It is the idea that you can destroy a state without ever formally declaring war or mobilizing a million-man army.
Svechin, a brilliant strategist often overshadowed by Mikhail Tukhachevsky (the proponent of "Deep Battle"), argued for the "Strategy of Attrition." He understood that not all wars could be won by a single, decisive, crushing blow (the "Strategy of Annihilation"). He recognized that war is a continuation of politics, and sometimes the most effective political aim is achieved through prolonged, lower-intensity pressure. The Bolshaya-malaya Voyna
The mechanism of this war relies on the "Gerasimov Doctrine," a term coined by Western analysts referencing Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. In a famous 2013 article, Gerasimov noted that the lines between war and peace were blurring. He argued that the role of non-military means (economic sanctions, information warfare, supporting internal opposition) had surpassed the role of military force in achieving political goals. It is the idea that you can destroy