Ukraine and “The Fog of War”

“Amid the memes and rhetoric, there has been much in the way of propaganda, unverifiable information, and outright lies that seem, at times, not to be appreciated for what they are.”

It was February 24th when Russian forces crossed into Ukraine. Much has since been said of the subsequent conflict, referred to by President Vladimir Putin as a “special military operation.”  What has not been given as much attention, however, is how the invasion also signifies the re-emergence of the “fog of war,” a term often traced to the 19th century Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz, in the way that the conflict is perceived by the world at large. In an ostensibly interconnected world, this can have far-reaching consequences.

Much as it had been in Clausewitz’s time, the fog of war describes the uncertainty of the battlefield, be it due to geography, the lack of relevant intelligence, technological limitations, or the inherent chaos of conflict itself. In the 21st century, these sentiments might seem quaint; in addition to the ubiquity of satellites and drones, the proliferation of social media has seemingly made the fog of war all but obsolete. One need only look at the situation in Ukraine: From the very beginning, there has been no shortage of commentaries, memes, livestreams, captured videos, and tweets covering or discussing the events as they have occurred. Depending upon whom one asks, it is a fight against fascism, an underdog defiantly resisting an aggressive empire, the world against a war criminal comparable to Adolf Hitler, or a good-vs-evil stand straight out of a Marvel movie.

Given the degree that most nations have lined up to condemn or sanction Russia, it is tempting to conclude that the war appears straightforward or that the facts are settled: Russia is losing, with the world collectively standing up to it. Unfortunately, a major casualty has precisely been that sense of clarity. Amid the memes and rhetoric, there has been much in the way of propaganda, unverifiable information, and outright lies that seem, at times, not to be appreciated for what they are.