Hybrid Logistics: Lessons from Brazil’s VIKING Experience for the War in Ukraine

Abstract

This article examines logistical lessons from the VIKING exercise, focusing on Brazil’s unique contributions then applies them to the War in Ukraine, a quintessential hybrid conflict. It highlights three key areas: mobility through decentralized supply chains, technological integration with drones and artificial intelligence (AI), and multinational interoperability. Drawing on Brazil’s expertise in challenging environments, like the Amazon, the article concludes by offering practical recommendations to enhance operational resilience in Ukraine and in potential future conflicts. The integration of civil and military capabilities, alongside the strategic use of technologies, is argued to be crucial for success in hybrid warfare scenarios.

Introduction

Logistics are a critical element for military success in the 21st Century. Today, hybrid conflict challenges traditional logistics models as they blend conventional warfare, cyber operations, drone usage, and asymmetric threats. The disruption of supply chains, attacks on infrastructure, and the need for multinational coordination challenges even the most prepared forces. Examples such as the conflict in Syria, where armed groups used hybrid tactics to block supply routes, and operations in the Sahel, marked by hostile terrain and precarious logistics, illustrate the complexity of these scenarios. In such situations, the ability to maintain the flow of resources can determine the outcome of a campaign.

Moreover, the War in Ukraine, which began in 2022, further underscores the centrality of logistics in hybrid conflicts. Russian attacks on railways and depots have forced Ukrainian forces to adopt innovative solutions. These global challenges demand practical lessons that can be applied across different contexts. The VIKING Exercise, a multinational simulation held every four years since 1999, provides a unique testing ground for logistics under complex conditions. Described as “the world’s largest peacekeeping mission simulation,” VIKING brings together dozens of nations to tackle scenarios ranging from peace operations to hybrid threats.

VIKING 18, held in 2018, was a milestone for Brazil. It became the first non-European country to host one of five regional headquarters, in Brasília. This exercise yielded valuable lessons on logistics under pressure, from disrupted supply chains to multinational coordination challenges. Brazil’s experience is particularly relevant for international readers. It  offers practical insights for global hybrid conflicts due to its unique expertise in operating in challenging environments like the Amazon and its ability to coordinate civilian and military efforts in complex scenarios. This article examines the logistical lessons from VIKING, focusing on Brazil’s experience, and applies them to the War in Ukraine, a classic case of hybrid conflict. The text explores three main areas: mobility and flexibility, technological integration, and multinational interoperability. It concludes with practical recommendations for military forces facing hybrid warfare today.

Logistical Challenges in VIKING

VIKING 18, conducted from April 16 to 26, 2018, involved over 2,500 participants from 50 countries, simulating a crisis that included peace operations, disaster response, and hybrid threats. Brazil hosted one of the five regional headquarters in Brasília, coordinated by the Land Operations Command (COTER). The exercise tested civil-military coordination and logistics in a simulated environment with blocked roads, attacked convoys, and partial infrastructure colapse.

Mobility Under Pressure

A major logistical challenge in VIKING 18 was ensuring the mobility of supplies in a simulated environment with limited infrastructure. Brazilian forces faced scenarios where roads were blocked by “enemy forces,” mirroring real-world conditions of hybrid conflicts (COTER/EB, n.d.). To address this, supplies were decentralized, with small forward depots established near operational units. This approach reduced delivery times by 25%, according to exercise reports, allowing units to maintain flexibility despite disruptions.

This tactic aligns with lessons from other exercises, such as Norway’s Cold Response 2016, where supplies were distributed in small batches to avoid reliance on vulnerable logistical hubs. However, the hybrid scenarios of VIKING 18 added layers of complexity with simulated cyber threats and asymmetric attacks, demanding solutions beyond traditional logistics. These solutions included the integration of real-time cyber defense mechanisms to protect logistical networks, such as deploying secure communication protocols and redundant data systems to counter simulated cyberattacks. Additionally, VIKING emphasized decentralized command structures, enabling rapid decision-making at the tactical level to respond to asymmetric threats, such as ambushes or sabotage by non-state actors. For instance, small, agile logistical units were pre-positioned to maintain supply chains under disrupted conditions, drawing on predictive analytics to anticipate potential points of failure. These adaptive measures ensured operational continuity in the face of hybrid threats, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary approaches that combine logistics, cybersecurity, and tactical flexibility.

Initial Reflections on Technology

In 2018 the use of drones for logistics was still nascent but VIKING included discussions on their potential. How drones could deliver lightweight supplies—such as medical kits or spare parts—to hard-to-reach areas was explored. Although drones were not used during the exercise, the scenarios highlighted their future value, particularly in locations where roads were unusable. Vulnerabilities were also identified, such as the risk of cyber interference, which would become a central concern in later conflicts. Participants discussed the potential for cyberattacks to disable drones, emphasizing the need for encrypted communication systems to ensure operational reliability.

Moreover, VIKING touched on the emerging role of artificial intelligence (AI) in logistics, a topic that has since gained significant traction. The exercise included theoretical discussions on how AI could be used for predictive logistics, such as forecasting supply needs based on real-time data from the battlefield. While these ideas were not implemented during VIKING, they foreshadowed the growing importance of AI in modern warfare, as seen in later exercises like the U.S. Army’s Project Convergence 2022, which tested AI-driven logistics to optimize supply chain management. These early reflections from VIKING 18 laid a foundation for understanding how technology can transform logistics in hybrid warfare.

Challenges in Multinational Coordination

Interoperability posed a significant obstacle in VIKING 18. Working alongside NATO countries and other partners, Brazil faced initial difficulties due to differences in logistical protocols, from packaging standards to tracking systems. Early in the exercise, 35% of simulated deliveries were delayed due to these incompatibilities. The solution was the adoption of shared tracking protocols, which improved coordination by 20% by the end of the exercise.

This challenge mirrors findings from NATO’s Trident Juncture 2018, which identified logistical interoperability as a weakness in joint operations. VIKING provided a practical environment to test solutions, offering a model for real-world applications in hybrid conflicts.

Applying VIKING Lessons to the War in Ukraine

The War in Ukraine exemplifies hybrid conflict, with conventional battles, cyberattacks, and extensive drone use creating a logistical nightmare. Russian attacks on critical infrastructure—bridges, railways, and depots—combined with cyber disruptions, have overwhelmed Ukrainian supply lines. By early 2025, Russian forces escalated their targeting of energy infrastructure, such as power plants in Kyiv, which disrupted logistics by causing blackouts that affected transportation and storage of perishable supplies. At the same time, Ukraine has made strides in its logistical resilience, leveraging decentralized networks and international support to sustain operations. VIKING’s lessons offer practical solutions to these evolving challenges.

Decentralized Supply Chains

VIKING’s decentralization strategy is directly applicable to Ukraine. By 2024, Ukrainian forces had adopted a similar approach, establishing small depots near the front lines to reduce reliance on large logistical hubs vulnerable to missile strikes. In Kharkiv for instance, mobile depots ensured the supply of ammunition and food to isolated units, even after Russian attacks destroyed main routes. Ukraine further refined this approach by integrating local civilian networks to support these depots, ensuring a steady flow of supplies despite ongoing Russian drone strikes on key highways. VIKING’s experience suggests that Ukraine could enhance this tactic by using camouflaged and mobile depots, relocated regularly to avoid detection. In VIKING, Brazilian forces simulated the use of small, camouflaged supply units that were repositioned frequently to evade simulated enemy reconnaissance, ensuring logistical resilience in disrupted environments. This approach aligns with lessons from NATO’s Trident Juncture 2018, where mobile logistics units employed decoys and irregular relocation schedules to counter electronic warfare threats. For Ukraine, implementing such tactics could involve equipping mobile depots with low-signature materials to evade Russian drone surveillance and integrating AI-driven predictive models to optimize relocation schedules, thereby mitigating the impact of drone strikes and electronic jamming reported in 2025. These interdisciplinary measures, combining camouflage, mobility, and technology, underscore the adaptability of VIKING’s logistical innovations to real-world hybrid conflicts..

Drones in Logistics

Ukraine has extensively used drones for logistics, delivering supplies to isolated units in areas like Donetsk. However, these drones face challenges such as cyber interference and limited payload capacity, issues already anticipated in discussions on hybrid conflicts. On 2025, Russian forces have increasingly deployed electronic warfare systems to jam Ukrainian drone communications, with reports indicating failure in drone delivery missions in the Donbas region. VIKING’s reflections on drone vulnerabilities highlight the need for better countermeasures. Ukraine could improve drone operations by equipping them with encrypted and redundant communication systems to resist interference, a lesson reinforced by later exercises like the U.S. Army’s National Training Center simulations. Using small drone swarms for redundancy could also ensure supplies reach their destination, even if some are intercepted.

Additionally, the integration of AI into drone logistics, as discussed in VIKING, offers further potential. AI can optimize flight paths, predict enemy interference patterns, and manage swarm coordination, increasing the efficiency of drone deliveries. In 2025, Ukraine has demonstrated interest in and initiated efforts to explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence-driven logistics, possibly in collaboration with international partners. While specific details regarding joint pilot programs with NATO and quantified improvements in delivery success rates in contested areas are not widely publicized, the focus on logistical innovation and partner support suggests a movement in this direction. VIKING’s early discussions on AI’s role in logistics provide a framework for these advancements, underscoring the exercise’s foresight.

Improving Interoperability

Ukraine’s reliance on NATO logistical support has exposed interoperability gaps, with delays in Western supply deliveries due to incompatible standards—a common issue in multinational operations. In early 2025, delays in delivering artillery shells to Ukraine were reported due to differences in NATO and Ukrainian inventory tracking systems, slowing down operations in the Zaporizhzhia region. VIKING’s solution—adopting shared tracking protocols—can help. During the exercise, these protocols reduced delivery errors by 20%, a model Ukraine could replicate to streamline NATO aid. More joint training with NATO allies, similar to VIKING’s multinational format, would also build the trust and coordination needed for more efficient logistics in high-intensity operations.

Brazil’s Contribution

Brazil’s participation in VIKING brought a fresh perspective, shaped by its experience in challenging environments like the Amazon. Logistics in the Amazon requires navigating difficult terrain and dealing with limited infrastructure. These conditions  echo the challenges of hybrid conflict. During VIKING, Brazil excelled in civil-military coordination (CIMIC), a core aspect of the exercise. The ability to integrate civilian and military actors in logistical management was tested in simulated humanitarian aid scenarios, enabling the efficient delivery of supplies to affected populations, even under adverse conditions. This expertise can be applied in Ukraine, where coordination with humanitarian organizations is essential for logistical success. Establishing clear communication channels between military forces and NGOs, as practiced in VIKING, could expedite supply distribution in conflict zones, particularly in cities like Mariupol, where delivering aid amidst fighting has been a persistent challenge.

Brazil’s experience in domestic security operations also offers lessons. During the 2014 FIFA World Cup, logistics were coordinated in complex urban scenarios under security constraints, using alternative routes to avoid disruptions. In Ukraine, where main roads are frequent targets of Russian attacks, adopting secondary and less visible routes, as tested in Brazilian operations, could ensure the continuous flow of supplies to troops and civilians.

Table 1: Logistical Challenges in VIKING 18 and Ukraine

Gender Considerations in Logistics

VIKING also highlighted the importance of a gender perspective in logistics. Exercise modules emphasized the need to address women’s specific needs in peace operations, such as providing hygiene kits and ensuring safe routes for distributing aid to refugees. In Ukraine, where displaced women and children form the majority, this approach could improve humanitarian support. Ensuring supply chains include essentials for women and that delivery routes are safe for aid distribution would enhance operational effectiveness and strengthen local support for Ukrainian forces.

Conclusion: Practical Steps Forward

VIKING offers practical lessons for logistics in hybrid conflicts like the War in Ukraine. Operational resilience can be significantly enhanced by decentralizing supply chains with mobile depots, equipping drones with countermeasures against interference and integrating AI for optimization, and adopting shared tracking protocols. These lessons are not only applicable to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine but also will be to future hybrid conflicts in other regions, such as the Indo-Pacific. Tensions between China and regional actors like Taiwan and the Philippines will have similar logistical challenges. For instance, in a potential Indo-Pacific conflict, contested maritime routes and cyber threats would demand the same kind of decentralized and tech-enabled logistics strategies tested in VIKING, ensuring that forces can sustain operations in disputed areas like the South China Sea.

Brazil’s experience is particularly valuable for international readers due to its ability to operate in extreme environments, such as the Amazon, and its skill in integrating civilian and military efforts, as demonstrated in VIKING. These capabilities provide an adaptable model for other nations facing logistical challenges in hybrid scenarios, from the Sahel to the Middle East and beyond. For military forces worldwide, these lessons are a call to action. The War in Ukraine shows that logistics can determine the success or failure of a campaign in hybrid environments. Future VIKING editions should intensify testing of emerging technologies—such as AI for logistical forecasting and swarm drone systems. They also must deepen partnerships with nations like Brazil, whose experience can enrich global military strategies. By applying VIKING’s lessons, forces can better prepare for the complex battlefields of today and the potential conflicts of tomorrow.

Notes

1. Data on VIKING 18 were obtained from COTER/EB reports and secondary sources such as Caiafa (2018) and Hamann (2018).

2. Information on the War in Ukraine is based on public reports from 2024 and early 2025.