Theoretical Deficiencies of the Concept of Dominant Battlefield in the Context of Fragmented War Zones

The article critically analyzes the conceptual paradox of the dominant battlefield in contemporary conflicts, demonstrating the unsustainability of traditional doctrine of monocentric battlefields in conditions of fragmented war zones. Multidimensional fragmentation of conflict - geographical, technological, and socio-political - creates an operational environment in which hierarchical prioritization of battlefields becomes not only tactically inefficient but also strategically counterproductive. As an innovative theoretical contribution, the work proposes a model of “fluid hotspots” that conceptualizes conflict space as a complex adaptive system with polycentric, temporal hotspots of strategic importance, introducing original concepts such as Distributed adaptive synchronization, Modular operational packages, and Dynamic multi-domain operations. Methodologically, the research is based on comparative analysis of contemporary conflicts, critical re-examination of established military doctrines, and systematic consideration of transformative factors in contemporary warfare, with integration of relevant theoretical and empirical insights from strategic studies. The aim of the article is to formulate a comprehensive theoretical framework that will enable more efficient understanding and operational action in fragmented conflicts of the 21st century, bridging the gap between traditional military theory and the complex reality of contemporary warfare.