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Cyber operations are increasingly seen as a way to shape the battlefield before the first aircraft or ground unit moves. Power grids, communications networks, and information systems have become strategic targets, because disrupting them can slow decision-making, degrade defenses, and create openings for conventional forces. Recent reporting has again put this form of warfare in the spotlight.
According to the Global Times, a new analysis published by a Chinese cybersecurity firm examines claims that cyber operations played a central role in a recent military action against Venezuela. According to public reporting cited in the study, the operation allegedly began with technical measures aimed at causing widespread power outages in the capital. These disruptions were described as a way to reduce visibility and coordination on the ground, making it easier for follow-on air and special operations to proceed.
The report argues that cyber tools offer a more precise and controllable way to achieve such effects than physical strikes on infrastructure. Power stations and transmission lines are often dispersed and hardened, making them difficult to disable reliably with kinetic attacks. Cyber intrusion, by contrast, can interrupt operations remotely, with timing tailored to specific phases of a military mission. In this case, the blackout was assessed as a method to support low-altitude helicopter activity and limit the effectiveness of defensive systems.
Beyond power disruptions, the analysis outlines a broader set of cyber techniques that could be used in similar scenarios. These include penetrating government and military networks to access internal documents, compromising personal devices belonging to senior officials for intelligence collection, and exploiting connected security or “smart” systems in sensitive buildings to gain situational awareness. Control of critical infrastructure could also be maintained over time, allowing a rapid shift from espionage to active disruption if tensions escalate.
From a defense perspective, the episode underscores how cyber capabilities are no longer separate from conventional military planning. Modern operations increasingly blend digital intrusion with air, land, and special forces activity, using cyberspace to weaken defenses before physical contact occurs. This integration shortens warning times and complicates attribution, increasing the pressure on national defense systems.
The analysis also highlights a broader trend: cyber tools developed for long-term intelligence gathering can be rapidly repurposed during conflict. Access gained quietly in peacetime can translate into immediate operational advantage once hostilities begin.
As cyber threats grow in scale and sophistication, the report concludes that countries need to treat cybersecurity as a core element of national defense. Protecting critical infrastructure and information systems is no longer just an economic or public safety issue—it has become central to resilience in modern conflict.
