Responsability for excessive infraestructure damage in attacks: analysing Russia's attack in Ukraine

Abstract

Armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalated in 2022 after Russian President Putin decided to conduct a "special military operation" to strive to "demilitarize" and "denazification" Ukraine; the attacks caused various casualties, such as urban residential areas, communication, transportation, including an air strike and bombing civilian objects. In international humanitarian law, states must respect and ensure respect for the rules governing the conduct of hostilities, which include the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution. These principles aim to minimize the impact of armed conflicts on civilian populations and infrastructure. This study delved into the critical issue of responsibility concerning excessive infrastructure damage during armed conflicts, with a specific focus on Russia's attacks on Ukraine. The analysis highlighted the grave consequences of such attacks, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of the parties involved and the applicable international laws. The research aims to understand the concept of state responsibility of the State under international law and analyze the legal responsibility for Russian attacks that caused excessive infrastructure damage from an international law perspective. The research used normative legal research with a library research approach; the author collected and processed secondary data used as the primary legal source. The results showed that Russia's attacks on Ukraine breached international law. The research also found the severe consequences of such attacks and emphasized the significance of understanding the involved parties and applicable international laws. Promoting peace and preventing future conflicts necessitate holding aggressors accountable for infrastructure devastation. This study underscores the importance of international cooperation and enforcement of measures to ensure stability and security on a global scale.