Weaponizing Occupation: Russia’s Strategic Use of Territorial Control in Ukraine
Journal: Wschód Europy Studia humanistyczno-społeczne
Year: 2026

This study examines the evolution of Russia’s territorial occupation strategies in Ukraine, analyzing how occupation has transformed from a traditional instrument of territorial expansion into a sophisticated weapon of strategic coercion in modern great power politics. Employing a qualitative case study methodology that incorporates document analysis, historical process tracing, and theore tical framework synthesis, the research integrates offensive realism, coercive diplomacy theory, and strate