OCTOPUS Journal: Hybrid Warfare & Strategic Conflicts www.octopusinstitute.org https://octopusinstitute.org/ojs/index.php/octopus-journal Double-Blind Peer-Reviewed ISSN Online: 3006-5925 ISSN Print: 3006-5917 Volume 3, 2024 RUSSIA’S HYBRID WARFARE IN THE WESTERN BALKANS: GEOPOLITICAL STRATEGIES AND PROXY ACTORS Dr. Gurakuç Kuçi Senior Researcher at Institute for Hybrid Warfare Studies “OCTOPUS” gurakuq.kuqi@octopusinstitute.org Abstract This paper examines Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics against the Western Balkans, focusing on using direct and indirect methods to exert influence in the region. The study delves into Russia’s strategic use of media manipulation, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns, alongside its employment of proxy state and non-state actors such as Serbia, Republika Srpska, and the Serbian Orthodox Church. Leveraging historical, cultural, and religious ties, Russia seeks to destabilize the Western Balkans and prevent closer integration with NATO and the European Union. Special attention is given to the geopolitics of elections, where Russia manipulates electoral processes in countries like Montenegro and North Macedonia to favour pro-Russian or anti-Western political forces. By analyzing key case studies, this paper explores how Russian hybrid warfare exploits regional vulnerabilities—such as ethnic divisions and weak political institutions—while employing tactics of soft power and military cooperation. The findings indicate that Russia’s hybrid warfare, including electoral manipulation, poses a significant threat to regional stability and international security, underscoring the need for strengthened Western engagement to counter Russian influence. This study offers critical insights into the evolving nature of hybrid warfare and its implications for the geopolitical landscape of Southeast Europe. Keywords: Russia, Serbia, election geopolitics, methods of hybrid warfare, Western Balkan, proxy, propaganda Cite as: APA style: Kuçi, G. (2024). Russia’s hybrid warfare in the western Balkans: geopolitical strategies and proxy actors. Octopus Journal: Hybrid Warfare & Strategic Conflicts, 3. https://doi.org/10.69921/29031991 (CC BY-NC 4.0) This article is licensed to you under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. When you copy and redistribute this paper in full or in part, you need to provide proper attribution to it to ensure that others can later locate this work (and to ensure that others do not accuse you of plagiarism).