) Tatalović, S., 1997. Minority Peoples and Minorities. Zagreb. (In Croatian) Varga, B., 2016. Tragedy of Ukrainians and Ruthenians from Vukovar. [online] Avialable at: http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/tragedija-ukrajinaca-i-rusina-iz-vukovara [Accessed 10 may 2021] (in Croatian) Wertheimer-Baletić, A., 1993. One and a half centuries in the numerical development of the population of Vukovar and the Vukovar region. Social research, 4–5 / God. 2, Br. 2–3, pp.455–478. (In Croatian) Zivić, D., 2006. Demographic framework and losses during the Homeland War and postwar period. In: Z., Radelić, ed. The creation of the Croatian state and the Homeland War, pp.420–483. (In Croatian)

The authors of the article study the ways of development of the system of maintenance and repair (hereinafter ‒ the system of maintenance and repair) of military communications and automated control systems (hereinafter ‒ ACS) in the performance of logistics support tasks by the State defense forces, taking into account the approaches adopted by the NATO Allied Forces. The experience of training of repairmen in the countries that are members of NATO Allied Forces is studied in order to further, for the first time, develop options for improving both the system of maintenance and repair of communications and ACS and improving the training of repairmen of communications and ACS of defense forces. The experience of using the units in the conduct of operations in a full-scale war unleashed by the Russian Federation shows that one of the most pressing problems is the proper maintenance and repair of all types of weapons and military equipment in the logistics system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other components of the defense forces during their assigned tasks. After analyzing the requirements of the main guiding documents that refer to the main directions of development of the tasks of the maintenance and repair system in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other components of the state defense forces[1-6], it should be noted that the priority direction is "development of the logistics support system for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other components of the defense forces in the performance of the tasks of comprehensive defense of Ukraine, automation of logistics processes, their integration with the relevant processes of the national economy to support the operations of the Joint Forces.

Since October 2001, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employed a predator drone armed with missiles to carry out an operation in Afghanistan that targeted suspected al-Qaeda members. These missile attacks continued to hit targets in Yemen, Afghanistan, and the Pakistani territory bordering Afghanistan. It has been proven that missile-equipped drones are uncertain when used in covert operations. Drone strikes raise legal questions under International Law, Human Rights Law (HRL) and International Humanitarian Law (IHL). IHL prohibits civilian organisations from participating in direct hostilities unless the government notifies them of their incorporation into the regular armed forces. The explanation for why the CIA does not have the authorisation to carry out drone strikes is given in the article. The deployment of the CIA rather than regular armed forces is a violation of both accepted norms of war and HRL regulations.

Only the members of the armed forces of a Party to a conflict (other than medical personnel, chaplains and military personnel engaged in civil defence) are combatants (Hague Regulations, Art. 1 and 3; P. I, Art. 43 and 67).Combatants are entitled to take direct part in the hostilities (P. I, Art. 43), i.e. to commit acts of war which are intended by their nature or their purpose to hit specifically the combatants and other military objectives of the enemy armed forces.Any combatant who falls into the power of an adverse Party is a prisoner of war (P. I, Art. 4).

The article summarizes the review and analytical work regarding the features of the formation and development of logistics support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Logistics is considered as a fundamental aspect of the fulfillment of the mission of the armed forces of our state in a crisis situation and peacetime. The development of Russian aggression in the east of Ukraine objectively led to an understanding of the immediate transition from the use of the crisis logistics model to the involvement of elements of the military logistics model, which is capable of functioning both in peacetime and during military operations. With the outbreak of war in the East, all-round supply was provided from the center to military units that were in positions and performed combat operations. In fact, in the first months of the announcement of the anti-terroristical operation in Ukraine and before the entry of Russian troops into the territory of our country, the leading structures only superficially (unsystematically) tried to restructure the logistics of crisis situations into a nationwide one. Ukraine seeks to maintain friendly relations with all countries of the world on the basis of international treaties concluded on the principles of equality, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. But for now, the armed conflict continues in Ukraine, which became the most European conflict after the end of World War II, in which Ukraine follows the defensive strategy. And this should become the basis for the formation of the logistic concept of the state armed forces. A conceptual analysis of the evolutionary development of military logistics showed that in the process of historical development of scientific approaches to waging war, intensive scientific and technological progress, military logistics changed and reformed, new logistics systems, innovative methods, models and tools for managing logistic support for troops. This process should continue on a scientific basis, taking into account the best world and own experience. In crisis situations, the population is primarily affected. Therefore, the wide-profile tasks of rescuing and assisting the civilian population (the victim, who is evacuated and remains in the territory with the affected infrastructure) in the crisis zone laid on military logistics. The formation and development of the logistic system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine should be carried out taking into account the peaceful, partnership policy of our state and NATO countries. As for the evolutionary development of the logistics support for the Ukrainian AF, military logistics should be developed on a scientific basis, taking into account the international experience of NATO countries and our own experience, and in crisis situations, military logistics should be entrusted with broad-profile tasks of helping civilians in the crisis zone, and its further development should be conducted in a comprehensively. Today, our country is creating a single effective logistics system for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, other military units and law enforcement agencies, both in peacetime and in wartime, which should operate in accordance with NATO standards and be able to cooperate with the armed forces of other states - members of NATO and the European Union. Therefore, the issue of military logistics, as one of the most important and basic components of military operations, is relevant and requires careful study. Keywords: logistics, features, military logistics, crisis situations logistics, the country's defense and security system, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, materials, material supply, material resources, international relations, reserves, supply.

Due to the modern war conditions, governed by the avant-garde technologies, the military actions of all the forces services acquire new features and dimensions with special implications for the participating forces. Carrying out a campaign involves combat-type actions that only a military force can accomplish, and its objectives are achieved both through a wide range of offensive or defensive operations, and through interaction with other military and non-military entities. At the tactical level, commanders must ensure a balance between the various elements of the functional framework to achieve the objectives set, in accordance with the campaign purpose. In line with current trends in the field of modern armed struggle, the issue of the combat disposition of the forces in order to conduct operations must be addressed, in the context of the development of military technology, increasing force mobility, maneuverability and combat power. reconsidering, at the same time, the role of different categories of armed forces, in the sense of ensuring interoperability with NATO partner forces, spatial extension of the direct engagement of supple and mobile combat disposition. Nowdays, in the Romanian military literature, it is considered that the joint tactical large units combat disposition consists of: the command system, maneuver forces, the reserve and the logistics system.

Due to the modern war conditions, governed by the avant-garde technologies, the military actions of all the forces services acquire new features and dimensions with special implications for the participating forces. Carrying out a campaign involves combat-type actions that only a military force can accomplish, and its objectives are achieved both through a wide range of offensive or defensive operations, and through interaction with other military and non-military entities. At the tactical level, commanders must ensure a balance between the various elements of the functional framework to achieve the objectives set, in accordance with the campaign purpose. In line with current trends in the field of modern armed struggle, the issue of the combat disposition of the forces in order to conduct operations must be addressed, in the context of the development of military technology, increasing force mobility, maneuverability and combat power. reconsidering, at the same time, the role of different categories of armed forces, in the sense of ensuring interoperability with NATO partner forces, spatial extension of the direct engagement of supple and mobile combat disposition. Nowdays, in the Romanian military literature, it is considered that the joint tactical large units combat disposition consists of: the command system, maneuver forces, the reserve and the logistics system.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Romania faced the imminent threat of an escalation of the armed conflict. The geographical proximity of military operations caused this, as the Black Sea location and the self-proclaimed republic of Transnistria located in neighboring Moldova. For this reason, Romania, like other European countries, faced the consequences of the outbreak of war and met economic, political, and military challenges. After the outbreak of war, the Romanian government had to take appropriate steps to help Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees who crossed the border into Romania. Although Romania adopted a distant attitude towards Ukraine, it did not block any aid projects and acted following NATO’s strategic actions. The outbreak of war in Ukraine contributed to rapid changes in the scope of the Romanian army. Several decisions were made to purchase new equipment and strengthen the armed forces.

The article is devoted to the consideration of the concept of "hybrid war", which is widespread in recent years, and currently has different interpretations. The characteristics of the phenomenon of hybrid warfare, which are operated by research, expert and leading military centers of the Russian Federation, which influence the decision-making or directly participate in them, are highlighted. It also presents conclusions that follow from the observation of Russian activities in Еastern Ukraine and points to the potential risks arising from such activities in the future. The article presents the most popular definitions of the phenomenon of hybrid war, appearing in Polish and American literature. It also takes into account the studies of Ukrainian authors dealing with this subject: in this case, directly related to the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine that has been ongoing since 2014. In this context, the definitions of the concept of hybrid war described in the text in terms of the official military institutions of the Russian Federation: the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, are also of particular importance. This approach, present in Russian definitions and approach, had a practical dimension in connection with the Russian armed aggression in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, from 2014 until now. It describes the full set of actions and measures that the Russian Federation uses as part of hybrid operations and which (what can be assumed with high probability) will continue to be used in the future in relation to Ukraine and other countries that are or will be objects of Russian aggressive policy and actions. This problem is significant not only for Ukraine, but also for other countries in the region of Central and Eastern Europe, especially the so-called "NATO's eastern flank".

Last year (2020), the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia published a monograph by Brigadier General Branimir Furlan, Ph.D., titled Nacionalna (varnostna) strategija (National (security) strategy). It was published in the period following the adoption of the Resolution on the National Security Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia (ReSNV-2) in 2019, and at the time when the process of military strategic consideration and the drafting of a Military Strategy proposal in the Slovenian Armed Forces began. The authors of the latter used the monograph as help and support. The monograph will certainly also be a useful tool for the drafters of the next Defence Strategy and strategic planning documents. For those who use and study the ReSNV-2, this monograph serves as a scientifically based tool facilitating the understanding of the processes behind the drafting and the contents of the resolution as well as its positioning in theory and practice. In addition to the book Marsova dediščina (Mars’s Heritage) by Anton Žabkar, PhD, this monograph is the second Slovene work related to national security strategy, which can help us study the strategic environment, improve strategic thought and theory, and design and implement strategies. Brigadier General Furlan begins by presenting the development and roles of strategies in general, and then focuses on the field of national security. This is also important from the point of view of the contemporary application of strategies, when they are, at least in a popular sense, not applied only to large domains and systems, but also at the "individual" level. In the military and defence domains, this is also essential due to the level of military operation. Consequently, Brigadier General Furlan describes the relations between the strategic, operational, and tactical levels of operation. He guides us through the development of these relations, explaining the current situation where different levels are more interconnected and interinfluencing. This is especially important for countries of the size of Slovenia, where most strategic solutions are implemented at a lower tactical level. Additionally, Brigadier General Furlan explains the difference between operational art and operation(s), and provides Slovene equivalents of English terms. As a result, in addition to the substantive gaps, the monograph also fills the terminological gaps. Throughout the monograph, the author devotes effort to using Slovene terminology and substantiates the important concepts and terminology for the development of the scientific field of strategy theory. By doing this, he encourages the use of Slovene strategy-related terminology in practice both in the military and throughout the national security system. The central part of the monograph presents and explains the elements for the formulation of a national strategy, and describes various strategies and strategic methods, the ways to operate and achieve goals. In the case of the latter, deterrence is particularly important and emphasized. Moreover, it has not been sufficiently emphasized in Slovenian theory and practice, despite the fact that any deterrence is better than war. Escalation and nuclear strategy are also discussed in detail. Both are interesting for Slovenia from the point of view of its EU and NATO memberships and from the point of view of its use of non-owned mechanisms. The monograph also presents some specific but essential strategic factors, technology, geopolitics as well as the international order and transnational strategies that should be taken into account when devising a national security strategy. Special emphasis is placed on strategic communications, which is a concept under development, but will certainly become very important in the future. Brigadier General Furlan successfully connects theory, practice and Slovenian reality. By doing so, he indicates the possibilities of putting the strategy into practice, thus facilitating research of foreign works for attentive researchers and users of the monograph. By comparing foreign systems and analysing different authors, he provides many examples and arguments for the necessary professional and critical strategic thinking, and proves (what he has written in the closing) that the strategic process is about "finding the best approximation of the strategy that will most successfully enable us to achieve the desired end state with the available resources ”. The monograph explains the operational strategy and the development strategy. Both elements make up a comprehensive strategy. The national strategy is always a compromise between several factors, therefore the conclusion of the Brigadier General Furlan, stated in the closing, is very important: "It is essential (according to Betts) that compromises are not made regarding the resources necessary to achieve goals, but regarding the goals." By providing scientific substantiation, examples, and the connection between theory and reality, Brigadier General Furlan showed a direction, also to military officers, towards strengthening the strategic thought, work at the strategic level, as well as towards the devising and implementation of strategies. Strategy is generally a way of creating, and for small countries or armies, finding a favourable strategic situation. This search is one of the basic missions of high-ranking officers and generals at the strategic level, and this monograph can be of great help in this respect. Now retired Brigadier General of the Slovenian Armed Forces Branimir Furlan was one of the most prolific writers in the military. Among other things, he was the key author of the Military Doctrine adopted by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia in 2006. We thus very much look forward to his next book, which will focus on military strategy.

The recruitment and retention of well-qualified military personnel are essential for any armed forces. This is even more true because most armed forces in Europe have shifted from a conscript-based to an all-volunteer format. Based on presentations and discussions during the 14th ERGOMAS Conference in Athens, Greece, June 26-30, 2017, this special publication of Contemporary Military Challenges focuses on the challenges of recruiting and retaining interested young people in the armed forces. In the ERGOMAS Working Group “Recruitment and Retention”, chaired by Tibor Szvircsev Tresch, 20 papers from different researchers were presented. In the five conference sessions on this issue, we had interesting discussions on various related topics. Session 1 dealt with the subject of minorities in the armed forces, and especially how they can be integrated and how they can participate in the system. In the next session, recruitment and retention in the reserve forces stood as the theme of the presentations. Politics and the military: mutual influence and the effect on military personnel was the topic of session 3, and session 4 analysed the motivational factors and reasons for attrition. The last session focused attention on recruitment and retention strategies. From these five sessions we were able to choose five presentations from all of these topics to adapt as journal articles. In the five articles offered in this journal, recruitment and retention are broadly discussed in historical terms and also based on the most recent research results. In military sociology research has generally addressed the recruitment of volunteers into the active force, but the reserve components and the conscription system should also be reviewed in detail. This special issue also analyzes reserve forces and conscription systems with regard to recruitment and retention. In the past not much attention has been paid to the topic of recruitment and retention in Europe. This was also true during the time of the Cold War for the conscript-based armed forces; the recruitment of new personnel was guaranteed by the conscript system. The advantages of this system were that the conscripted young men (in Europe only men were obliged to enter the armed forces; for women this was on a volunteer basis, and in some countries it was even forbidden for women to join the armed forces, or they could join only in auxiliary positions) could be socialized during their military service and also convinced that a professional military position could be a career for them. In other words, through the conscript system the armed forces were able to win new personnel who could imagine staying in the armed forces as long-term employees. One consequence of this was that the armed forces did not have to recruit new personnel on the free job market. The ‘in-house’ recruiting system provided by conscription was in most cases sufficient to catch enough personnel and – very importantly – well-qualified staff. But with the end of the Cold War and new missions, armed forces had to cover new tasks. These new tasks also required, on the one hand, personnel who were able and willing to stay abroad for a longer time, and on the other hand, new skills to cope with the new circumstances in the missions abroad. With the conflicts in the 1990s such as the Gulf War, the Somali Civil War with the United Missions UNOSMO I and II, the Bosnian War and the Kosovo War with the involvement of NATO, Western European armed forces had huge problems sending qualified personnel to these crises. Paradoxically the European armed forces were at that time much bigger in the number of soldiers than they are today, but in almost every country it was forbidden to send conscripted soldiers on missions abroad. Therefore the situation was that after the end of the Cold War these armed forces were not fit for the new tasks. Through the experience gained within these missions, a process of multi-nationalization and professionalization took place in the European armed forces. Multi-nationalization meant that it was more important for many states to join alliances, especially NATO. In a multi-national framework the aspect of greater interoperability between different armed forces was given heed. This led to more professional structures. This structural change is strongly reflected in the number of armed forces that have suspended conscription. In 1990, just four out of 26 European countries had an all-volunteer force, i.e. no conscription system. Today, most European states have switched to an all-volunteer format for their armed forces. This situation has altered the manning system. The flow of newly conscripted recruits disappeared, and personnel had to be found on the free market. At the same time as the armed forces were changing from conscript-based mass armies to leaner all-volunteer forces, civil society was engaged in a process of changing values. Traditional values such as obedience, discipline, and subordination became less significant for young people, and values such as autonomy and self-determination were esteemed much more. Some reasons for this were urbanization, an increasing level of education, and greater differentiation and specialization in the working environment. This led to a discrepancy between civil values that focus on the individual, and military values, which refer to the group dimension. At the moment the consequences of this process can be seen in the difficulty recruiting military personnel in sufficient quantity and quality. Questions related to human resources have become existential for armed forces; not only filling positions in the armed forces, but also adapting them to the new missions in a multicultural environment requires the urgent efforts of human resources development. Attention is now directed towards widening the recruitment pool. Women and young people with a migrant background should complement the traditional recruitment profile of a young, white male. Or in other words, the new recruiting targets must be on an equal footing with the old traditional recruitment basis. With that in mind the European armed forces must alter their recruitment outlook so that they will be attractive to these new target groups. The papers and research presented in this journal may help to broaden the understanding of this new recruitment and retention process. Have a good read!

This article is a continuation of the considerations regarding the use of field artillery in Ukraine’s defensive war in the period from 24th February 2022 to the 2023 summer offensive of the Ukrainian army. Artillery in this armed conflict is used by both sides with great intensity and is an essential means of fire support, often decisive for the success of the implemented operations. The aim of the second part of the article is to present ways of using field artillery units in selected operations of the Ukrainian war. As before, the subject of the research is the missile forces and artillery of the warring parties, but in this case, above all, the way they carry out their tasks. In his research, the author wants to answer the following problematic questions: How did the field artillery units of both parties involved in the conflict carry out combat tasks in selected phases of the war? What conclusions can be drawn from this for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, which are currently increasing their capabilities, especially their artillery capabilities, as well as for other NATO armies? The Author, an artillery officer by education and currently a military academic teacher academically involved in the issue of state military security, based his academic analysis largely on his personal academic achievements and conclusions gained from participating in military exercises, conversations, and workshops conducted with Ukrainian officers before the outbreak of the war, as well as on the latest academic studies and reports on the course of warfare.

The article considers the issue of Cooperation of Ukraine with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Beginning in 2014, Ukraine is actually improving control with the use of international assistance in the security industry and the relevant reporting on operational and tactical levels. General activities of Ukraine and the Alliance in the direction of security and defence, objectives: transformation and strengthening of the national security and defence sector, in relation to the performance of inherent tasks, according to the interests of the country. To ensure regional, large-scale and stable security; to facilitate and improve the development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; to involve Ukraine in the performance of tasks in accordance with the requirements of the state defence and participation in international operations; to achieve effective compatibility of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the context of other component parts of defence and security to ensure the performance of tasks in international operations and exercises. After the annexation of the Crimea by the Russian Federation, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received significant assistance in 2014. The priority of joint activities with NATO is primarily to guarantee the alliance of the principle of collective defence, to preserve and strengthen peace and to ensure the prospect of future security. The Alliance's ability to perform strategic tasks depends on a high degree of coordination and planning of compatible actions at the political level of the defence sector. Analysis of the participation of the Naval Forces of Ukraine and the Alliance during joint international exercises and operations, the events of the war in 2014, the military aggression of the Russian Federation, the construction of relations between Ukraine and the United States during the armed conflict, adaptation of NATO standards and principles – a number of issues for the need for rapid solution in turbo mode. Based on the analysis, the authors conclude that it is legitimate and expedient to use and gain experience in the context of the concept of development of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Involvement and participation in multinational military exercises is a set of measures in the context of international military cooperation, which is allowed in conditions as close as possible to combat and real. Comprehensive improvement of the level of combat training of units of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the increase of the level of professionalism, combat readiness and combat ability. The necessity of introduction and application of compatible measures for performance of peacekeeping, humanitarian, search and rescue and other special tasks is the priority of the concept of modern Ukraine. Constant improvement of the combat readiness level in modern conditions is achieved during the international exercises for the necessity and possibility to strengthen the professional experience of partnership, which always fundamentally affects the quality of combat tasks ahead of the number of participants involved in joint activities. Keywords: NATO, Alliance, Ukrainian Navy, Armed Forces of Ukraine, standards, training, security, Charter.

The civil war in Mali is one of the longest-running conflicts in the African Sahel region. The conflict is now a typical example of an asymmetric conflict, with nation-state forces on one side and non-state armed actors on the other. This article describes the roots of the conflict, its evolution, France’s involvement in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, and the operational activities of Task Force Takuba. Finally, it provides an assessment of the overall issue, including an assessment of whether the objectives for which Task Force Takuba was formed have been met.

Introduction Since the late 1970s, when the current programmes seeking to modernize China's defence establishment began, issues of military doctrine, strategy and operations have remained at the forefront of China's quest for a defence capacity capable of being ranked among the world's great powers. As the Chinese leadership contemplated defence modernization, they could not but recognize the Janus-like quality of their armed forces. One face looked back on the people's war traditions that served them so well and for so long, while the other faced the complexities of conventional and strategic nuclear warfare and deterrence in the latter part of the 20th century.

With the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, more than a decade old term of hybrid warfare was brought back to life. The frequent usage of the term "hybrid warfare" on a global scale inconsequentially produced an alteration of the term's true meaning. In an attempt to define a hybrid war various aspects of power are being added, sometimes by mistake, which can be employed in a military manner. This paper will explore the concept of hybrid warfare in Ukraine on the premises of Russian military operations and their method of employing military force in the next generation of warfare. The main research subject represents the study of operational and tactical components of the military-political happenings on Crimea and in the region of Donbas, as well as the study of the modern approach in the deployment and utilization of military forces in the next generation of warfare. The altered visage of modern warfare, affected by various socio-economic and technological changes, also demands certain adjustments to military strategy and tactics in terms of force employment and how these efforts correlate with geopolitical goals and the manner in which they are accomplished. In the paper, the author will use a variety of primary and secondary sources in order to set a comprehensive theoretical foundation that will help us with the ongoing analysis of the Ukrainian war and the role of Russian armed forces in it. The goal of this study is to grasp and explain the changed concept of military force as well as to call attention to the dynamic nature of military strategy, which is constantly adjusting itself to the volatile character of war. The main findings of this paper are focused on a partial displacement of the Klauzewitzian centre of gravity, from higher strategic levels towards lower operational and tactical levels of military organization, as well as the fact that the Russian armed forces have managed to successfully reinvent itself after numerous political and economic hardships that have ensued after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Development of strategic communications is necessary for the effective preparation and use of the Armed Forces, for the coordination of actions of state bodies in defence matters, as well as for the purpose of forming and strengthening the confidence of Ukrainian society in the stateʼs military policy. The basic elements of strategic communications of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces are public relations, public relations in the military sphere, public diplomacy, information and psychological operations. In turn, one of the components of the information operations system is cyberspace actions. The strategic importance of actions in cyberspace is due to the fact that cyber threats today, with devastating consequences, pose no less danger than direct military intervention. In 2016, during the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the first ever EU-NATO security cooperation agreement was signed, in particular on hybrid wars and cyberattacks. Cyberspace, along with land, air, sea, and space, has been recognized as a new operational space, and cyber-operations (cyberattacks) are an integral part of the hybrid war. Also, cyber weapons in terms of scale of successors are compared with weapons of mass destruction. In this regard, cyber security is one of the top priorities for the state. The article is devoted to the research of actual problems of providing the cyber security of the Armed Forces units of Ukraine in the current conditions of development of the information society and during hybrid threats from the Russian Federation side. The authors explain the basic concepts and definitions of the scientific field and explain conceptual approaches to cybersecurity and propose some ways to improve the existing cybersecurity mechanism or how to enhance it.

The article draws attention to the increasing military conflicts and wars at the regional level, as well as the role of geography in their preparation and conduct. Military operations always take place in real time and in real space, therefore, the study of the geographical environment is vital for any socially organized structure that has a military organization (armed forces). Geographical factors (the size of territories, population, relief and landscape features, hydrology and climate, forest cover, and other factors) have long been taken into account when planning and conducting military operations or developing (capturing) new regions. In terms of military geography, geographical knowledge of space, and the necessary scale, provides an understanding of contemporary security issues and promotes the idea that such understanding is critical to understanding and managing significant military issues on a local, regional, and global scale. Attention is drawn to specific methods for the preparation and conduct of military operations—geographic information systems (GIS) in conjunction with aerospace sounding. Without them, modern wars are not produced. The importance of some geographical factors is confirmed by specific examples during the Russian aggression against Ukraine (2014–2023).

The issue of military privatization, where we refer both to the privatization of military supply and the privatization of military activities in general, has been very topical, especially in the period of Iraq War, which started in 2003, and later. Various private military companies had, of course, been active even before that (e.g. currently inactive companies Executive Outcomes and Sandline International) and external contractors have been increasingly providing for military supply ever since the introduction of the professional soldier recruitment. Nevertheless, Private Military Security Contractors (PMSCs) spread substantially during the topical conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The work by Thomas R. Mockaitis Soldiers of Misfortune? (Strategic Studies Institute and U.S. Army War College Press, May 2014. ISBN 1-58487- 613-1) presents the functioning of PMSCs in the above-mentioned conflicts, while focusing on the issue of armed contractors. The author finds that, generally, logistics activities (troop housing and facilities, food service operations, laundry operations etc.) do not represent a problem when carried out by contractors. Armed members of PMSCs participating in U.S. operations are, however, something different. Based on the official reports, the author gives account of some of the most exposed incidents and problems (too early and unnecessary firing during armed escorting, inclusion of local contractors, paying warlords for smooth passage, the culture of impunity etc.), thus brutally revealing the problems of military privatization. Mockaitis mentions two main levels where decision-makers should pay attention to what a government contract with a PMSC means: i.e. control level and legislation level. Control is difficult, since contracts with private companies are not concluded only by the Department of Defense, but also by other government agencies. It is thus impossible to ensure control from one single point, and difficult to coordinate all U.S. stakeholders involved in operations. As far as international and national (U.S. and the country where the operation is taking place) legislations are concerned, the author establishes that PMSC members virtually enjoy immunity from prosecution. It becomes perfectly clear, both, from the Mockaitis’ monograph as well as from other sources that the military as well should be familiar with the problem of PMSC members’ participation in operations. The cooperation of national armed forces (an interesting fact is that Mockaitis capitalizes the word Soldier when referring to members of national armed forces) and contractors necessarily requires certain common bases. In this respect, military competence represents the least of a problem, since PMSC members are usually well-trained and have military experience. It can be established on the basis of a number of incidents that contractors in themselves represent a risk, since they do not abide by the principle of the minimum use of force and very quickly become involved in an armed conflict. The cooperation of national military with such entities does not only pose a direct threat to soldiers, but also worsens the attitude of the local population towards the armed forces in the area. Instead of contributing to the success of the operation, the contractors threaten its success. Mockaitis, however, underlines that all contractors cannot be equated. A number of them do a good and professional job. Nevertheless, the incidents provoked by the minority (Blackwater has proved to be an especially notorious company) reflect unfavorably on all PMSCs. In the conclusion of his monograph, which is short, though, (64 pages) considering the topicality and appeal of the discussed problem, Mockaitis recaps the experiences drawn from the functioning of military security companies in Iraq and Afghanistan and provides a few recommendations which would be good to take into consideration when hiring these companies to do military work.

Technology has always allowed agents of war to separate themselves from the harm that they or their armed forces inflict, with spears, bows and arrows, trebuchets, cannons, firearms and other modern weaponry, all serving as examples of technologies that have increased the distance between belligerents and supposedly made warfare less sickening than the close-quarters combat of the past. However, this paper calls into question the extent to which new military technologies actually mitigate the savagery of war. It contends that with the introduction of technologies that eliminate the need for a human presence on the battlefield, we are the cusp of a major revolution in warfare that presents new challenges and questions for military technoethics, namely as to how soldiers should conduct themselves and fight justly, if they are to do so at all. Ultimately, it argues that only way to address these issues is through the design of the mediating technologies themselves, which is by no means an easy task.