Guerre hybrides: Le système sanitaire, une cible

Russia's Hybrid Warfare in Ukraine Threatens Both Healthcare & Health Protections Provided by International Law
Baker MS et Al., Ann Glob Health. 2023 Jan 23;89(1):3.
 

Hybrid Warfare is on display because of the unjustified Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is characterized by numerous crimes against civilians as seen vividly during the occupation of the town of Bucha where rape, torture, murder, and looting seem to reflect Russian military policy, leadership, and command guidance. Of particular concern is the threat to hospitals and health care as well as vital life support. Numerous hospitals have been damaged and destroyed. Hospitals are not tactical military targets and targeting health care facilities and personnel ignores traditional jus in bello and ignores numerous conventions established to stabilize the global order. The Russian-proclaimed "special operation" in Ukraine has been characterized by barbarian warfare in which the Russian military uses weapons against the civilian population and civilian infrastructure. The aggressors have embarked on a purposeful terror campaign through infrastructure attacks, which are of little military value except to demoralize the nation's people. This is evident with Russian missile and drone attacks on electric, water, and health care in Ukraine. Warfare now and in the future may be increasingly aimed at demoralizing civilian populations and reducing the will of the people and their government to resist. The Ukrainian invasion clearly shows that this use of hybrid warfare should be met with a strong reaction of the international community at the earliest possible stage, especially the supposedly peace-loving neutral countries, or else the future is expanded unlawful and barbaric military conflict.

Guerre Hybride: Position du problème

Hybrid warfare and counter-terrorism medicine

Derrick Tin D et Al.. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2023 Feb 10;1-5. 

Introduction: 
March 9, 2022. An airstrike by Russian forces destroying a maternity hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine. The image of a severely injured pregnant woman covered in blood being stretchered away against the backdrop of destroyed buildings. Mutterings of the use of chemical weapons. This paper is a primer for healthcare personnel and health systems on hybrid warfare and counter-terrorism medicine.

Discussion:
While recent events and images arising from conflicts around the world represent a cruel hallmark in today's history, attacks against healthcare facilities and innocent civilians are not new and continue to be perpetrated around the world. In war, the Geneva Convention protects civilians and healthcare institutions from harm but when war crimes are being committed and civilians knowingly targeted, parallels from a healthcare perspective can be drawn with terrorism events. Increasingly, civilian institutions and in particular the healthcare sector, are drawn into such conflicts and understanding the health system impact of hybrid warfare and other asymmetrical attack methods is of great importance.

Conclusion:
The field of Counter-Terrorism Medicine (CTM) explores the healthcare impacts of intentional, man-made attacks and much recent research and discussions around this topic are extremely relevant and applicable not just to the ongoing hybrid war in Ukraine, but to today's threat climate all around us.