COMBATANT IMMUNITY AND THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR: REOPENING THE DEBATE ON A LONGSTANDING DOCTRINE
Journal: Access to Justice in Eastern Europe
Year: 2024

Background: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in the largest conflict in Europe since the Second World War, with estimates suggesting that hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers are implementing the will of the aggressor state. It has long been believed that combatants are immune from criminal prosecution for their actions during hostilities, including the killing of military personnel defending the victim state unless they violate the laws of war. However, this immunity has naturally