The present article presents an analysis of the potential application of 3D printing in the critical infrastructure system. An attempt has been made to develop case studies for selected critical infrastructure areas, particularly with reference to the area of energy supply. The need for 3D printing applications is identified based on expert research in the energy industry. It identifies the application schemes determined by the technical and logistical possibilities associated with 3D printing in its broadest sense. A review of additive technologies with a view to their application in selected phases of critical infrastructure operation, including in crisis situations, is also carried out. Furthermore, a methodology for incorporating 3D printing into the existing critical infrastructure system is proposed. As a result, the following research hypothesis is adopted: the use of 3D printing can be an important part of measures to ensure the full functionality and efficiency of critical infrastructures, particularly in crisis situations.

The energy security landscape that we envisage in 2050 will be different from that of today. Meeting the future energy needs of the armed forces will be a key challenge, not least for military security. The World Energy Council’s World Energy Scenarios forecast that the world’s population will rise to 10 billion by 2050, which will also necessitate an increase in the size of the armed forces. In this context, energy extraction, distribution, and storage become essential to stabilizing the imbalance between production and demand. Among the available solutions, Power to Hydrogen (P2H) is one of the most appealing options. However, despite the potential, many obstacles currently hinder the development of the P2H market. This article aims to identify and analyse existing barriers to the introduction of P2H technologies that use hydrogen. The holistic approach used, which was based on a literature survey, identified obstacles and possible strategies for overcoming them. The research conducted presents an original research contribution at the level of hydrogen strategies considered in leading countries around the world. The research findings identified unresolved regulatory issues and sources of uncertainty in the armed forces. There is a lack of knowledge in the armed forces of some countries about the process of producing hydrogen energy and its benefits, which raises concerns about the consistency of its exploitation. Negative attitudes towards hydrogen fuel energy can be a significant barrier to its deployment in the armed forces. Possible approaches and solutions have also been proposed to eliminate obstacles and to support decision makers in defining and implementing a strategy for hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. There are decisive and unresolved obstacles to its deployment, not only in the armed forces.

Involvement of social organizations in defence issues is both an opportunity and a challenge for the state, which should properly use the potential of social organizations. The research carried out among the V4 Group countries and Lithuania confirmed that all countries less or more use pro-defence organizations. It is one of the state’s security interests. The legal acts that define the participation of citizens in defence issues in Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Lithuania are constitutions, which provide the right of citizens to association. The Lithuanian Riflemen’s Association, which is a pro-defence organization in Lithuania, included in the defence system of Lithuania, is of particular importance. A clear specification of the tasks, rights and obligations performed by pro-defence organizations is required. The authors recommend that pro-defence issues in Poland should be defined in a similar way like in Lithuania, including pro-defence organizations to the state’s defence activities.

This paper seeks to examine the violation of territorial integrity as a stage of hybrid warfare. Grounded in the theoretical framework of neoclassical realism, this study analyses nations’ foreign policy strategies considering both global and domestic factors. Employing primarily qualitative...

The objective of this article is to describe the system of defence education for Polish youth after 1989 and its transformations. The article indicates that in Polish primary and secondary schools today, the subject of security education is taught, and in some high schools – especially in Certified Military Uniformed Classes – the subject of military education is taught as well. Among students, however, the defence curriculum is taught mainly as part of extra-curricular activities, mainly within the Academic Legion and Passport Programme. On the basis of the research strengthening military potential is supported by the defence education of young people. The exploration underlined that achieving the defence objectives outlined by the programmes of the Ministry of National Defence in agreement with the Ministry of National Education. The study used the diagnostic survey research method and the techniques of content analysis, a questionnaire, interviews, and observations. The article conluds recommendations for security education curriculum.

Mentality is the result of social processes and is shaped by life experiences, as well as values and norms passed on during socialization. In the case of Russia, history, literature, art, and spirituality play a significant role in shaping the national identity and, consequently, the perception of war. The image of war is often presented in a selective or idealized way. In Russian historical discourse, the positive aspects of one’s history are often emphasized, while, simultaneously, controversial or negative factors are often ignored or minimized. The methodology employed in the paper involves a qualitative comparative method, which involves analyzing the concept of war in Russian culture, describing the characteristics of a nation’s mentality through various aspects of an ethnic group’s spiritual life, and understanding the ideology underlying Russia’s foreign policy. The article concludes that analyzing the concept of war within the Russian nation’s culture is not possible without understanding the general mentality of the entire society. The Russians are less willing to take up the problem of crimes committed in that period by soldiers of the Red Army, which is also the case during the occupation of Ukraine.