There are, in fact, rules for war that Russia must observe. The International Criminal Court lists the banned behavior during time when killing is allowed.

Shannon Longworth Reporter

Russia’s been accused of committing war crimes in Ukraine. What does that mean?

Mar 02, 2022

Shannon Longworth Reporter

By Shannon Longworth (Reporter), Dan Reardon (Editor)

Lithuania has requested that the International Criminal Court investigate Russia for war crimes as well as crimes against humanity in Ukraine. According to the International Criminal Court (ICC), war crimes include:

Willfull killing–or causing the death of a protected person, like a civilian
Torture
Willfully causing great suffering, or serious injury
Extensive destruction and appropriation of property
Compelling a prisoner of war or other protected person to fight for a hostile power
Willfully depriving a prisoner of war the rights of a fair and regular trial
Unlawful deportation or confinement
Taking hostages
Intentional attacks against civilians, non-military targets, peacekeepers and humanitarian aid
Killing or wounding soldiers who’ve surrendered
Employing poisoned weapons
Rape and sexual slavery
Enforced sterilization
Forced pregnancy
Enlisting children under 15

Many of the crimes involve civilian harm. According to the United Nations, at least 102 civilians have died in Ukraine since Russia invaded the country.

BOMBS.

GUNS.

AND DEATH – ALL TRAGIC, PREDICTABLE PARTS OF BATTLE.

BUT, IN A WAR, SOME BEHAVIOR IS ACTUALLY OFF LIMITS. AND, TECHNICALLY, CAN BE CONSIDERED A CRIME.

SO, WHAT, EXACTLY, IS A WAR CRIME?

LET’S GET THIS STRAIGHT.

INTERNATIONAL RULES AGAINST SPECIFIC ACTIVITY DURING WARTIME FIRST CAME OUT OF THE 1949 GENEVA CONVENTIONS.

MORE RECENTLY, THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (OR ICC) LISTED THEM:

WILLFULLY DEPRIVING A PRISONER OF WAR THE RIGHTS OF A FAIR AND REGULAR TRIAL

INTENTIONAL ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIANS, NON-MILITARY TARGETS, PEACEKEEPERS AND HUMANITARIAN AID

RAPE AND SEXUAL SLAVERY

THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT INVESTIGATES THESE CRIMES WITH A PROCEDURE SIMILAR TO THE UNITED STATES’ LEGAL PROCESS.

THE CATCH IS, THE ICC DOESN’T HAVE ITS OWN BODY OF PEOPLE TO ENFORCE THESE INTERNATIONAL RULES.

SO IT’S LEFT UP TO COUNTRIES TO ARREST AND TRANSFER ACCUSED PEOPLE TO THE ICC DETENTION CENTER IN THE HAGUE–A CITY IN THE NETHERLANDS.

ULTIMATELY, WITHOUT A WAY OF ENSURING THESE COUNTRIES DO THEIR PART, MANY WAR CRIMES GO UNRECOGNIZED AND UNRESOLVED. THE PERCENTAGE THAT’RE ACTUALLY BROUGHT TO TRIAL TAKE YEARS TO PROSECUTE, AND THE MORE TIME THAT PASSES, THE LESS ATTENTION THEY GET.

GOT IT STRAIGHT?

LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS AND MAKE SURE YOU HIT THE STRAIGHT ARROW BIAS METER.