Lodz Cyber Hub Masterclasses Are Back: Join Us to Discuss Russia’s Hybrid Warfare

The meeting will begin with a conceptual introduction to disinformation warfare in the context of international law, including the relationship between information operations and cyber operations. It will also address the core principles of international law relevant to assessing such activities, in particular the principles of sovereignty, non-intervention, and the prohibition of the use of force.

The discussion will then turn to the evolution of Russian information operations in the twenty-first century. Particular attention will be given to developments after 2014, including the annexation of Crimea, activities in Donbas, and interference in democratic processes in other states. The session will also address coordinated information and cyber operations accompanying the full-scale war against Ukraine after 2022.

An important part of the conversation will focus on the international legal qualification of disinformation and cyber operations. The discussion will explore when disinformation may amount to a violation of the principle of non-intervention, the threshold at which cyber operations may be considered a use of force, and the challenges related to state responsibility and attribution in cyberspace.

The event, organized by Lodz Cyber Hub as part of its “Masterclasses” series, will also reflect on the response of the international community to these threats, including measures adopted by the European Union and NATO, as well as their effectiveness. The session will conclude with a discussion of contemporary regulatory challenges, including the normative gaps in international law and ongoing processes within the United Nations concerning responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.

Speaker

Mateusz Mielczarek – expert on Russian foreign policy and hybrid threats

Mateusz Mielczarek specializes in Russian foreign policy, hybrid threats, and international security. He is a Research Assistant at the Future Threats Lab, Department of War Studies, King's College London and serves as Chief Strategy Officer at the Permanent Secretariat of the Community of Democracies. He regularly publishes analyses in Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.

Date: 27 March 2026
Time: 10:45
Venue: Room 1.35, Faculty of Law and Administration,
University of Łódź, Łódź.