MODERN OPERATIONAL ART: BETWEEN RELICT AND PHOENIX OF MILITARY SCIENCE

Even though operational art was theoretically grounded in the 1920s in the Soviet Union, it was not globally recognized until the last decade of the Cold War. Changes in security environment after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact loosened the perception of operational art, which is now being used for analysis and practical guidance of both major military and integrated military-civilian operations. However, operational art’s theory and some of its basic concepts – such as centre of gravity – are still underdeveloped, limiting scientific and practical utility of the discipline. Although some authors view operational art as anachronistic, it may as well be transforming itself into a predominantly interdisciplinary social science discipline. Key words Operational warfare, operational art, military operations, levels of warfare.