Scientific Research as a Weapon in Russia's Hybrid War in Europe: an Example of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Russia functions as a tool in Russia's hybrid warfare, blending scientific collaboration with military support, and highlights the international community's need for increased awareness and action.

Contribution

It reveals the dual role of JINR in scientific research and military support, exposing the complex interplay between peaceful science and military applications in a geopolitical context.

Findings

JINR is embedded in Russia's military-industrial ecosystem.

JINR collaborates with occupied Ukrainian institutions, legitimizing occupation.

International collaborations facilitate access to advanced military technologies.

Abstract

This paper examines how the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), an international organization formally committed to peaceful science, is deeply embedded in an ecosystem of military-industrial enterprises in the city of Dubna in Russia, contributing to training specialists and developing technologies used in Russia's military operations, including attacks on civilian facilities in Ukraine. It also shows how JINR collaborates with scientific institutions on the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, legitimizing the occupation and exposing international partners to legal and ethical risks. Despite these ties, JINR maintains broad international collaborations, allowing its scientists and engineers to access advanced technologies and indirectly support Russia's military capabilities, highlighting the need for greater awareness in the global scientific community and coordinated sanctions enforcement.