Empresas militares e de segurança privadas: a Ucrânia como caso de guerra híbrida

Abstract

The work presented here develops an analysis of the change in the conduct of contemporary war in the International Security environment. For this purpose, the use of Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) by Russia in the annexation of Crimea in 2014 is used as an exploration parameter and case study. The objective of the research is to understand the role played by PMSCs in the changes presented in the scenario of wars, to this end, the Hybrid War Theory is used as the guiding element and theoretical support of the discussion. The role of private actors in conflicts dates back to 204-207 BC. However, it is due to the international situation presented with the end of the Cold War that these agents emerge with the organizational character of a private entity. Observing the developments presented in the panorama of contemporary wars, Russia began to use PMSCs in the 1990s as an irregular element of its hybrid action strategy. This is because PMSCs will have a primary role in conducting Russia's asymmetric actions as amplifiers in its power projection. Furthermore, these private investors will be utilized in order to facilitate the adjustment of Ukraine's governance and geostrategic disposition in accordance with Russian inclinations. Given the robust analysis of the case study, we conclude that the PMSCs evaluated to expand the options for the use of force in international relations, given that they allow them to explore the gray zone that surrounds their actions to have the possibility of denying their use in conflicts and thus being able to expand its influence on International Security and circumvent the restrictions imposed by International Law. The methodology applied is qualitative, supported by a review of specialized literature, use of reports from Think Tanks such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and official documents such as the National Strategy of the Russian Federation from 2010 and 2014.