Warfare in a New Epoch: The Return of Big Armies

Comparing the Korean War (1950-1953) and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the authors investigate the structural impact of these confrontations on the system of international relations. Similarities in goals, objectives, means of warfare (partly), and the circumstances of the great-power confrontation make it possible to extrapolate the lessons of the Korean War for studying the current conflict in Ukraine, taking into account contemporary changes, especially in the information and technological field. An analysis of the hostilities and their support shows that at least some of the principles of military confrontation, previously considered outdated, appear to be quite relevant today, while some of the modern “smart” warfare tenets have been disproved. In addition, the authors assess the overall impact of the current conflict on the economy and society of the countries involved and the rest of the world.