Russian ‘special military operation’ as a failed coup de main. An intelligence analysis perspective
Journal: Przegląd Bezpieczeństwa Wewnętrznego
Year: 2025

The authors analyse the invasions and accompanying intelligence activities as coup de main operations, understood not as strict execution of the art of war, but rather as a coup d’état carried out by external forces on the territory of the attacked state. Coup de main as an effective surprise attack requires the use of offensive counterintelligence infiltration and the pacification of the opponent with police-type forces. In the article, these mechanisms are analysed using the example of Soviet