![]() 6 onward, set out below, provide guidance on the fundamental principles applicable to the conduct of all hostilities in eastern Ukraine under international humanitarian law. International humanitarian law - whether in international or internal armed conflicts - is designed mainly to protect civilians and other noncombatants from the hazards of armed conflict. To determine if overall control exists, in addition to financing, training, equipping or providing operational support to the insurgents, it is necessary to examine the extent of Russia’s role in organizing, coordinating or planning the military actions of the insurgents. International humanitarian law governing non-international (internal) armed conflict may still apply to the conflict between the insurgents (a non-state armed force) and Ukrainian forces, unless it is established that Russia exercises “overall control” of the insurgent forces, or part thereof. ![]() Is this now an internal or international armed conflict? What law governs it?Īs indicated below (see Q 4 below) hostilities between Russian armed forces and Ukrainian armed forces constitute an international armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia, governed by international humanitarian treaty law (primarily the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and its first additional protocol of 1977 (Protocol I), and the Hague Conventions of 1907 regulating the means and methods of warfare), as well as the rules of customary international humanitarian law.īoth Ukraine and Russia are parties to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and Protocol I. Nevertheless, during the second half of August, there has been mounting evidence, including reports and satellite images from NATO and the capture of Russian soldiers within Ukraine, that Russian forces are taking part in military operations within Ukraine. ![]() ![]() Credible reports and imagery from eastern Ukraine indicate that Russia has been involved in activities such as equipping and training insurgent forces, however Human Rights Watch is not in a position to determine the full extent of such support. Since clashes between armed insurgent groups in eastern Ukraine and Ukrainian government forces began, Moscow has made clear its political support for the insurgents and clearly enjoys influence over them. What is Russia’s involvement in eastern Ukraine? ![]()
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