10. The Crimean Peninsula Annexation (2014)
In February 2014, following the ousting of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Russian forces swiftly occupied Crimea, leading to its annexation by Russia. Despite the use of military force, Russia denied any act of war, avoiding direct confrontation and international legal consequences. This approach exemplified ‘hybrid warfare,’ combining covert military operations with political and informational strategies (en.wikipedia.org).
