DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: A PORTRAIT OF MODERN WARFARE EVOLUTION
Keywords:
military technology adoption, Russia-Ukraine conflict, modern warfare, diffusion of innovations theory
Abstract
This research aims to analyze the adoption of weapon technology in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, specifically focusing on drones, Starlink, and AI-based systems, as a reflection of the evolution of modern warfare. Utilizing Everett Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations Theory, this study investigates how innovation characteristics—relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability—influence the spread of technology within military systems of both sides. A qualitative approach is applied through the analysis of secondary documents, including academic reports, journal articles, and media news, with triangulation employed to ensure data validity. The main findings indicate that technology adoption dynamics are driven by urgent tactical needs and adaptive organizational structures. Both Ukraine and Russia demonstrate rapid innovation cycles through adaptation and emulation of opponent tactics. The conclusion of this research is that the successful adoption of military technology on the modern battlefield heavily relies on the perception of these innovation characteristics, as well as the capacity for adaptation within a dynamic conflict context
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References
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Allison, C. (2025). Images reveal aircraft lost in Ukraine’s “Spider’s Web” attack on Russia - ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-04/satellite-imagery-sheds-light-ukraine-drone-attack-russia/105374778
Altman, H. (2024). Russia Now Using Thermite-Spewing “Dragon Drones” To Torch Ukrainian Positions. https://www.twz.com/news-features/russia-now-using-thermite-spewing-dragon-drones-to-torch-ukrainian-positions
Atalan, Y., & Jensen, B. (2025). Russia Conducts Largest Air Attack on Ukraine to Date. CSIS.
Brunk, I. (Wuerth), & Hakimi, M. (2022). Russia, Ukraine, and the Future World Order. American Journal of International Law, 116(4), 687–697. https://doi.org/DOI: 10.1017/ajil.2022.69
Center for Preventive Action. (2025). War in Ukraine. https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-ukraine
Chivers, C. J. (2025). The Weapon That Terrorizes Ukrainians by Night - The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/magazine/ukraine-russia-war-drone-shahed-iran.html
Choi, S., & Gale, A. (2025). Russian ties do little for Iran while boosting North Korea - The Japan Times. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/19/world/russian-ties-iran-north-korea/
D’Anieri, P. (2023). War. In P. D’Anieri (Ed.), Ukraine and Russia: From Civilized Divorce to Uncivil War (2nd ed., pp. 272–307). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/DOI: 10.1017/9781009315555.010
Dehegani, A., & Maizi, L. (2024). The impact of the digital military revolution on modern warfare: Russia’s war on Ukraine as a model. Journal of Science and Knowledge Horizons, 4(1), 280–299. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jskh/article/view/276109
Dmytriieva, D. (2025). Russians began using radio-controlled White Shaheeds to attack Ukraine | RBC-Ukraine. https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/russia-deploys-ai-equipped-shahed-drones-1750864463.html
Eslami, M. (2022). Iran’s Drone Supply to Russia and Changing Dynamics of the Ukraine War. Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, 5, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/25751654.2022.2149077
Farrell, F. (2025). As Russia’s fiber optic drones flood the battlefield, Ukraine is racing to catch up. https://kyivindependent.com/as-russias-fiber-optic-drones-flood-the-battlefield-ukraine-is-racing-to-catch-up/
Favaro, M., & and Williams, H. (2023). False Sense of Supremacy: Emerging Technologies, the War in Ukraine, and the Risk of Nuclear Escalation. Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, 6(1), 28–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/25751654.2023.2219437
Friel, M. (2024). Russia Has Figured Out How to Mess up Ukraine’s Starlink Internet: NYT - Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-disrupting-elon-musk-starlink-satellite-service-ukraine-jamming-report-2024-5
Hambling, D. (2025). Fiber Optic Bird’s Nest Heralds A Fiber Drone Summer In Ukraine. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2025/06/06/fiber-optic-birds-nest-heralds-a-fiber-drone-summer-in-ukraine/
Ilyushina, M. (2025). Report reveals Iran-Russian drone cooperation success - The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/29/russia-iran-drone-cooperation-industry/
International Crisis Group. (2022). Conflict in Ukraine’s Donbas: A Visual Explainer. Crisis Group. https://www.crisisgroup.org/content/conflict-ukraines-donbas-visual-explainer
Jensen, B., & Atalan, Y. (2025). Drone Saturation: Russia’s Shahed Campaign. https://www.csis.org/analysis/drone-saturation-russias-shahed-campaign
Kang, B. (2020). Understanding the Ukrainian Conflict from the Perspective of Post-Soviet Decolonization. Region, 9(2), 1–28. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27007772
Kunertova, D. (2023). The war in Ukraine shows the game-changing effect of drones depends on the game. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 79(2), 95–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/00963402.2023.2178180
Kushnikov, V. (2014). US General discussed the work of the Ukrainian acoustic drone detection system - Militarnyi. https://militarnyi.com/en/news/us-general-discussed-the-work-of-the-ukrainian-acoustic-drone-detection-system/
Kyrydon, A., & Troyan, S. (2022). THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR (2014-2022): BASIC PRECONDITIONS AND CAUSES. Balkan Social Science Review, 20, 157–179. https://doi.org/10.46763/10.46763/BSSR2220157K
Lendon, B. (2024). Dragon drones: Ukraine’s thermite innovation rains molten metal on Russian positions | CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/07/europe/ukraine-thermite-dragon-drones-intl-hnk-ml
Makio, D., & Fuccille, A. (2023). The 2014 Russian Invasion of Crimea: Identity and Geopolitics. In Revista Brasileira de Política Internacional (Vol. 66). scielo .
Matviienko, O., Mak, T., & Semenovych, Z. (2025). New How Ukraine incorporates ‘Internet of Things’ in warfare. https://newsletter.counteroffensive.pro/p/new-how-ukraine-incorporates-internet-of-things-in-warfarepost
Mazhulin, A., Holmes, O., Swan, L., Boulinier, L., & Hecimovic, A. (2025). Operation Spiderweb: a visual guide to Ukraine’s destruction of Russian aircraft | Ukraine | The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/02/operation-spiderweb-visual-guide-ukraine-drone-attack-russian-aircraft
Military Watch Magazine Editorial Staff. (2022). Iran’s Shahed 136 Drone is Now Russia’s Primary Strike Aircraft in Ukraine: Unprecedented Attacks Near Odessa. https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/iran-s-shahed-136-drone-has-become-russia-s-primary-aircraft-for-striking-ukrainian-positions-unprecedented-attacks-near-odessa
Pettyjohn, S. (2024). Types of Drones. In Evolution Not Revolution (Drone Warfare in Russia?S 2022 Invasion of Ukraine). Center for a New American Security. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep57900.7
Rogers, E. M. (1983). Diffusion Of Innovation Third Editions. The Free Press.
Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations, 5th Edition. Free Press. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=9U1K5LjUOwEC
Sotula, O. (2024). The Evolution of Modern Warfare Through the Prism of the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict: A Comprehensive Analysis. Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Iuridica, 106(SE-Articles), 5–11. https://doi.org/10.18778/0208-6069.106.01
Tampubolon, M. (2022). Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and its Impact on Global Geopolitics. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 18(20), 48–48. https://doi.org/10.19044/ESJ.2022.V18N20P48
Temnycky, M. (2025). Is 2025 the year that Russia’s economy finally freezes up under sanctions? - Atlantic Council. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/is-2025-the-year-that-russias-economy-finally-freezes-up-under-sanctions/
The Kyiv Independent. (2025). Ukraine war latest: Ukraine shoots down nearly 500 drones, missiles in Russian record strike, Air Force says. https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-86/
The Presidential Office of Ukraine. (2022). President announced the launch of United24. https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-ogolosiv-pro-zapusk-united24-globalnoyi-iniciativi-74789
The UN Refugee Agency. (2025). Ukraine Refugee Crisis: Aid, Statistics and News | USA for UNHCR. https://www.unrefugees.org/emergencies/ukraine/
World Nuclear Association. (2025). Ukraine: Russia-Ukraine War and Nuclear Energy - World Nuclear Association. https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-t-z/ukraine-russia-war-and-nuclear-energy
Published
2025-08-05
How to Cite
Maulana, M. A. (2025). DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: A PORTRAIT OF MODERN WARFARE EVOLUTION. Indonesian Journal of International Relations, 9(2), 325-348. https://doi.org/10.32787/ijir.v9i2.740
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