Political Strategic Studies

Analyzing the role of cyber units equipped with artificial intelligence in changing military equations: A case study of the Ukrainian war and its lessons for Middle East security

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Mehdi Abbaszadeh Fathabadi 1
Mosayyeb Rostami Khanmakani 2

1 Associate Professor in Political Science, Department of Political Science, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

2 Master of Arts in Political Science, Department of Political Science, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22054/qpss.2026.89724.3713
Abstract
Artificial intelligence, has brought about a new wave of “revolution in military affairs.” This research is an attempt to rethink the concept of power in the era of algorithms smart wars. The aim of the present research is to analyze the role of cyber units equipped with artificial intelligence in changing military equations based on the case study of the Ukrainian war. Also, what strategic lessons can this issue have for the security of the Middle East? The research findings show that the emergence of artificial intelligence in cyberspace has simultaneously transformed the material and semantic dimensions of hybrid wars. Artificial intelligence has reduced the opportunity for governments to respond by compressing the identification-decision-action cycle and has intensified the security dilemma in cyberspace. Ukraine’s relative success in cyber defense was due to organizational flexibility, a decentralized command model, and the rapid integration of private sector and volunteer capabilities. The cyber front of the Ukrainian war was a combination of infrastructure attacks and AI-based cognitive operations. Applying Ukraine’s lessons to the Middle East security environment suggests that the region has entered a new phase of technological competition that could lead to “Ukrainization of security” or the internal erosion of states.

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence
Cyber Units
Military Equations
Ukrainian War
Middle East
Subjects
Political Strategic Studies

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 23 February 2026

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