Analysis of Approaches and Technologies for Conducting Cognitive Warfare in Modern Conditions

Curator note

The article provides a military-political analysis of the cognitive dimension of modern hybrid warfare as a key element in the transformation of contemporary conflicts within the digital environment. The purpose of the study is to generalize approaches to the formation and implementation of the concept of cognitive warfare and to identify the main technologies and mechanisms of cognitive influence under current international confrontations. The methodological framework is based on doctrinal analysis, an interdisciplinary approach, comparative analysis of information and cognitive warfare concepts, and the examination of strategic documents and analytical materials of NATO and leading international institutions. The study demonstrates that cognitive warfare emerges at the intersection of military, informational, and psychological practices and is implemented through the deliberate construction of thinking patterns, causal relationships, and behavioral responses of individuals and social groups. Particular attention is paid to the influence of metamodern information reality, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence on the scale and intensity of cognitive operations. It is argued that the use of disinformation, manipulative narratives, and AI-driven technologies transforms the cognitive space into a distinct domain of confrontation aimed at undermining trust, political stability, and democratic processes. The article concludes that cognitive warfare has become a systemic factor of hybrid conflicts and requires further research, particularly regarding the disinformation aspects of artificial intelligence use.