GNSI Decision Brief: Is $1.7 Billion Enough? Breaking Down the Economic Effects of Ukraine’s Cyber War

Authors

• Tom Johansmeyer, Irregular Warfare Initiative

Files

Description

Ukraine’s claims of causing Russia more than $1.72 billion in economic harm may have been intended to tout success, but the impact really reveals the limitations of offensive cyber operations outside a narrow collection of mission sets. By comparing that total to past cyber event economic losses, the shortcomings of cyber operations as a form of direct action become clear.

Publication Date

7-16-2026

Keywords

Cyber security, economic security, Russia, Ukraine, cyber war, irregular warfare, offensive cyber operations

Recommended Citation

Johansmeyer, Tom, "GNSI Decision Brief: Is $1.7 Billion Enough? Breaking Down the Economic Effects of Ukraine’s Cyber War" (2026). GNSI Decision Briefs. 40.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/gnsi_decision_briefs/40

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/QYAP7373