Conflicts in Ukraine and nagorno-karabakh highlight the link between hybrid warfare and public health

The weaponization of healthcare, the use of unconventional weapons, the deliberate displacement of civilian populations through direct targeting, sexual violence, disinformation campaigns, and the interruption of basic services like access to water, food, gas, and medical care are all examples of hybrid warfare tactics. Public health is harmed by all of these behaviours. Azerbaijan and Armenia's Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020 and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine serve as illustrative examples of the novel and disastrous public health effects of hybrid warfare targeting civilians. The knowledge gained through these battles ought to be a cautionary tale and a call to action. Politicians and public health professionals should push for a thorough reevaluation of prior strategies to mitigate the effects of hybrid warfare. It is crucial to make coordinated efforts and employ measures to reduce these effects on public health at every stage. By implementing a more stringent and comprehensive scheme to both prevent war and scale up punishments for the use of hybrid warfare tactics, the international community should promote the de-escalation of conflicts and priorities the health of civilians. Failure to do so will surely lead to a rise in the frequency with which this situation occurs worldwide, wiping out the public health victories of the preceding century.