In Poland, NATO held large-scale three-day cybersecurity exercises in which Ukrainian specialists for the first time acted as the simulated “opposing side.” In the exercise, they replicated tactics similar to Russian disinformation campaigns and hybrid attacks.
Source: OBOZREVATEL
According to Financial Times, the simulated scenario could have posed serious challenges even for NATO member states.
How the exercises were conducted
The exercises took place in Bydgoszcz, Poland, at the NATO–Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre (JATEC). A fictional country called Peranza was created and faced a series of crises caused by cyberattacks from an authoritarian neighbor, Kartia.
The scenario consisted of three stages: a large-scale power outage, a severe flood, and a banking system hack. The Ukrainian team played the role of “Kartia,” while NATO units defended the fictional Peranza.
Information warfare and AI use
During the simulation, the Ukrainian side actively used artificial intelligence to create social media information campaigns. The messages promoted criticism of Peranza’s government and suggested that Kartia was ready to provide assistance.
One of the messages read: “Peranza cannot help itself, but Kartia can.” Meanwhile, NATO teams called for public unity and warned about the risk of looting and social instability.
Results assessment
The jury, which included academics and disinformation experts, rated the results as very close. The “Kartia” side lost only by a narrow margin in two scenarios, highlighting the effectiveness of its tactics.
Experts noted that the Ukrainian team acted quickly, creatively, and demonstrated a high level of AI tool usage.
NATO reaction and participants
The director of the Bundeswehr Cyber Innovation Hub, Lieutenant Colonel Yvonne Rötter, said that Ukrainians showed high effectiveness in information operations.
She also emphasized that Ukraine has a realistic understanding of adversary behavior, from which NATO can learn a lot.
The jury also noted that the Ukrainian team did not always maintain a unified information line. In response, participants said that in real war conditions narratives change very quickly.
Role of JATEC and significance for Ukraine
NATO emphasizes that JATEC is a key platform for exchanging experience between Ukraine and the Alliance. Ukrainian military personnel share practices in drone warfare, electronic warfare, and decentralized command.
In return, Ukraine gains access to NATO’s technological and analytical capabilities, strengthening mutual operational compatibility.
Limitations of the simulation
Experts note that such models cannot fully replicate real combat and psychological conditions. They remain training tools and do not replace real-world combat experience.
Nevertheless, NATO acknowledges that such simulations help better prepare for modern hybrid threats.
Researcher of cognitive warfare at Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg, Aleksandru Fotescu, stated that such scenarios are training models rather than representations of real war, where psychological factors play a much deeper role.